Stubben Saddles

“No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle.”
— Winston Churchill
(— even better when that saddle fits!)

Stübben Saddlery was founded in 1894 by Johannes Stübben in Krefeld, Germany, as a small workshop where he lived and worked. Under his leadership, the business grew steadily, eventually gaining recognition when it began supplying to Kaiser Wilhelm II’s 11th Hussar Regiment by the early 20th century. Johannes’s son, Carl Stübben, took over during a turbulent time marked by World War I and economic hardship. He helped stabilize the company by expanding into leather goods and building international supplier relationships, especially in Offenbach, Germany’s leatherworking hub.

Jumping Saddle Zaria Optimum

Starting: €4,200.00

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After World War II, Carl’s son, Werner Stübben, returned from military service and rebuilt the company, which had been destroyed in bombing raids. In 1948, production resumed, marking the beginning of a global resurgence. Stübben's international breakthrough came in 1952 with the introduction of the Siegfried saddle, a model that became a staple for generations of riders in North America. By the 1970s and '80s, Werner's sons, Frank and Ralph Stübben, joined the leadership team and expanded manufacturing into Switzerland, Ireland, and Spain, keeping traditional craftsmanship at the heart of the company.

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In 1994, Stübben established a North American branch to meet rising demand, initially located in Richmond, Virginia, before relocating to a farm in Troy, Virginia. Around 2000, the company centralized production and administrative functions in Kempen, near its original home. In 2011, it opened the Gläserne Manufaktur, a public-facing “transparent factory” that invited visitors to witness the saddlemaking process firsthand. In 2013, Johannes Ralph Stübben, the fifth generation of the family, entered the company’s leadership after completing formal training in saddlemaking and earning a degree in international marketing. He now helps lead the brand into the modern era while preserving the company’s long-standing values of precision, tradition, and horse-rider harmony.

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Devoucoux Saddles (France)
Founded in 1985, Devoucoux is among the most respected luxury saddle brands, especially favored in show jumping, dressage, cross-country, endurance, and leisure riding.

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The Saddle

The saddle has evolved over thousands of years to support both rider comfort and horse welfare. The earliest evidence of riders using pads or cloths dates back to circa 700–800 BCE among the Assyrians. True saddles, with more structure and raised pommels and cantles, first appeared in Central Asia around 200 BCE, developed by nomadic horse cultures like the Scythians and Sarmatians.

By the 4th century CE, the Romans introduced tree-based saddles (a solid internal framework), offering better weight distribution and control. This innovation became crucial for cavalry effectiveness. During the Middle Ages, saddles grew in size and ornamentation—especially for knights in armor—culminating in the high-pommeled war saddles of medieval Europe.

The Western saddle, developed by Spanish vaqueros in the Americas, adapted these principles for cattle work, adding a horn for roping. Meanwhile, English saddles became refined for foxhunting, jumping, and dressage, emphasizing closer rider-horse contact.

Modern saddles now include specialized designs for jumping, dressage, endurance, barrel racing, and trail riding, made with a mix of traditional leather and high-tech materials. Despite all innovations, the core goal remains the same: balance, communication, and comfort for horse and rider alike.