A book cannot be judged by its cover. The same applies to saddles as well. A saddle is covered with leather on the outside, but on the inside it's built on a tree. That tree can't be seen on a finished product, but you should always ask any manufacturer to show you a bare one, for it remains the key component of the saddle. (Click here to see the step-by-step crafting of a Stübben saddle)

What is in a Stübben tree?

First, the outer part of the frame of a Stübben tree is made of a composite material that is both extremely strong and durable while remaining flexible. Unlike wood, which is affected by water and may start to warp over time, this composite material is impervious to water, humidity, and temperature changes. It does not lose any of its properties after even years of use.

Secondly, the unbreakable never-rust stirrup bars are recessed into the tree, ensuring that the stirrup leather buckles do not interfere with the rider's contact.

And thirdly, the tree is fitted with a front arch made from specially strengthened steel, which both protects the withers from injury and keeps the saddle in the correct position behind the horse's shoulder.

What sets the Stübben tree apart?

Stübben has always put the emphasis on research and has remained at the forefront of technology. The result is that Stübben offers a tree like no other. Ultimately, the Stübben tree is designed for the horse first. It acts as both the frame and the engine. As the frame, it holds the saddle together and withstands the weight of the rider. As the engine, it allows the saddle to become one with the motion of the horse.

The Stübben tree is a flexible spring tree that is tensioned using materials that counter balance each other. The steel bars beneath the tree, which by themselves would lay flat, are prevented from doing so by the webbing on the top of the the tree. Inversely, the webbing cannot flex too much because of the resistance offered by the steel bars below. These two components, working together, combine to create a perfect shock absorbing system.

When the rider sits on a Stübben saddle, the spring of the tree is immediately activated - the webbing flexes to diminish the impact of the rider's weight while the steel bars prevent the webbing from simply caving in. Thus, an ideal interface is achieved between the vertical motion of the rider and the horizontal surface of the horse's back. The vertical push of the rider is transferred horizontally - the weight is dispersed from front to back instead of up and down. This is not only good for the horse's back, but keeps the rider in better synch with the motion of the horse.

Remember, the saddle is only as good as the tree it's built upon. A saddle that provides both strength and flexibility offers better comfort and performance. The Stübben spring tree guarantees both.