The workshop at La Belle Sattel saddlery in eastern Switzerland is filled with high-quality saddles for recreational riding, dressage, and show jumping and are crafted by hand, with precision and a wealth of expertise. Each saddle is custom-made and meticulously crafted to fit the horse’s back perfectly.
At the centre of the workshop is a clear sign of the saddlery’s embrace of modern technology: a Zünd G3 XL‑1600 cutting system, together with a projection solution and MindCUT software, which has supported the 15‑person team in the digital cutting process.
For owner Philipp Seiler, a passionate show jumper, stepping into a digital future was a conscious decision, even though he is not a digital native. With their high-quality, custom-made saddles, the Seilers have made a name for themselves in the equestrian community in Switzerland and abroad. Their success is built on consistent quality and smart investments. ‘For years now, we’ve been thinking about how digital technology can effectively complement our manufacturing processes,’ said Seiler.
Investing in a digital cutting solution from Zünd was, for Seiler, the next logical step towards the future, ‘The digitalisation of cutting has brought about a profound cultural transformation in our company.’
Finding skilled staff is a challenge, he added. Today’s demand is for modern working environments, smart tools, and companies that have the courage to embrace change. But for La Belle Sattel, the move from labour-intensive manual cutting to digital cutting was not just an investment in precision, profitability, and efficiency. It is also a commitment to the future of saddlery as a craft.
Saddles are as varied as the riding disciplines they are used for. Dressage saddles are designed to keep the rider in an upright position on the horse, while flat jumping saddles allow for bent legs and maximum freedom of movement.
Seiler visits each horse and rider personally to get a clear sense of both and take the necessary measurements. ‘Many people have slightly angled hips, for example. I pay attention to such details.’
The shape of a horse’s back is influenced not only by its breed, but also by its age. The saddle must adapt precisely to the horse’s back and grow with it. After all, the custom-made saddles from La Belle Sattel are designed to last between 10 and 15 years.
For both horse and rider, the saddle is the point of comfort. ‘It provides support and distributes the rider’s weight evenly across the horse’s back,’ Seiler explained. The saddle tree forms the structural foundation, while the saddler’s individual skill ensures a perfect fit. Each saddle is custom-made and must fit, or be made to fit, as the link between horse and rider. While a quality saddle offers us comfort for many years, the situation looks quite different from the horse’s perspective: as muscles change during training, the saddle requires regular adjustment. It is therefore advisable to consult an experienced saddler right from the start when purchasing a new saddle.
A saddle consists of some 30 individual parts. Saddles can be made from a variety of cowhides and calfskins, ranging from thick and firm to thin and supple, along with felt and sheep’s wool.
The heart of the saddle is the saddle tree, crafted from beech wood by a Bernese wheelwright. Quality and precision are paramount for Seiler as well. The saddle tree is webbed with straps, giving it its final shape. Latex or foam is then applied to the covered tree (for jumping saddles), followed by various leather pieces that have been sewn together beforehand. The seat leather is stretched over the saddle tree while still wet. This allows La Belle Sattel to cover the saddle’s curves smoothly and without wrinkles. ‘This meticulous approach is our trademark,’ said Seiler.
Where paper patterns and hand shears were once the norm, cutting patterns are now created on a computer, interactively placed on the leather using the Zünd G3 and cut with millimetre precision. This digital workflow is especially advantageous when it comes to repairs: damaged parts can be digitally captured and accurately reproduced on the Zünd cutting system. ‘I can use the cutter to make parts that would be impossible to produce by hand with the same level of quality,’ said Seiler.
Seiler never saw the purchase of the cutting solution as a purely financial investment. He brought his whole team along on a visit to Zünd. It proved to be a pivotal experience for all involved. ‘My team got a first-hand view of how digital technology supports modern production workflows. They found it compelling, and inspiring.’
Roughly 20 hours of manual craftsmanship go into every saddle from La Belle Sattel, supported by modern digital cutting technology from Zünd.
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