About us

Our Story – Handmade in Italy since 1991

Equitex founder as a young man with mare Laila – inspiration for saddle pad innovation

It all began with a mare whose sensitive back spoke louder than any words, and a rider who listened.

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Petra Ladurner Spitaler with their horses at Equitex Home.

A colorful range of Equitex saddle pad models elegantly displayed on a tree trunk in a natural outdoor setting.

“Details make perfection, but perfection is not a detail.” - Leonardo da Vinci

Equitex was founded in 1991 within a South Tyrolean, Italy company that produced high-quality sofas and mattresses. At the time production director, Johannes Spitaler acquired his first horse. Not satisfied with the saddle pads available on the market and driven by a simple yet revolutionary idea: what lies between the saddle and the horse’s back is of fundamental importance. He developed the first Equitex saddle pad for his mare.

This led to a deep passion for understanding biomechanics and helping other horses, ultimately guiding him to pursue a path as an equine osteopath. Through years of experience with numerous horses, he came to understand that no horse is perfectly symmetrical and never will be. For this reason, he continued to refine and develop his saddle pads: to help protect the back from pressure and to precisely balance these natural asymmetries.

From the first prototypes tested with different materials to the international debut at SPOGA in Cologne and at Fieracavalli in Verona in 1994, Equitex has always followed a clear path: innovation in harmony with Italian craftsmanship. In 1995 the brand was officially registered, and since then Equitex saddle pads have been produced exclusively by hand in Trentino-South Tyrol.

A new chapter began with the arrival of Petra Ladurner Spitaler, Johannes wife. Her aesthetic sensitivity and systematic approach to functional testing strenghtened Equitex with a unique balance of refined design and biomechanical effectiveness.

For over 35 years, Equitex has continued to grow and evolve, remaining faithful to three core pillars: quality, tradition and respect for the horse.

Our Philosophy – Born from Love for Horses

Equitex founders Johannes and Petra with horses – symbol of care, comfort and elegance

Born from the passion of Johannes and Petra, the story of a unique saddle pad continues: Equitex is a union of protection, elegance, and respect for the horse.

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Equitex is not simply a saddle pad. It is the result of a true story: a sensitive horse, a rider able to listen, and an idea that transformed the world of saddle pads.

Johannes Spitaler realized that even the best-fitted saddle was not always enough to protect the horse’s back from pressure. His mare with a sensitive back inspired him to create a saddle pad that did more than simply “fill a space,” but one that protects, supports, and respects the horse’s biomechanics.

With Petra, Equitex embraced a holistic approach: elegant design combined with technological materials and testing under real conditions. Every model is developed to ensure freedom of movement, long-term comfort, and optimal performance, whether in competition, training, or everyday riding.

Equitex is far more than a saddle pad: it is a statement of love and respect for the horse, built on more than 35 years of experience and Italian artisanal excellence.