History
Prestige was established in 1974 and was originally called Appaloosa. It became Prestige, the brand we know and love in 1992.
Prestige Italia has been designing, manufacturing and distributing saddles and riding accessories since 1974. The first company in the district of Vicenza, known worldwide for the art of tanning, Prestige Italia is internationally renowned for the quality and design of its riding products, specifically saddles and leather harnesses.
Made in Italy by vocation, Prestige Italia combines the ancient know-how of master saddlers with an industrial manufacturing approach, respectful of everyone involved in the production chain.
The tree of Prestige saddles
The comfort of a saddle is strictly connected to the tree. Prestige are the only company that provides a lifetime warranty on the tree and the stirrup bars, except in case of accidents.
Prestige Technologies
Comfort, well-being and performance are guaranteed by Prestige saddle technologies, different solutions to make riders feel at ease.
Explore the tree type technologies below.
Image Sophie Austin and Mea Culpa
AS-X Technology
AS-X (Adaptive System X-Technology) is an innovative technology applied to the tree, an exclusive system, unique on the market, that makes it possible to have a tree, and therefore a saddle, that adapts to the movements of the horse’s back, maximising its athletic qualities.
This tree entirely follows the horse’s movements while guaranteeing stability for the rider thanks to the combination of two technologies: the X-Technology with injected membranes that offer maximum stability in the saddle and the Adaptive System, a shock-absorbing system that allows the frame to make both a lateral/torsional and axial movement thanks to a joint in the central part of the tree.
AS-X Technology Benefits
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Close contact and stability for the rider.
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Flexibility of the tree that maximizes the athletic performance and expression in the movement of the horse.
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A unisex tree guarantees the same effectiveness of the technology.
Who is it for?
for riders seeking an ultimate performance and well-being of the horse;
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for riders seeking suppleness in their body and in the horse’s movement;
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for riders who don’t want to choose between riding effectiveness and freedom of movement of the horse;
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for riders who like a narrow twist and a comfortable seat. The X-Technology, with the wide integrated membranes, guaratees the same sensation for both women and men;
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for riders who seek a quick and responsive communication with the horse.
Image (top right) Prestige Rubino AS-X (Jump)
Image (bottom right) Prestige Brillante K AS-X (Dressage)
CPS Technology
The CPS (Coccyx Protection System) is a new technology applied to the tree consisting of three membranes injected into its back section. Two on the sides in the area where the rider’s ischial bones are resting, one softer in the centre where the seating position generates more load on the spine.
CPS Technology Benefits
These membranes shock absorb all stresses and movements while protecting the rider’s ischial bones, coccyx and back. They have been created considering all anatomy.
Who is it for?
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For those seeking a more elastic and softer seat: the central grey membrane creates a shock-absorbing feeling for the rider’s spine and the horse;
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For those who want a physical benefit: the softness of the central membrane guarantees a reduction of pressure on the coccyx and the spine of the rider;
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For those riders who are looking for a comfortable seat. The tree featuring this technology is particularly thought for women riders thanks to the wider back part;
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For riders who have a downhill feeling on the horse and struggle to find a balanced position;
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For the dressage riders who, having a downhill horse, struggle to find a deep seat feeling;
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For the jumpers who want to recover their balance faster after the jump.
Image (top right) Prestige Michel Robert CPS (Jump)
Image (bottom right) Prestige Instinct CPS (Jump)
X-Technology
It is a technology applied to the tree consisting of two membranes positioned in the rear part of the tree, where the rider’s ischial bones rest.
X-Technology Benefits
The membranes help increasing the comfort and stability of the rider. The sense of comfort and stability is evident on the trees that provide a wider seat in the back (Unisex-effect).
Who is it for?
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For those looking for a feeling of greater closeness to the horse: guaranteed by the membranes that accomodate the ischial bones when the rider sits in the saddle;
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For those looking for a more comfortable seat while maintaining equally excellent sporting performance;
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For those riders who want greater stability in the saddle. Thanks to the “Unisex-effect”, it can give a sensation of stability in the saddle to women who, having a wider pelvis, often struggle to achieve a tight bond with the saddle.
The X-technology panels replace the traditional panels. They are flocked with Dacron fibre (synthetic flocking material which is more consistent than wool flock) along with honeycomb fabric which allow the panels to be thinner and be closer to the horse. The panels ensue stability without stressing the animals back.
Image (right) Prestige X-D2 K Free (Dressage)
X-Breath
It is the technology applied to the tree consisting of an oval hole positioned in the center of the tree’s rear section, covered in elastic and breathable honeycomb fabric. In the X-Breath K, there is an additional hole in the front part of the tree.
