The EquiSytle article in english: Love to detail Marienheide is a small place in “Bergisches Land” nearby Cologne. There is actually nothing special to be expected but by some strange quirk of fate, the most beautiful things are to be found in a little spot where no one would ever think of. Thus it’s Marienheide where the head office of Sattlerei Otto Schumacher is located. The saddlery was founded in 1953 by Otto Schumacher, a master equestrianism saddler, who started to manufacture leather harnesses for the farmers so that they were able to cultivate their fields with their horses. Even the next generation attaches certain significance to both horses and quality and thus it was in 1987 when the first saddles went into production. In 1995 Ulrike Schumacher-Rinker and her husband Thomas Rinker became managers of the small business. Since then bridles, double bridles as well as saddles all of beautiful shapes and of high quality have been made by qualified equestrianism saddlers. Due to a great demand for saddles and a lack of qualified staff, another factory, which is still being run, was established in Malta in 1989. Even on the little island it is sustainability, quality, fair wages as well as good working conditions that are most significant. “For me the worst of all is whenever we receive e-mails from India attaching pictures of bridles. Those bridles could have been made by our team. But as soon as you see their prices it is obvious on which conditions those items had been made. We would never consider acting like this as we feel responsible for all our employees,” says Ulrike Schumacher-Rinker, daughter of Otto Schumacher and today’s manager of the saddlery. This also applies to the selection of materials. Leather coming from Southern Germany and Switzerland, which is vegetable-tanned in Germany and Europe, is exclusively used and manufactured. All other materials required for the production, such as Swarovski crystals, harnesses, cotton as well as straps are from Germany or Austria. Thus, it can be assured that the materials manufactured are pollution-free and that fair wages are being paid. It is the staff that counts most for Ulrike Schumacher-Rinker and her husband Thomas Rinker. Our company could not exist without our employees as they always come up with great ideas concerning our product line. Perhaps this is the secret of those beautiful bridles. It is true that nearly one in three bridles or double bridles is a unique specimen, however, the basic materials and elements the customer can choose from, were developed by Thomas Rinker with special attention to our team’s ideas and suggestions. This motivates and causes a good working atmosphere. It is rarely the case that someone falls sick and when it comes to peak time with a lot of work to do it’s always the staff you can rely on. To ensure the continuation of this success, the whole family shows its commitment: “My father’s now 87 and he’s still around supporting us. Our son Tim is a qualified equestrianism saddler and available around the clock,” Ulrike Schumacher-Rinker says with a smile, “Our daughter Kathrin’s working freelance for our company being in charge of any translation or interpreting work. Apart from that she’s currently studying in Cologne. My brother-in-law is our sales representative and responsible for the specialist trade. Moreover, there’s my cousin, a qualified masseuse dropping in at our company fortnightly for our employees who can relax half an hour by having a massage. Only if everyone feels good, it is possible to work successfully,” she adds. Accordingly, Susanne, her cousin has much to do since there are thirteen skilled workers and among them seven qualified equestrianism saddlers working for the company in Marienheide. Perhaps it is the staff’s well-being which is the reason for the saddlery’s bestseller. The most popular basic model is the curved one “München” which is extensible to “Feel-Good” by a neck piece. Otto Schumacher himself was the one who developed the circumferential weld more than 30 years ago, which has made the company so popular. A spare part has recently been made for a bridle from Australia which has already been used for more than 20 years. This item has been made in countless variations - once embellished with real diamonds for a trade fair but not for sale, another time it was a custom-made bridle especially ordered for a sheltie. “A salt-and-pepper-bridle made out of black and white leather was ordered by a Russian who told us it would be for Putin. Of course, I cannot tell you if it’s true,” Ulrike Schumacher-Rinker grins, “Almost every single week we receive orders from customers with special wishes. It’s often the case that I am approached by one of our seamstresses showing me a manufactured bridle which was made to our customers’ wishes and it’s surprising how beautiful these bridles are. Our customers create bridles that no one would ever think of.” Not only the bridles but also the saddles are made accordingly to their customers’ wishes, for instance embellished with crystals. Although there is no direct sale for saddles that are made-to-measure - as they are distributed by both retailers and local saddlers - a Schumacher saddle nearly fits every single horseback perfectly owing to its low-cut saddle seat. Anyone wanting to own such a saddle just needs to get in touch with his saddler to have his horse measured. The saddler will then pass on the measurements to Sattlerei Otto Schumacher. Thus the saddle will be manufactured according to the measurements and then returned to the saddler. “Adaptations to another horse are practicably possible, for instance if someone has changed his horse. Then a decision is individually made. We have also customers from Hanover who come around taking their horses with them so that the perfect saddle can be found. Even this is possible,” Schumacher-Rinker points out. World Championship rider Fabienne Lütkemeier has a Schumacher saddle as well which was especially made for her together with the “Feel-Good-Kandare” which is perfectly matching. It is not mass-produced articles, but individual items that are produced making the company so popular. That’s the saddlery’s strong point. Thus, it was in 2012 when the product range was extended by adding a bracelet collection. Thomas Rinker just wanted to surprise his wife and so it was in 2011 when he made a leather bracelet embellished with Swarovski crystals. It was not only Ulrike who was very impressed by this beautiful bracelet but also the sales representative of Swarovski who regularly drops in at the saddlery. She passed on some pictures of the bracelet to Swarovski and got in touch with a designer from Berlin. And so it was that the saddlery participated together with Swarovski at “Premium” in Berlin presenting its new collection. The bracelets enjoy great popularity now. But where’s this inspiration coming from? How could it be otherwise - naturally from the horses! Most every one of the employees is riding in his leisure time naturally well-equipped with riding equipment from Schumacher. Thus every single item is tested and finally manufactured according to its results. However, it’s a horse representing the saddlery’s special design and it is well known to the customers. It’s Leonardo Da Vinci, an eleven-year-old gelding from Bavaria bred by family Böttcher, with whom Ulrike Schumacher-Rinker is still in touch. Leo, as he is also called is the face of the saddlery and apart from that can be found in the company’s catalogue presenting new items such as bridles. Due to lack of time Leo was sold to Lisa Röhrig who is the personal assistant of Ulrike Schumacher-Rinker and who has been successful with Leo in competitive dressage up to the advanced level. “Leo is always excited when it comes to tournament even in the preparation stage,” Lisa says about her darling. “Leo might be a diva sometimes, he really loves modeling! Leo’s always peering into the camera as if he knows exactly what’s going on. He has been replaced just once as he was injured and thus it was impossible to take pictures of him,” she adds. Lisa spends four hours a day with Leo and he naturally loves being surrounded by her expressing his thank with both lovely ribbons and beautiful pictures. She smiles, “For me, he’s the best horse ever.” Leo probably thinks equally of her. For Thomas Rinker, Leo is his personal inspiration since the gelding’s head is extremely beautiful and furthermore it’s just perfect for taking measurements. Everything that suits Leo is likely to be requested by the saddlery’s customers. So one can keep being anxious to see which new products will be designed and produced in the following season.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 08:44:46 +0000
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