CORRECTLY POSITIONING THE SADDLE

The saddle must be positioned in such a way that there is enough space between the shoulder and the saddle so that shoulder movement is not restricted . The way to do this is to run the end of your hand over the shoulder of the horse until you detect the scapula bone. Allow for a minimum width of about four fingers and that is the place to position the saddle. This will leave a space, the width of the palm of your hand, between the scapula and the girth. Remember that the front part of a jumping saddle could project upfront the shoulder of the horse but the fixed part, the tree, must never do so.

FIVE CARDINAL RULES
1 - Tree size: If a saddle is correctly positioned the tree will extend parallel to the back of the horse and as close as possible to it.
2 - Consideration for the horse’s backboneA and withers: The width between the saddle panels must make proper allowance for the horse’s spine and not bear down on it under the weight of the rider. The size of the front arch of the saddle must be such as to enable compliance with the age-old “4-fingers” rule (corresponding to about 5 cm) between the pommel and the withers of the horse.
3 - Balancing: Once the right tree size has been found, the next step is to ensure the saddle is properly balanced. When it rests in position, the saddle must conform to the horse’s back in a way that evenly distributes the weight of the rider over the entire surface and so prevents it bearing down too much to the front (the scapula bones of the horse) or to the back (the loins of the horse).
4 - Contact by the panels: The panels must, in their entirety and along their full length, form a snug fit with the horse’s back. This will ensure proper distribution of the weight of the rider.
5 - Symmetry: Look at the horse from the rear and check that the saddle rests parallel to the backbone of the horse and is positioned symmetrically about it If the saddle complies with these five rules it will be properly positioned and be comfortable for the horse.

MADE TO MEASURE SADDLES
Prestige Italia has developed a way of measuring a horse’s back that is unique and absolutely innovative. It enables the exact morphological features of a horse to be transferred onto paper by using a withers gauge. This special rod-shaped instrument is able to maintain whatever shape it is bent into and is notched for measuring purposes.
Prestige also uses a special level that finds the exact point at which the horse’s backbone is horizontal. In this way panels can be made that are customised to its morphology.
The aim is to make higher or lower panels that ensure the rider has the proper balance in the saddle.
A Made-to-measure saddles for horses: the technical characteristics.
Because panels can be made with increased or reduced thickness horses can be fitted with saddles perfectly adapted to their individual morphology.
Made-to-measure saddles for riders: The technical characteristics show how Prestige can make saddles to measure for riders, too. All of its saddles (except the
TREKKER models) have 5 flap lengths: from XS to XXL. Its show jumping saddles have, in addition, 3 flap projection sizes: standard, +2 cm, +4 cm.
They also have large, medium-sized, or small blocks to suit your style of riding.

SADDLE CHARACTERISTICS
All models in the “PREMIUM” line are available in black, tobacco brown, or cognac.
Seat sizes are 16”, 17”, and 18” except for the following models: Atena and Atena Flaps (just 17” and 18”). Joy Jumper and Lucky Dressage (just 16”), and the Trekker saddle line, which has just a standard seat and width size. Width sizes vary between 29 and 37, with the exception of the following saddles: D1, D1D, D1 K, D1D K, SALAMANCA, ICELAND D1, ATENA SFC and ATENA SFC FLAPS, which
offer a more restricted size range: S – M – L.

MATERIALS
The leather used in Prestige Italia products is naturally tanned and originates from cattle bred outdoors.
Any slight shadow, differences or markings are not faults but guarantees of a natural product.

GUARANTEE
All Prestige Italia saddles come with a lifetime guarantee against any damage to the tree (apart from any accident).
The leather and stitching is guaranted for two years from date of manufacture.

STIRRUP LEATHERS
Do not use rigid stirrup leathers, which can damage surfaces. Prestige’s nonstretch are excellent and soft and have the slimmest on the market.

BOOTS
Be careful with boots that incorporate rubber or coarse material. They accelerate the wear on calfskin-lined saddle flaps through rubbing up against them.

DETAILS
Saddles which have flaps made from calf skin leather provide instant softness along with additional grip, therefore this must be taken into consideration as it is not as durable as traditional saddle leather.
The leather, which is used for the panels and the girths, is treated with an anti-sweat process, thus reducing the amount of maintenance required and reinforcing strength within these areas.
We do not recommend using hard leather stirrup leathers as this will only damage the saddle. Therefore, we recommend that A17 soft leathers be used. This will prolong the life of the saddle.
The tree, which is constructed using various fibers, does not require any metal support. The withers bar can be altered using one of our machines without dismantling the saddle.
This allows the saddle width to be changed every time your horse changes shape.

SPECIAL VERSIONS
“Special” versions of lined saddles are so called due to the presence of added material in leather on the lower part of the flap exposed to contact with the stirrup leathers.

SADDLES WITH FLOCKED PANELS
Panels flocked with a special synthetic fibre that prevents compression of the material and therefore requires less maintenance. These panels are especially suited to horses that are asymmetric between their front and back or vice versa.
They also offer more options: panels +1 cm / +2 cm at the back or with half stuffing.

SADDLES WITH LATEX PANELS
These soft-latex panels have reduced weight in the area of the withers and shoulders. This allows greater freedom of movement when airborne during jumping, so avoidAing pressure on the withers.
Panels with increased-thickness at the back or half-thickness panels are available for horses that are asymmetrical from front to back and vice versa.

SF CONCEPT LATEX SADDLES
These special panels are designed to give freedom to the trapezius muscle and, by the same token, leave the shoulders unhampered. They are especially suited to stallions or horses with less developed shoulders.
(Available only for 17” and 18” seats).

PARTICULAR FEATURES

femur measure Relation between femur’s length and the flaps’ length; the femur’s length has to be taken on the internal side of the leg from the groin to the top of the knee.
flap’s sizes for jumping saddles In case of longer flaps these are little bit more forward on the front.
Seat size These sizes don’t work with riders that are more than 120 kg.
Withers bar Withers bar from 29 to 37. Each withers bar size is 1 cm more or less with respect to the standard size (32).