Chad Basile is an award-winning rider, esteemed dressage trainer, and owner of Croft Hollow farm in Webster, New York where he breeds and raises world class horses.
A life-long horse lover, Chad’s current focus is directed toward mindful breeding practices that result in extraordinary horses with an aptitude for dressage, exceptional trainability, impeccable conformation, and optimal health. He is meticulous in his selection of stallions for his mares to ensure a compliment and balance of traits, and diligent when matching the sale of one of his horses with a prospective buyer.
Chad has been sharing his life with horses for 30 years riding hunters, jumpers, and dressage horses. His current focus is classical dressage: implementing the German Training system for a correctly developed sport-horse. In his holistic approach to nurturing horses as athletes, Chad supports a respectful, dynamic, engaging, and harmonious environment – providing whatever is needed for horses to tap into their talent and fully realize their potential.
Chad studies with national and international classical trainers: working on his seat and position, as well as deepening his understanding of the classical training progression. He earned his USDF bronze medal and is a featured rider in USDF symposiums. He extends his knowledge of dressage by teaching other riders how to partner with their horses. He guides his students along their journey to make for a long partnership of health and well-being for both horse and rider.
Chad is constantly learning and improving his own riding and sees dressage as a lifelong practice. He continues to dedicate his life to creating the highest quality of horses all the while being an advocate for them and coaching people how to strengthen their partnership with them.
“I have been a customer of Schleese saddlery for 10 years. Prior to, I spent arduous amounts of time and money trying to find saddles that fit me and my horses, and that didn’t injure or restrict the movement of my horses. Since working with Schleese my horses perform at their best and continuously improve in their training with minimal interruptions.
When you invest in a Schleese saddle, it is a lifelong partnership. Their saddle fitters travel to me and my clients and take the time to problem solve and get to know our horses in order to customize the best fitting saddle possible. They continue to provide me with on-going education on saddle fitting and answer all my questions with explanations that are easily understood. The results are a comfortable saddle that fits both horse and rider with superior performance. It is refreshing to work with such skilled and dedicated professionals who match their level of customer service with the excellence of their product.”