The QUITTPAD Story – how it all began

How does the “Quitt” get into the pad?

The “Quitt” in the pad comes from Jürgen Quittmann. As co-owner and partner of a group of companies, he developed and produced insulation materials for the construction industry. But Quittmann was also a horseman. On a trip to Iceland in 1992, he fell in love with the small tölters, and shortly thereafter, he bought his first two Icelandic horses. The mares formed the basis of his Icelandic stud farm in the Prignitz region between Hamburg and Berlin.

No thermal insulation under the saddle

Because he had spent most of his free time working with Icelandic horses since founding the stud farm, he noticed that saddle pads were almost exclusively made of materials that were also used in thermal insulation for buildings: foam, wool, and felt. In his opinion, these were not suitable for a good saddle pad, which was designed to dissipate heat and moisture rather than retain it. He began to consider alternatives.

He noticed a so-called “spacer fabric” that offers three useful physical properties: pressure relief, climate control, and hygiene. Quittmann had found the ideal basis for his saddle pads. He commissioned a local bedding company to produce them and first presented his “Quittpads” to the public at the “Pferd&Jagd” trade fair in Hanover in 2009.

End and new beginning

Jürgen Quittmann passed away in the fall of 2014. Klaus Meinders, a longtime friend and business partner, further developed the Quittpad idea. With the help of many supporters from the equestrian world, the Quittpad 3D textile was created, which was specifically developed to meet the demanding requirements of saddle pads in equestrian sports.

Klaus Meinders didn’t want to limit the benefits of Quittpad 3D textiles to saddle pads. So, in 2017, Quittpad bandage pads found their way into the product range. At Equitana 2019, he presented the first prototypes of the new saddle girths.

The next chapter

Klaus Meinders retired at the beginning of 2021.

Michaela Wolf, managing director of the fine leather goods manufacturer Ueberholz in Solingen, has taken over the company. This decision is no coincidence: She played a leading role in the development of the Quittpad saddle girths, and the “Contact” saddle pads are also her project. Pressure relief has long been her focus. Under the “NeXaver” brand, she already develops neck-friendly halters and bridles. The combination of Quittpad and NeXaver is a giant step toward “pressure relief for horses.” Since then, Michaela Wolf has invested a great deal of effort in the optimization and further development of Quittpads and other equestrian products featuring Quittpad 3D textile, significantly expanding the product range.

In sales, Michaela Wolf also relies on her own online shop, competent resellers and consultants, as well as personal appearances at trade fairs and events.

About Quittpad & NeXaver

Quittpad & NeXaver is a trademark of Klaus Ueberholz GmbH & Co. KG .
Registered office: Behringstraße 41a, 42653 Solingen, Germany.
Phone: +49 212 51531.
Email: m.wolf@ueberholz.com

The company is registered with the Wuppertal District Court under registration number HRA 20457.
Authorized representative (general partner): Klaus Ueberholz Verwaltungs-GmbH, registered court: Wuppertal, registration number HRB 16507, represented by the managing director Michaela Wolf.
VAT identification number: DE813321185

We are a German company that manufactures and distributes high-quality equestrian products.
All our products are developed with a focus on quality, functionality, and sustainability.