News
25th anniversary
5 June 2025
News
5 June 2025
Antarès Sellier was founded in 2000 by 5 visionary horse lovers with a passion for French craftsmanship. They’ve spent 25 years working like a proverbial to build their legacy, pushing the boundaries of comfort, performance and customisation to meet the needs of riders and the wellness of horses.
French expertise at Antarès goes hand in hand with French craftsmanship and is captured by its premium bespoke saddles handmade by our leather artisans. Attention to detail, innovation, high standards and respect for a unique legacy go into each and every piece. These same values have seen us build strong bonds with our saddlemaker partners who have helped Antarès make its mark as one of the best saddlers in the world.
Antarès believes there’s more to equine wellness than a custom saddle. Our experts have been trained in saddle fitting by equine osteopaths to provide a fit that meets both the basic needs of the horse and ensures comfort and communication between rider and steed.
We’ve been on this journey for a quarter of a century and each and every day has been a quest for excellence. Today, we’re celebrating 25 years of success and passion. We’re proud of how far we’ve come and we’re still fuelled by the same energy and enthusiasm as the very first day.
Experience our legacy, welcome to the Antarès world.
Every saddle has had its own story to tell for the last 25 years. Our quest for excellence is fuelled by passion, respect for horses and French craftsmanship. Antarès has unveiled an iconic and exclusive design to celebrate the milestone: a unique limited edition saddle.
It’s more than a product; it’s a collector’s item in tribute to our heritage and the people who have been with us from the start.
This limited edition collection is designed like a work of art with 25 saddles for 25 years of passion. Unfailing French craftsmanship has gone into each and every one. Just as leather develops a patina, the saddles are made to last with the same character and depth.
Every trim is lovingly finished, every stitch exudes tradition and every leather tells a chapter of our story.
That’s why we chose to use strong and stylish leather from Bastin & Fils for the flaps and soft and sophisticated leather from the Carriat tannery for the knee rolls and seat.
With its high standards and passion for French craftsmanship, the Bastin & Fils tannery was an obvious choice for this one-off collection. The family business was founded in Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat in the 19th century and is famous for its unique expertise in extra slow plant-based tanning, giving the leather outstanding strength, a natural patina and timeless elegance. Their leather was specially adapted for the anniversary saddle to meet the style specifications of our design. This model pays tribute to a long-term collaboration built on the same values: quality, tradition and passion for the craft. Bastin & Fils is now a recognised Living Heritage Company and one of the last tanneries in the world with expertise in the traditional tanning method. Every hide is carefully tanned by hand with meticulous steps such as soaking, liming, currying and hammering to produce leather of the finest quality.
To go with this legendary leather, we naturally called in another of our long-term partners: Tannerie Rémy Carriat. The tannery was founded almost a century ago in Espelette and Antarès has been working with the Basque business since its foundation. Carriat has the same values for excellence and innovation as us. The tannery is famous for its expert mineral tanning process that produces soft, strong and sophisticated leather. It specialises in full-grain Taurillon leather, a high-end leather renowned for its soft feel and used for parts in direct contact with the rider: knee rolls and seat. Its smooth texture, style and resistance to wear and tear are integral to this model. This loyal partnership captures a long-standing collaboration built on the same trust, craftsmanship and high standards that Antarès is founded on.
These two iconic partnerships unite two French leather legends in the 25th anniversary saddle.
All the saddles are numbered and engraved with exclusive branding on the sweat flap to make the occasion extra special. The saddle has been given a chic and radiant “gold” hue to reflect the sophistication and prestige of the milestone moment. In keeping with the aesthetic, the attention to detail is second to none: the saddle studs, logo and rear piping are in gold to highlight this unique edition’s signature visual identity. It comes with matching stirrups and girth to coordinate the pieces. Every model comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by one of our iconic partners, just like the ones you get with premium spirits or designer fragrances. The certificate and edition number give each saddle its own unique personality, making it the holy grail of horse tack.
Where could be more fitting than La Baule to launch the official Antarès Sellier 25th anniversary? The traditional event is a highlight on the equestrian calendar and a favourite among riders and fans alike. It’s no coincidence that we chose La Baule for our big reveal, since it embodies everything we’ve been championing for over 25 years: performance, respect for horses and high standards in a sophisticated sector.
We want everyone to have a smooth and bespoke experience, so you can visit our website to book your fitting and receive support from our experts. Our tailor-made service ensures perfect harmony between the saddle, horse and rider without sacrificing biomechanics and comfort. We want to make excellence accessible whilst upholding our customer-centric culture.
Antarès Sellier is all about relationships.
We join forces with people and help build their careers. We’ve worked with over a hundred riders in a variety of riding disciplines since our foundation. Our partnerships are an alliance built on trust and the same values.
Some of the riders we’ve been supporting since their first events are now shining on the biggest horse riding stages. One of them is Nina Mallevaey. She was spotted at a very early age and has grown up with Antarès. We saw her potential from the outset and we’re proud to have watched the young jumper climb the ladder to reach the elite. She flies the flag for a new generation of ambitious, hard-working and passionate riders. The talented rider won yet another title this year at the France Pro Élite 2025 at the Grand Parquet in Fontainebleau. It’s a huge accomplishment and just reward for years of hard work and perseverance. As Nina’s partner, we’re honoured to have watched her rise to the top of her game, from her first podiums to the biggest titles, and we’re proud to have been there to support her already legendary career.
Photo credit: @HCRUDEN
There’s so much more to every Antarès saddle than just a product. There’s a story. There’s a feeling. There’s a unique bond between the rider, horse and our craftsmanship. We’ve spent 25 years growing alongside the people who bring our sport to life.
To celebrate our anniversary, let us introduce you to 25 iconic figures: their careers, victories and testimonials. Visit our Instagram account or timeline (lien) detailing the milestone moments of our adventure together.
25 years ago, 5 passionate people dreamt big and set out to create, innovate and push the boundaries. Today, Antarès Sellier isn’t just celebrating a quarter of a century of craftsmanship; it’s celebrating an extraordinary adventure.
We couldn’t have done it without you. We’d like to thank our riders, saddlemakers and colleagues. We’d like to thank you for being with Antarès since the start. We’d like to thank our legendary and indispensable partners who have helped Antarès grow, progress and push the boundaries.
It’s time for a new chapter, but it’s by no means the last. We have new designs, new projects and new collaborations in the pipeline. The future is bright, bold and always true to our values. Anniversaries may be a time for celebration, but they’re also a time for anticipation for what the future holds.
Our 25th anniversary isn’t the home straight; we’re chomping at the bit for more.
Antarès Sellier is 25. We’ve had a great ride so far. And we’re only just getting started.