Rider Testimonials

Congratulations !!

Eva and Hardrock Harmonie SIH returned to the show ring in their new Schleese Boundless jump saddle. Eva and ‘Hardrock Harmonie’ won all 3 over-fences classes in the ‘Low Adults’ division at Angelstone Major League Opener.

“Exceptional quality is essential when it comes to our equipment in this sport, and that’s why we consistently choose Schleese Saddlery Service for all of our saddle needs! Schleese prioritizes quality for the horse and rider, and nothing less will suffice for our equine partners!”

Team Irwin Dressage

“We had a wonderful day yesterday at the barn with @schleese! Connie and Chris are absolutely amazing and I am so lucky to be able to work with them and have them continue to help me, my horses and my clients and their horses! New saddles were purchased and current saddles refitted and reflocked. As always, [it was such an informative and helpful day and helping make sure our horses are comfortable and able to perform to the best of their ability! It’s always so amazing to see how the horses change and move in properly fitted saddles. I am so excited to see how they progress in their training!

Thank you @schleese for your continued support! I am proud to ride in your saddles.”

KM Performance Horses, LLC

Hello Sandrine,

I received my new Let’s Dance saddle on Friday. It is superb. I am pleasantly surprised by the comfort and the effectiveness of my position in this saddle. I believe what surprises me the most is the response of both mares from the first ride. They have just moved up three notches. Platina gave me gaits that she had not shown for at least three years. Pablina has never been better.

I want to tell you that your measurements were very good and that my two mares and I than you [and] the people who worked on this saddle.

We will see each other again in the fall for an adjustment.

Thank you for your excellent work!

Have a great day!

Natcha L. – St-Tite-des-Caps, Québec

“I would highly recommend this saddle fitting evaluation for anyone! We can’t say enough great things about our experience and how much we have learned along the way! We have struggled for three years trying to find a saddle that fits our large pony, Billy. I happened to see a Schleese evaluation event in our area and decided to give it a try. It was the best decision we made. The professional team of skilled fitters explained everything they were doing step by step. It was an eye-opening experience and something that other “fitters” never have done. Five months into using a Schleese saddle, our pony, Billy, couldn’t be happier! He is stretching out from the first moment my daughter is on his back. His sticky lead change is no longer sticky! He placed in the undersaddle in a national final competition! He is truly happy and I am so happy we did this for him! A special thank you to Dakota! She has been there since our first fitting and has answered my millions of questions in such a timely manner! It has been greatly appreciated! Schleese truly is top-notch!”

I am a tri-Schleese saddle owner! As a matter of fact, they are finally THE ONLY brand of saddle in my tack room.

My ‘little’ mare I purchased 3 years ago had not been ridden correctly and has a very sway back. I tried 3-4 different saddles and various shimming patterns to try and fit each saddle. Nothing worked so I finally purchased her a Schleese Devin and an Obrigado since I love to ride trails, on cows, and dressage. We had a great season of trail riding and cow sorting until some other physical issues caught up with her.

I then purchased a four-year-old quarter horse to ride (I knew I’d be spending over a year ‘rehabbing’ Millie.). No worries, though! We attended a saddle fitting and the Devin became his custom-fit saddle!

A nice young lady with little horse experience came into our lives and began helping me rehab Millie. She wasn’t comfortable in the dressage saddle as a very new rider, so I purchased the new Sheridan for her and Millie. My stirrups were too long for her on the Devin anyway so it worked out just fine!

I have a 29-year-old appendix gelding with quite a bit of muscle atrophy, but he likes to putter around a little bit. I’m able to set Millie’s saddle in him for very short rides, too.

I have told multiple friends about the saddles and have aided in the sale of quite a few more in Ohio. I am a believer and try to save my horse friends who are just getting back into horses or who are looking for a saddle the trouble of buying and then having to sell that saddle due to poor saddle fit.

As a horse owner who has owned at least 10 different saddles over the years, my recommendation is to not waste your money and just get a Schleese (or two or three) so you can accommodate your horse as it changes through age or training and can accommodate any new horse you acquire.

On the western saddles, you can learn to change the shimming as you switch between horses, can get panels set to each horse and just change the panels, or buy more than one saddle! Schleese provides the confidence that your horse’s back will stay healthy and happy. Please pick me! I’d love to get the shorter-length fenders for my Devin!

