Once you have requested a fitting appointment — either online via our Book a Fitting form or by phone through our head office — the Stübben saddle fitter responsible for your region will contact you directly. From this point on, your fitter will be your personal contact and will prepare your appointment in detail.
To make sure we can tailor the fitting perfectly to you and your horse, please share as much information as possible in advance, either during your conversation or conveniently via WhatsApp.
Here’s what helps us most:
Which discipline do you ride in?
What saddle are you currently using?
Have you seen a model on our website that caught your eye?
Tell us about your horse — breed, age, height, training level, and general health.
You are welcome to send photos, ideally showing the horse’s back from the side, from behind, and from above so we can see the shoulder area clearly.
If your fitter needs any additional details, they will get in touch personally.
A saddle fitting for a new saddle costs €180 including travel, which will be credited toward the purchase of a new saddle.
For the adjustment of an existing saddle, please ask your fitter directly about pricing.
Your Stübben fitter will come to your stable at the agreed time.
At Stübben, we believe a proper fitting doesn’t happen while standing still — every saddle must also be evaluated in motion. So please have your horse prepared to ride, and have a saddle pad, bridle, stirrups, and girth ready.
The appointment begins with a careful assessment of your horse’s back, both visually and by palpation. This allows the fitter to identify muscle imbalances or tension and provides valuable insight into your current saddle’s fit and your horse’s sensitivity.
Your fitter will bring a selection of saddle models, various gullet plate sizes, and our adjustable saddle tree. Step by step, they will determine which gullet size best suits your horse — a key factor for the final saddle build.
Please feel free to ask questions at any point. Our fitters are passionate about explaining their process and helping you understand how they evaluate fit.
We also use the innovative HorseShape app, which enables a precise 3D scan of your horse’s back in seconds using a smartphone. This digital model captures every contour, allowing us to detect unique features immediately and document your horse’s exact back shape at the time of the fitting. During follow-up appointments, new scans can be compared to previous ones to track any changes.
Using all gathered data, your fitter will then select several saddle models that best suit both you and your horse.
Now it’s time to test ride the saddles!
During the test ride, your Stübben fitter will observe many details that determine the saddle’s fit — including its balance, wither clearance, even pressure distribution, and the alignment of the girth. Of course, the horse’s comfort and movement always take top priority.
Your input is just as important:
Do you feel balanced and comfortable?
How is your leg position?
Does the saddle restrict you in any way?
How does your horse move compared to your current saddle?
If you are a jumping rider, we recommend setting up a small fence so you can also test the saddle while jumping.
Even if a particular model feels right immediately, we recommend trying a few different ones. Trust your fitter’s experience — by combining their expertise with your feedback, they’ll help you find the perfect match.
Once you’ve chosen your ideal saddle, you can customize it together with your fitter using the Stübben Configurator. Your fitter will explain all options transparently — from design features to technical adaptations for both rider and horse — and will provide a clear price overview.
After the fitting, we receive all the data and start production once your deposit is received. Your fitter will inform you about the estimated production time.
When your saddle is ready, it will be shipped directly to your home — including a saddle cover and care products.
You can safely place the new saddle on your horse and start riding right away. Typically, no significant physical changes occur during production. Your fitter will also show you how to perform a basic fit check yourself.
Even though your saddle is ready to ride upon delivery, it’s not yet “finished.” Since all Stübben saddles are wool-flocked, they naturally adjust during the first 40 riding hours. The wool settles, softens, and shapes itself to your horse’s back.
After this initial period, your fitter will recheck the saddle’s fit. In most cases, a small amount of additional flocking ensures that it sits perfectly balanced again.
This first follow-up appointment, including all necessary adjustments, is included in the purchase price.
Most corrections can be made on-site, so you can continue riding without interruption.
Even after this, it’s important to have your saddle checked regularly. Your Stübben fitter will explain what to look out for and when to schedule future check-ups.
For more than 130 years, Stübben has combined traditional craftsmanship with forward-thinking innovation — always with one clear goal: to create a partnership between horse and rider. Every product, every service, every detail is driven by our passion for the horse and by our responsibility to people, animals, and the planet.