X-Breath Benefits
The holes ensure greater breathability and minimize the overheating effects exerted by the saddle on both horse and rider. The rear hole makes the seat more comfortable by relieving the spinal column of the pressures it is usually subjected to. Additionally, saddles with X-Breath technology are lighter.
Who is it for?
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For those who like a breathable and comfortable seat;
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For those riders who want a physical benefit, reducing the stress on the spine and coccyx;
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For those who are looking for a lighter saddle;
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For those who have a downhill feeling on a horse or thoroughbreds.
The X-technology panels replace the traditional panels. They are flocked with Dacron fibre (synthetic flocking material which is more consistent than wool flock) along with honeycomb fabric which allow the panels to be thinner and be closer to the horse. The panels ensue stability without stressing the animals back.
Image (right) Prestige X-Breath Jump
Prestige Leather
Excellence in materials. Premium leathers sourced from renowned tanneries in Veneto and Tuscany, world-famous for their artisanal craftsmanship and the use of cutting-edge technologies while respecting tradition and the environment.
Types of leather
The choice and types of leather described only refer to the ones used in flaps and skirts, while the seat and roll knee are made of calf or bovine leather depending on the model. The available types vary depending on the selected model. Not all leather options are suitable for the entire range of products.
Elite
The distinctive feature of the Elite is its London colour, available exclusively for this category of leather. In the Premium Line, we offer two types of Elite products: printed leather and lined calfskin. Elite printed leather is a natural product subjected to a vegetable tanning process in tanks, which requires a longer processing time compared to other methods. This process ensures superior quality, better colour fixation, and good resistance to aging under normal use. Therefore, Elite printed leather is the ideal choice for those seeking a durable and resilient product. This leather is available only for Jumping saddles of the Premium Line, with a thickness ranging from 4.0 to 4.5 mm for the flaps and skirts. On the other hand, Elite lined calfskin undergoes an oiling process to ensure maximum softness. This type of leather offers optimal grip, providing a comfortable and secure feel. The lined leather is available for Jumping, Dressage, and Cross-Country saddles, with a thickness ranging from 5.0 to 6.0 mm for the flaps and skirts.
Forte
Forte Bull Leather is a new addition to the Premium Line. It comes in a doubled version, combining the strength and durability of hard leather with the softness and grip of Prestige’s traditional doubled leather, offering a unique feel and performance. It is the ideal choice for intensive use, without sacrificing the benefits of doubled leather. The thickness of the skirts and flaps is approximately 6 mm. Forte leather is available exclusively in the Premium Line, for dressage, jumping, and cross-country saddles, currently only in black. The following models are excluded: Venus, Venus K, X-Breath Jump, and X-Breath Jump K.
Lux
Lux is a lined leather that undergoes vegetable tanning processes and is crafted according to the highest standards, following the tradition of Prestige’s production process to achieve the typical grip of calfskin leather. Lux leather can be either smooth or printed for the Premium Line and Smart line in Jumping, Cross Country, and Leisure Time saddles, or only smooth for Dressage saddles. Lux leather stands out for its good grip and extreme durability. The thickness of the lined flaps and skirts with this material is approximately 5 mm. The available colours for Lux lined leather are: black, tobacco.
Panels
Two panel types for a unique comfort.
Flocked Panels
The ideal solution for riders looking for a soft and adaptable saddle. Flocked panels provide freedom of movement for the horse and prevent the rider from weighing on the back of the animal. Available both in the classic version or with the LPF (Light Performance Fit) technology.
Classic flocked panels are lined with felt and then, through a flocking process executed with care by our artisans, filled with the synthetic Dacron fibre, a resistant and highly adaptable material.
The LPF (Light Performance Fit panels) are made from a Dacron synthetic fibre, covered by an elastic honeycomb material (Airnet) and a layer of soft foam. This type pf panel is light, elastic and easily adaptable to the morphology of the modern horse. It combines the reduced thickness and the close-contact feeling with the horse, which are typical of latex panels, with the shock-absorbing and highly adaptability properties of flocked panels.
Both the Classic flocked panels and the LPF flocked panels are available as integrated with the sweat flaps, for closer contact. On the other hand, the free (nonintegrated) panels are the most versatile solution for easier adaptability.
Latex Panels
The solution for those looking for a comfortable and highperformance saddle that requires minimum maintenance. The polyurethane used to fill the panel is a material that does not compress and does not deteriorate over time: it is a product comes from the motorcycling industry, specifically designed to stay unaltered over time.
Personalisation
For both latex and flocked panels the Shoulder Free option is available, with reduced front thickness to enable greater freedom of movement for the horse’s shoulder and trapezius muscle. The following thickness options are also available for flocked panels: ½ flocking, standard flocking, +1 cm and +2 cm for the rear part. For the LATEX are available: ½ flocking, standard and +1.5 cm in rear part.
