Do "we" have an opinion on newer Stubben saddles?

[Due_s_Mom]

The Stubben rep/fitter just left my place and after a very enjoyable 2 hours of trying various saddles we found just the right one for me and my horse. Living off the beaten path this was just as easy as it could be and the weather cooperated. She is going to see if they have anything in stock that will work for me and it not will do a custom Edelweiss. The Portos and Zaria both rode well but just had too much to them. Anyone liking the CWD’s or other French saddles might want to check them out. Lovely, soft grippy leather and very well balanced and light saddles.

I am looking forward to getting mine.

[Dewey]

Congrats. Be sure to post a picture here when you get your new saddle!

[Due_s_Mom]

Will do! It’s going to be a long summer

[Due_s_Mom]

I got my custom Edleweiss yesterday and rode in it today. Sure it’s stiff and creaky but it rode very, very well. My seat bones went right to where they should go and my legs could really wrap around my horse. I have plenty of room to shorten my stirrups if I need to in the future, which is saying something with my legs. I see a movie and a saddle cleaning in my afternoon plans.

[Dewey]

Congrats and I’m glad it’s working out! My new saddle was stiff, too, at first, but it has broken in beautifully. May you have a similar experience!

[Due_s_Mom]

I went over it with their cleaner and conditioner after the first ride and it made a huge difference. Second ride was creaky-free and leather molded everywhere much better. Dewey, do you use only the products they sent you or just your basic tack cleaning stuff?

[Dewey]

I used the Stubben products exclusively for the first few weeks. Then I started using Higher Standards just because I had some, and I wasn’t worried that it would “hurt” the saddle. Since then I bought a tub of Stubben glycerine saddle soap and have been using that a lot.

http://www.vtosaddlery.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=SGTS&gclid=CjwKEAjwv8iwBRC35-_e8aPqwCESJAB8khP9qy5Ceo8dDWLLi1PEQ1RKYEk2mzBEleZe5i4d4XrcKhoCiEHw_wcB

I have been pleasantly surprised by how nice it is to use–very easy to apply, and it smells great–much nicer than the old glycerine bars everyone used to use.

I should mention that my saddle is cowhide, not calfskin. If yours is calfskin, you may want to be more cautious about what you put on it.

[Due_s_Mom]

Mine is cowhide except for the seat. I begged them for all cow and she thought I was crazy and said none of them have that anymore.Thanks for the info. I have some HS products but will also order some of the Stubben glycerine.

[caryledee]

Does anyone with a REALLY long thigh have a suggestion for a Stubben that might work? I tried a Zaria 18" with a G flap and my knee still was way over the front. The tree fit my horse so well that I would love to try another one!

[Due_s_Mom]

[QUOTE=caryledee;8346686]
Does anyone with a REALLY long thigh have a suggestion for a Stubben that might work? I tried a Zaria 18" with a G flap and my knee still was way over the front. The tree fit my horse so well that I would love to try another one![/QUOTE]

That is why I had the fitter out and ended up with an Edelweiss. I actually have room to shorten my stirrups as the jumps get bigger now

[caryledee]

So did they make the flap more forward than a normal G flap? If so, do you know how much more forward you had to go?

[Due_s_Mom]

I think they did but I can’t say for sure. If you contact Stubben for a fitting they can tell you and it was reasonable. I contacted them via email through their website. I think it was like $100-$150 for the fitting and she spent easily 90 minutes with me. That said, I knew exactly what I wanted and didn’t want so I rode in maybe 4 saddles. No one else has been able to fit me into a saddle as well as Stubben and have been looking and buying saddles off and on for about 10 years. Barring any problems, this is my last saddle.

[Dewey]

[QUOTE=Due’s Mom;8346621]
Mine is cowhide except for the seat. I begged them for all cow and she thought I was crazy and said none of them have that anymore.Thanks for the info. I have some HS products but will also order some of the Stubben glycerine.[/QUOTE]

Yes–mine is the same: cowhide except for the knee flaps and seat.

My old Siegfried has a pigskin seat–that was really common back in the day. Pigskin wears like iron. I think that old Siegfried could survive a nuclear holocaust.

[Due_s_Mom]

[QUOTE=Dewey;8348102]
Yes–mine is the same: cowhide except for the knee flaps and seat.

My old Siegfried has a pigskin seat–that was really common back in the day. Pigskin wears like iron. I think that old Siegfried could survive a nuclear holocaust.[/QUOTE]

I would KILL for a pigskin seat! I told both my regular saddle guy and the Stubben rep andthey looked at me like I was nuts. I told them I would be much happier taking 6 months to break it in, knowing it wouldn’t wear through like a lot of the calfskin do.

[Belmont]

Question, how do these saddle seat sizes run?

I’m watching one quite closely on eBay that is an 18". I’m 5’6" and 150lbs. I generally measure at 17.5", but this saddle seems to have a bit of a deeper seat. I’m just wondering if a 18" might be okay.

[Dewey]

Probably, I measure at 16.5 for most saddles, but my deep-seated Stubben is a 17 and is just fine.

[Ridingsavesme]

I bought a Portos Deluxe about 9 months ago and I love, love, love it! I was riding in a 23-year-old, flat as a pancake, no blocks or kneerolls Pessoa A/O, which served me well for many years, but I’m getting older and wanted a bit more support, security and cushioning, especially for jumping. I would sometimes fall forward on the landing, and I wanted a saddle with front blocks and a slightly higher pommel. I had a fitter out and it really helped me decide which of the myriad of options offered were important to me, and I did eventually order a custom saddle. I went with the deeper soft-seat, and I chose the perhaps untrendy larger blocks, but the stitched and graduated flaps molded perfectly around them, and I can’t be happier. I still have a very close contact with my calf, but I those blocks provide excellent front support that is is not restricting in any way. It’s a beautiful, dark-brown color with contrast stitching, and I expect it to last as long as my last saddle.

[Dewey]

[sisu27]

@paintjumper63

I bought a Portos about three years ago and I love it. I am tall and slender with a really long femur and they were able to fit me with the right size saddle and flap. I did have the saddle fitter come out because you get to try a bunch of saddles and see what works for you and your horse. I still have my Stubben Siegfried CS from 1991. That saddle has held up wonderfully (unfortunately it doesn’t fit my horses). This is my third Stubben (first one my parents bought in Germany, the old Siegfried all purpose saddle). I did try some other saddles, CWD, County, Antares, etc…

I’m built the same way and ride in an old Stubben Imperator. It fits me like a glove and accommodates my one horses huge shoulder. I love it. I have a Siegfried as well.

I will need a new saddle some day soon so I’m glad to hear a new Stubben may be a good choice.

[x]

How is the balance on the newer Stubbens? I seem to remember that the old siegfrieds could tend to put a person in a chair seat. Has that changed with the new designs?