At the center of our operation, our material and supplier selection has always been of top quality and sustainability.
We are confident that within the past 130 years we have managed to identify the best of the best in each discipline.
Our mission for the future is to continue being the quality leader in equestrian sports.
The dominating material in our workshop is leather — by far the most important resource.
You can tell by the smell of our leather the importance we place on maintaining the natural features of the hide.
Selecting quality raw hides is key, and at Stübben we process only Central European full grain leather.
Most of our leather comes from the Simmental cow breed.
To preserve the hide’s functionality, the top layer must remain intact.
Natural markings, small scars, and pattern variations tell each hide’s unique story — these are not imperfections, but hallmarks of authentic full grain leather.
When cutting, we focus on using only the best sections of each hide.
Only full grain leather offers breathability, tensile strength, and wear resistance — crucial qualities in equestrian sports, where materials are exposed to extreme conditions such as sweat, weather, and friction.
Tanning is the process that transforms rawhide into leather.
There are several tanning methods, most of which fall into three categories: chrome tanning, vegetable tanning, and metal-free tanning.
Each technique gives the leather its own character and performance qualities, but only metal-free tanning meets both our technical standards and our environmental values.
At Stübben, we exclusively use metal-free tanned leather, which combines innovation, craftsmanship, and sustainability.
This method offers outstanding characteristics:
Hypoallergenic – virtually no risk of allergic reaction.
Lightweight – up to 25% lighter than chrome- or vegetable-tanned leather.
Environmentally friendly – lowest CO₂ emissions, minimal water use, and reduced wastewater.
High UV resistance – durable even under strong sunlight.
Thermo-neutral – naturally balanced in temperature.
Beyond leather, all our materials are also sourced and crafted in Europe:
Our saddle trees are made in France.
The saddle nails come from Italy.
The foam and webbing are produced in Germany.
Together, these components reflect our unwavering commitment to European quality, craftsmanship, and tradition.