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A saddle that fitted perfectly six months ago may now slip forward, backward, or sideways. Not because it’s bad – but because the horse has changed. It might have built muscle in training, be returning from an injury, matured, gained or lost weight. At the same time, the wool in the panels compresses, and the seams near the knee rolls need re-stitching. Sound familiar? We solve this problem in one place – at the authorized Equishop saddle service center.
The most common reason riders postpone servicing is very prosaic: time. Shipping the saddle to the manufacturer or saddler, several weeks of waiting, training on borrowed equipment that fits neither the horse nor the rider. That's why Equishop saddle service is launching in a new form: it's not a repair you wait for, but an express saddle service at the authorized Prestige Italia point in Ruda Śląska, ul. Oświęcimska 9 – with completion within 3 business days. Below we show what exactly it covers and when it's worth using.
Why does a saddle require service, even if "nothing happened"?
Many people associate saddle repair with a breakdown: a broken tree, a torn stirrup leather, ripped leather, a hole in the flap. Meanwhile, the vast majority of service work is not about fixing defects, but about adapting the saddle to a horse whose physique has changed, and reversing the natural wear and tear of materials.
Wool-filled panels compress over time – unevenly, because a horse is rarely perfectly symmetrical, and the rider also has their stronger side. Leather that doesn't receive regular care loses elasticity, dulls, and eventually cracks in areas of greatest stress. Pins, visible as round caps on the outside of the saddle, can get lost. None of these processes are "defects" – they are normal wear and tear.
It's worth having a saddle checked regularly by a saddle fitter – especially when the horse's behavior under saddle changes, including: stiffness in the back, reluctance to collect, uneven shoulder movement, sweat marks of varying intensity on both sides, biting when girthed, or sulking.
What exactly can the service do to make the saddle fit again – and why does it matter who does it?
Authorized Prestige Italia Service – What Does It Change for You and Your Saddle?
Equishop is a certified Prestige Italia dealer with a three-star Premium status and operates an authorized service point for this brand at its company headquarters. In practice, this means three things that no "jack-of-all-trades" saddlery workshop can provide.
Firstly, the manufacturer's warranty is preserved. Prestige Italia offers a lifetime warranty on its saddle trees – but only if any intervention on the tree, such as changing its width, was performed at an authorized service center, and provided the tree has not been involved in an accident. Adjustments made outside an authorized service center simply void this warranty.
Secondly, original Prestige parts are used for repairs – pins, leather components, wool with parameters consistent with those used by the manufacturer in its factory. After servicing, the saddle is the same saddle, not a hybrid with substitutes.
Thirdly, Equishop service operates according to procedures recommended by the manufacturer. You can send the saddle directly to the service, without a prior saddle fitter visit – just describe the problem when ordering. However, if you want a saddle fitter to evaluate the saddle on the horse first, please arrange a phone appointment with Monika Zastrzeżyńska-Rychwalska at 514 766 505. The service covers Prestige Italia and Renaissance saddles (a brand belonging to Prestige), and tree width adjustment – also Appaloosa saddles.
Let's look at the individual services – from the most invasive to the simplest.
Changing the Gullet Width – When the Horse's Physique Changes
Prestige Italia's patented gullet is designed to allow its width to be changed multiple times – narrowing or widening by up to three sizes in each direction. This is a huge advantage for horse owners: instead of buying a new saddle for the horse when it "outgrows" the current one, they can adapt the one they already have.
The gullet width adjustment service is the most frequently ordered item at Equishop's service center. It is carried out on-site in Ruda Śląska, within 2 business days of the saddle's delivery, while maintaining the lifetime warranty on the gullet. It's worth considering in several typical situations: when the saddle starts to "sit" on the withers or loses its even position on the back; when the horse has clearly developed after a change in training, or when it has lost weight, changed due to injury, illness, stable change, etc.; or when the saddle is being used for another horse.
Simply changing the gullet is not always enough. If the gullet already fits, but the saddle still isn't sitting evenly, the problem might be in the panels.
Panel Work – Four Ways to Achieve a Better Fit
The panels are the part of the saddle that directly contacts the horse's back. In Prestige Italia saddles with wool filling – both jumping saddles and dressage saddles – they can be modified, and it is precisely this group of services that most distinguishes saddle fitting service from a simple repair. All the following work applies exclusively to wool panels; saddles with latex panels cannot be adjusted in this way.
