“He was a good businessman; fair and very knowledgeable.”
Harry Hauser, a well-known and respected figure in the United States equestrian industry, has died in hospital near his home in Florida. He was 77.
With his wife Angi, Harry ran the Courbette Saddlery business for more than 45 years. Their hard work and dedication built the Courbette brand into a market leader throughout North America.
Harry was born in Lucerne, Switzerland, and began his career with the Swiss bank UBS in Geneva. After two years there, he moved back to the Swiss city of Stans and began looking for a job.
Harry had become friends with an executive at Stuebben Saddles called Robert Deiss. And so, in 1970, Harry joined Stuebben.
By 1973, as his career progressed, it was decided that to build Harry’s experience he should move to Stuebben’s bridle-making factory in Ennistymon, Co Clare in Ireland.
Then in 1975, Harry and Angi made what proved to be a pivotal move to the USA.
A newly-formed liaison between Stuebben and Sattlerei Kloster Schontal (Lemetex) changed Harry and Angi’s lives in a way that would stay with them for the years ahead.
Thriving in America
The couple went to live in Heath, Ohio where they set up the company Courbette Saddlery.
Following an initial showing at the Dayton Trade Show in 1976, Harry went on to build Courbette into one of the most sought-after and respected saddle brands in the North American equestrian industry.
Stuebben later set up its own company near to Richmond, Virginia and began to handle its own distribution arrangements instead of using American wholesalers.
Courbette was gradually merged with Stuebben, and in 2012 Harry took a position at Stuebben North America with continued responsibility for Courbette.
Harry maintained his involvement when he and Angi moved to Florida.
“He was a pleasure to be with”
Harry finally retired in 2023, having completed an outstanding 53 years in the saddlery industry.
“I formed a very firm and enduring business relationship with Harry for a number of years through my work with E Jeffries & Sons,” says Mike Williams, the Walsall saddle-maker’s former sales director.
“Harry was a good businessman; he was fair and very knowledgeable. I learned a lot from him.
“Moreover, he was a pleasure to be with, and very kind. His and Angi’s hospitality, friendship and support in business, I will never forget. I suspect neither will those who worked with him in Europe and the United States, and the hundreds of equestrian businesses across North America.
“Harry will be very sadly missed.”
