Rider Testimonials

I have a short backed and wide horse. We started having headshaking and lack of half-halt problems. Severe enough that the horse was getting scary to ride. I discussed this in depth with a vet, who was unable to find a physical issue and diagnosed the horse as a headshaker (two separate vets diagnosed the horse). I was working with another saddle fitter and just felt it wasn’t right. I tried a few saddles with the fitter without luck. Luanne had been to the barn for another horse recently, with great success, so I decided to ask her opinion. She was spot on. After a trial, which fit my horse well but didn’t quite fit me, we went for a few other models. We found the Cinderella shoe! Luanne helped to build a custom saddle for us that fit perfectly when it arrived. Our half-halts are returning and the headshaking has reduced. Without Luanne [Reaume], we may have had to retire from riding!

I can’t extend my thanks and gratitude enough. Schleese products have possibly renewed our riding career! My young horse (5) is in work again 🙂

Sincerely,
Very grateful customer
L. Zandstra

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