Refilling the Panels – When the Wool Has Compressed
Over time, the wool in the panels compacts, shifts, and locally depletes. The saddle begins to sit lower, rock, or exert pinpoint pressure. Refilling the panels involves selectively adding wool where it's missing, replacing compacted sections, and leveling both panels relative to each other. This is the most comprehensive panel service, but the effect is immediately noticeable – the saddle regains the symmetry and shock absorption it had when new.
Padding under the tree points – Frontal Support
If the saddle "runs" forward or drops in the wither area, the solution is often padding under the tree points, which means adding wool to the front part of the panel, near the stirrup bars. This provides additional support where the panel meets the withers. The procedure is reversible – if the horse changes again, the wool can be corrected.
Half flocking – closer to the horse
The opposite situation: the saddle sits too high, the rider feels like they are "on the horse," not "with the horse." Half flocking of the panels involves removing wool and flattening the panels in the middle and rear sections. The saddle sits lower, closer to the spine, and the rider gains better contact and feel. This service is particularly effective for horses with higher croups, a round, "barrel-shaped" body, and those that significantly lift their back in collection.
Free shoulder – space for movement
Horses with well-defined, wide, or prominent shoulders need additional space where the shoulder moves. The "free shoulder" modification involves removing filling from the front part of the panel at shoulder height. The effect is visible in the freedom of gait at the front – the horse stops shortening its stride because nothing is blocking it. This procedure is not recommended for horses with smooth, slender shoulders – if you are unsure whether this is the right direction for your horse, it is worth consulting a saddle fitter before ordering.
Panel work is the heart of saddle fitting service. But there are also minor repairs that equally affect daily riding comfort.
Minor repairs that enhance comfort: pins and knee rolls
A lost pin is not just an aesthetic issue. Replacing pins in a saddle involves removing a damaged or missing pin and installing a new, original Prestige pin matched to the saddle model. You can order replacement of one to four pins on a single order form.
The knee roll, in turn, is the part of the saddle that works very intensively. A loose, worn, or broken seam not only looks bad but also affects the rider's leg position. Re-stitching the knee roll avoids replacing the entire component and preserves the original leg position the rider is accustomed to. The service is priced per side – for both rolls, two units are ordered.
Both repairs take 2-3 business days and are performed on-site at the Equishop service center at ul. Oświęcimska 9 in Ruda Śląska, without weeks of waiting.
Cleaning and Leather Care – More Than Cosmetics
Saddle leather operates under exceptionally harsh conditions: horse sweat, salt, dust, UV rays, and in winter – dry air in the tack room. Dried-out leather loses elasticity and grip, dulls, and eventually cracks in areas of greatest stress. At that point, repair is significantly more expensive than prevention.
Professional leather care in a saddle at the Equishop service is not just wiping with a random soap. The leather is cleaned of dirt, salt deposits, and residues of previously applied products, and then moisturized with products compliant with the manufacturer's recommendations until it regains its deep color and elasticity. Regular, correctly performed care is the cheapest way to extend the life of a saddle by years. The service takes 1-3 business days and – as you'll see below – when combined with another repair, costs a fraction of the basic price.
Now that we know what the service includes, the question most frequently asked by riders remains.
How long does saddle service take? Up to 3 business days – or bypass the queue
The industry standard is several weeks of waiting for a saddle, which sits in a queue during that time. During this period, the horse either stands idle or works in substitute equipment that doesn't fit.
At Equishop service, the turnaround time for each of the services described above is a maximum of 3 business days, calculated from the day following saddle delivery. Gullet width adjustment takes 2 business days, panel work, pin replacement, and re-stitching – 2-3 days, leather care – 1 to 3 days. This is possible because all work is performed on-site, at Equishop's headquarters at ul. Oświęcimska 9 in Ruda Śląska, and not outsourced.
If even that is too long – because there's a competition on the weekend and the saddle needs to be ready – you can add the Priority option for PLN 50 on the service card for each service. The saddle then goes to the front of the service queue and is processed first. This is a solution for emergency situations where every day counts.
Bundle for Savings – Maintenance and Accessories on the Service Card
Since the saddle is already in for service, disassembled, and in the hands of a saddle fitter, the most cost-effective time for leather care is right then. Therefore, on the service card for each repair, a set of add-ons is available at prices not found anywhere else in the store:
- Saddle cleaning + leather care for PLN 99 instead of PLN 249 – a PLN 150 discount available exclusively in conjunction with service. The saddle returns not only repaired but also nourished and ready for the season.
