The Quality and Prestige of Italian Craftsmanship
F
ourteen billion espressos are consumed in Italy each year. It’s no surprise that the highly caffeinated and highly productive Italian people have produced some of the most iconic brands. Italy is also home to many of our most useful inventions, such as the first battery, corrective reading glasses (whose first users were 13th century monks) and the world’s first bank which opened in Genoa in 1149. Innovation and fine craftsmanship are part of the country’s DNA and it’s seen today, all these centuries later, in the high functioning and beautiful equestrian products that continue to dominate the market. Cavalleria Toscana, Kask, Parlanti and Prestige Italia have found a
great footing (horse pun intended) with equestrians all over the world. The most historic brand, Prestige Italia, was founded in 1974. Prestige was the first workshop to open in the now-famous saddlery district near Vicenza. Currently headquartered in Trissino with a U.S. location in Wellington, Florida, this saddle maker is known for Made-in-Italy quality and excellence. Prestige offers a large variety of saddle designs, each with a high functioning core and handcrafted soul. Their materials combine modern technology with a focus on three components: tree, leather, and panels. Prestige Italia was the first company to create a tree with synthetic materials that offers more stability, lightens the saddle for closer contact, and provides the flexibility to adapt the tree opening to each horse’s shape
for a perfect fit. Their designers have also studied the needs of female riders to create a unisex tree that takes into consideration the anatomical differences between men and women. Prestige Italia takes great pride in creating the most comfortable and stable ride bespoke to every gender and size. Prestige Italia is the saddle of choice for two top show jumpers in the Longines rankings: Peder Fredricson and Martin Fuchs. Both riders are outfitted with Renaissance Saddles. Prestige and Renaissance have also been the favorite brands of showjumping legends such as Michel Robert, Ludger and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, and Mark McAuley. “I was trying a horse who had a Renaissance saddle, and I felt my position got so much better. I asked to try one for a couple of weeks on my own horses and I really liked it. Since then there have
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