I’m looking for opinions on the current Stübben scout. I’m a lower level dressage rider who doesn’t show and would like to venture into some trail riding. Would it be suitable for Trail and also be usable for dressage? What about low jumps (thinking of logs out on the trail).
How is the twist? I’m used to a narrow twist. I’ve read it was made for Calvary then Mounted Police work and for trail riding as well.
Looks like a wonderful saddle. If I did not have such a flat backed horse, I’d look into it. I’ve only been to schooling shows and have done a lot of trail riding. I don’t see why it couldn’t be used for showing? Not sure about the jumping?
Hmmmm. It looks like a modern version of one of their old all purpose saddles.
I was never a fan of those.
Also… the new price for one of these Scouts seems to be over $4000.
I would be very hesitant at that price point as well.
I guess a price ncrease is to be expected & that doesn’t sound unreasonable.
I paid just under $4K in 2010 for a semi-custom Stubben Maestoso.
FWIW:
I rode on trails for 20+yrs in my Stubben A/P Portos. Including some very vertical ones.
Also showed Hunters to 3’, Dressage to 2nd & Evented (BNH, schooled to Training) in the same saddle.
I have not bought a new saddle in a bunch (15ish) of years.
The price does not seem overly crazy to me with the price of all things horse being what they are now days.
I had always considered an all purpose saddle a saddle that was good for nothing, but then I became a rider like the OP describes. Some trail riding, some hunter paces, some cross country schooling, some dabbling in low level dressage all on a sometimes naughty equine. I now really like my saddle that some would describe as an all purpose saddle. (It is not advertised as an all purpose saddle, but that is what it looks like.)
I hear you guys and like the concept of an all purpose saddle - especially for lower level everything… I just never found one I personally liked riding in!
The Scout does look like it would have the added benefit of being more comfortable for long trail rides.
I guess I just look at the price and think that for that much, you could get a decent used dressage saddle, plus a used jumping saddle for occasionally popping over logs. But… maybe neither are what the OP really wants for longer trail rides.
I will also confess that some recent threads on Stubben would dissuade me from buying anything new from them. Which is sad. But there have been some really crazy recent threads on people who bought new semi custom saddles from them. So that’s part of my hesitation as well.
I’ll have to look for recent threads about them. I had one of their dressage saddles before my current one and liked it a lot. It was a semi-custom dressage saddle. My mare out grew it though and I went with a more adjustable brand (Schleese). Now that she’s done growing, I’m revisiting Stubben again but for a different reason, trail and GP.
I’m sure it could be used for showing. We just don’t show.
This is the thread I was thinking of -
The pictures of the saddles that Stubben sent were… NUTS.
I followed that thread closely as I was in the process of saddle shopping for a few months last year. I too had a much older Stubben dressage saddle from yesteryear that I loved. So I was considering a newer one. But… I found a number of negative stories about experiences with their fitters.
I eventually went with an English brand and an independent fitter, who did a REAL fitting involving tracings, and reflocked the saddle onsite (no sending it away to a shop to be repaneled by someone else). And… I was really happy with the end result of that process. As were my horses.
Anyway - good luck with whatever you decide to do!
I guess the 10+yrs since I ordered my Stubben have seen some bad changes.
I know the fitter I used is no longer repping them.
She had quite a business, going to FL as well as working with the Midwest customers.
Small hijack:
Seems a lot of horse equipment & riding apparel manufacturers have gone down in quality.
IME, Blundstone, Ariat aren’t what they were.
I’m donating a couple BMB blankets that date back to 1989 & 1996. The older one has some repairs needed for the front closure, but otherwise usable if faded. The “newer” one needs nearly the whole back seam resewn.
Neither horse was particularly tough on blankets.
I have a Stubben Scout- super nice trail saddle but I would not want to do dressage stuff in it, it definitely puts you in a bit of a chair seat. I’ve used it mostly on gaited horses
That seems to be the case with most things! Appliances don’t last either.
My previous Stubben fitter ghosted me and others so I had to look elsewhere.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