- New Prestige saddle cover –20% – PLN 239.20 instead of PLN 299. A sensible choice if the old cover is worn out or the saddle is returning to the stable via courier.
- Prestige care kit –20% – PLN 271.20 instead of PLN 339, to maintain the effect of professional care at home.
- Priority for PLN 50 – described above priority in the queue.
All add-ons can be selected with a single click when placing an order on the service card – the full range of saddle services can be found in one place in the store. The rule is simple: with service, maintenance and accessories are always cheaper than when purchased separately.
How to order saddle service – step by step
The entire process is designed so that it does not require any phone calls or explanations via email. It looks like this:
- Choose a service on the Equishop service page or directly on the specific repair card. If you don't know what the saddle needs – call +48 32 782 45 68 (Mon–Fri 9:00–17:00), and an advisor will help you choose the service. You can arrange a saddle fitter visit directly with Monika Zastrzeżyńska-Rychwalska: 514 766 505.
- Decide on delivery. There are three options to choose from: personal delivery to the store at ul. Oświęcimska 9 in Ruda Śląska (free of charge), one-way courier (you send the saddle yourself, Equishop sends it back), or two-way courier. The cost of transport is visible when selecting the option.
- Add a package if you want to take advantage of care for PLN 99, accessories at a lower price, or the Priority option.
- Prepare the saddle. Saddles accepted for service must be clean and free of mechanical damage beyond the ordered service.
- Pick up the saddle after 2-3 business days – in person or by courier, to the specified address.
If you wish to combine service with a full saddle fitting visit or a trial of a new saddle from the full Prestige Italia saddle range, the Equishop Fitting Center operates at the same address.
Riding Helmet Service – Completing the Offer
Equishop service primarily deals with saddles, but under the same roof, you can also take care of your helmet. The scope is narrower and strictly related to the brands for which Equishop is an authorized dealer:
- Shell polishing (PLN 199) – for helmets with a glossy finish that have lost their shine after the season or have minor scratches.
- Part replacement (PLN 59) – exclusively for KEP Italia helmets: straps, linings, finishing elements with original manufacturer parts.
- Samshield safety check (PLN 399) – helmet inspection after a fall or impact. This is an important point: the shell may appear intact, yet no longer provide protection. The check provides an answer as to whether the helmet still protects or needs to be replaced.
Delivery times for helmets are confirmed after the equipment is received, as some work requires consultation with the manufacturer. If, after inspection, it turns out that the helmet needs to be replaced, Equishop advisors will help you choose a new one from the riding helmet collection.
Frequently asked questions about saddle servicing
Does Equishop service saddles of brands other than Prestige?
Authorized service covers Prestige Italia and Renaissance saddles, and gullet plate adjustment also covers Appaloosa saddles. For other brands, it's best to call – an expert will answer.
Does adjusting the gullet plate weaken the saddle?
The Prestige Italia gullet plate is designed for multiple adjustments. When performed by an authorized service center, it not only does not weaken the structure but also maintains the manufacturer's lifetime warranty on the gullet plate.
How often should a saddle be serviced?
- An adult horse in regular training: every six to twelve months.
- A young or still growing horse: every three months.
- After a longer break from work, pasture vacation, or rehabilitation: before returning to training, not a month after.
- After a significant change in condition or weight in either direction.
- When the nature of work changes: more jumping, entering sports, switching to a different discipline.
- Always with a new saddle, especially a used one, and always with a new horse.
If you don't remember when someone last looked at your saddle on your horse, that's your answer.
Do I have to come in person?
No. You can send the saddle by courier, and Equishop will send it back after servicing. A personal visit makes sense if you want to combine servicing with a saddle fitting consultation or a trial – you can arrange it by calling 514 766 505.
What if I need the saddle for the weekend?
Choose the Priority option on the service card – the saddle will go to the front of the queue.
A saddle that fits today, not a year ago
A good saddle is an investment for many years – but only if it keeps up with the changing horse and receives regular care. The authorized Prestige Italia service at Equishop allows you to do this without weeks of separation from your equipment, with the manufacturer's warranty and original parts.
If you have any doubts whether your saddle requires adjustment, we invite you to the Fitting Center at ul. Oświęcimska 9 in Ruda Śląska or to contact us by phone at +48 32 782 45 68.
