PrintDear Rita,
It’s not very often that I give out my number on the Internet, but just for you, here it is: Q282231. That is the serial number of my new saddle, specially designed together with Stübben of Switzerland. Yes, my friends, yours truly is finally putting her old Schultheis saddles to rest after 25 years of unbroken commitment.
The new saddle is called the Stübben Genesis Spezial (Special in English), which is somewhat confusing since my creation is based more on the specifications of the old Tristan Extras than the Genesis. But never mind. This saddle is the best thing since sliced bread no matter what you call it.
I don’t know the item number for a Stübben Genesis Special—it may not even exist. But if you would like to order a saddle based on my exact specifications—curvature, size, depth of seat—Stübben can reproduce them if you provide one of my two serial numbers.
Brown with nut colored panels: Q282531
All black: Q282231
Both saddles have 18” Biomex seats, a 31 tree, four girth straps for a long girth, overgirth, full-grain leather on the flaps and deluxe leather on seat and knee/thigh pad. These are the specs for a Stübben Genesis Special. You can change any of the specs if you want to. I recommend nut colored leather for the panels no matter which main color you choose.
The following THREE-part video will explain why I put this saddle together the way I did and what it can do for riders who want comfort, close contact, great feeling and good balance while riding. Obviously, Rita, this is a subject that I am passionate about.
Part 1: The name, my old Stübben Tristan Extra, the panels, Biomex seat, the leather.
Part 2: Why 18” seat?, the spring tree, the girth straps, the overgirth, the flocking and the panels. (I made one mistake while recording this section. The spring tree is made from a molded plastic frame, reinforced with steel, bound into the specified shape with broad canvas webbing. The frame is not steel. Whoopsie.)
Part 3: How to fit the saddle (Cadillac as model), use of the saddle, long girths, point of motion vs. center of gravity, sticky boot stuff and girth crank.
I’m Catherine Haddad, and I’m saying it like it is from Vechta, Germany.
Training Tip of the Day: Does your saddle direct your weight toward the horse’s center of gravity as it should? Or are you being pushed backward toward the center of motion? Proper balance is crucial to good sitting!