Thank you!

Jenny Lance

We bought our first Friesian 3 years ago with no tack for her, I searched and asked until I saw one of Jochen’s videos. I knew then when fit for the horse comes first we needed one. I set up my measuring as per the videos and found an Obrigado that fit the bill. We were so honoured to have Denise Lenz come to our house to fit it correctly to our mare, and I love it also even though I’m a male rider.

Two years ago I bought a Friesian gelding and there was no choice but to buy another Schleese, this time a western Devin saddle. We are so blessed to have an approved Schleese saddle fitter in our area of Wisconsin Tina Fox. Tina has made sure that my gelding is fit correctly and adjusted the saddle as he had changed.

We had the privilege of meeting Jochen Schleese at the Midwest horse fair this last April. I have a problem with [my] chair seat in my western but not dressage saddle. Jochen was able to give us directions on how to adjust the saddle by looking at pictures I had. Tina Fox came to our house, made the adjustments and no more ‘chair seat’ and my gelding moved totally relaxed!!!

To me, this is a home run. I am an avid Schleese promoter online or off, love the versatility and adjustability and no thick stupid saddle pads to make up for an ill-fitting saddle, I use my dressage pads for both saddles- who else can say that?

Thanks, Brett Fiala

My name is Dana Hill. I purchased a custom-made Jete Plus Saddle from Schleese in 2021. The saddle was custom fit for my 11 yr Hanoverian mare who completed a couple of 2* events prior to my purchase. She had much evidence of damage from poor saddle fit. Originally when I purchased her, I was told by someone whose opinion I trusted, that the saddle I was using fit her. As her behaviour intensified over the next few months, I began to seriously doubt this advice.

As the pandemic has closed down any access I had to in-person consultation I began to do my own research and I became interested in what I was reading from Schleese. The website provided exceptional resources and the company also created insightful and educational webinars. Jochen was forthcoming about his own personal learning curve with saddle fitting and I found this to be very important for myself moving forward with a clear conscience. I appreciated his research references and found myself aligned with the weight he put on biomechanics and anatomy.

As the pandemic subsided, I reached out to the Ontario Schleese rep whom I had known from her equine bodywork career. The fact that Schleese reps have to take the ergonomist course to become a certified saddle fitter [CSE] was very comforting to me. I felt confident that I was working with someone knowledgeable.

The experience was nothing but positive. Although at the time the wait for the saddle was long (pandemic-related), it was worth it. It gave me an opportunity to further my horse’s development on the ground. Once the saddle did arrive, we immediately had to make some changes due to the positive changes from the groundwork in my mare. This was not a problem. I have since had my saddle adjusted 8 times. My mare’s entire body has changed and she is moving g beautifully and most importantly correctly and without tension.

I chose Schleese for the following reasons:

– Philosophy of saddle fit and research conducted to ensure proper construction.
– Construction of the saddle and features such as PSI panels, location of tree points, shoulder relief, gullet width, quality of leather etc.
– Ability to make changes to the saddle as the horse’s body changes especially at the wither and the shoulder.
– Quality and education level of the saddle fitter employed by Schleese.
– Accessibility to quality fitters whether I am in Canada or the United States. The evaluation forms that each fitter completes provide all the information that the next fitter needs.

“I have been riding for 70 years and own purebred Arabians. I had been riding in a Prestige dressage saddle. I was at an Arabian dressage clinic and the clinician stopped me to do a saddle fit check. I had fitted the saddle mostly correctly but had not taken into account the short back of the Arabian horse. We utilized a wedge as a make-do solution. I sat better and my horse was very obviously happier. The clinician suggested various saddles that might be suitable, Schleese being one of them.

I began my search, knowing I needed to purchase used. In the meantime, I moved across the country, bringing my horses with me. I continued my saddle search.

Finally! I found a used 17.5” Schleese, medium wide, with pony panels at a local tack shop. I took it out on a trial. What a lovely difference a properly fitted saddle makes! I mounted and my horse did not brace! He calmly stood still while I mounted. I was no longer seated as if I was in a chair. Everything felt so right! We put the saddle through its paces. Absolutely perfect for both horse and rider! I quickly purchased it.

I have signed up for the do-it-yourself saddle fitting. It should validate my choice. I am thrilled with my, new to me, Schleese dressage saddle!!”

Regards, Tacy Cook