Rider Testimonials

This was a fantastic clinic. I have seen numerous saddle fitters at work over the years, but the Schleese evaluation is the most comprehensive I have ever witnessed. Jochen’s lecture was incredibly educational – he has a phenomenal eye and a super understanding of the way a horse’s body is built and how it moves. After he and Amanda Silver (Southeast SaddleFit) evaluated and fitted all the horses in the clinic, they all went so much better and looked so happy and comfortable! Thanks, Amanda and Jochen!

“My first and only dressage saddle that I’ve owned was exciting to me when I first got it. But over a few years of riding in it, I realized that my horse moved differently in it than my jump saddle. He would always become tense in his back with very little to no freedom on his strides. At shows, we would always score in the mid-40s.

After a saddle fitting at a show, I was able to try out the Schleese HK demo during my test. My horse felt great! – Very relaxed and loose with much freedom in his strides. Thanks to the HK demo saddle, my horse scored a whole 10 points better than what he normally scores!”

Thanks for everything Amanda and Schleese!”

I just wanted to let you know how much I’m enjoying my new Eagle saddle. I got my saddle on a Tuesday and had a 2.5 hour trail ride scheduled for the next day. I was a little apprehensive about using the new saddle as I thought I would need to “break it in” first, especially with all the ups and downs in our mountain riding. Well, I was so eager to use it that I rode in it anyway and it was amazing.

This is my fourth Schleese saddle (hunter/jumper, dressage and trail) and even though I’ve been very satisfied with each one, this is by far the best and most comfortable. My first saddle (the one I replaced) was a hunter/jumper and I was very surprised to find out from you that it was 14 years old. So much has changed during that time, both in saddles and in my horse. The adjustable tree in the Eagle is wonderful, especially since you were able to adjust it to my horse on the premises and will be able to make adjustments in the future, if needed.

As you know, I have a skin condition that is aggravated by chafing and even though my last saddle was comfortable, I would often get chafed, especially on our longer rides. With the Eagle, I’m as comfortable after the ride as before and there has been absolutely no chafing. Jochen has truly extended my number of years to ride by developing this saddle.

Thank you Amanda Silver of Southeast Saddle Fit for all your help getting the right fit for my horse. Thank you Schleese I absolutely love, love, love the new saddle!

Thanks for all your hard work. I rode Gia today and the saddle felt great! I am actually sitting in the middle. You guys were troopers. It was a long day in the famous sultry Georgia summer weather and you gave each and every horse and rider your full attention. Congrats.

Thanks so much for all your help. I really appreciate it and so does Ransom! He loves his new saddle and is pain free. He walks directly down the hills in the park and is way more forward moving, willing, and happy. It feels like he has new hocks and stifles and Ive had to slow down my post at the trot. In time, he will fully restore his atrophied withers, back, etc., thanks to all of you at Schleese Saddlery! Soon well start jumping again, but pain free. Here we come HITS Ocala!

Jochen was ABSOLUTELY wonderful. Amazing level of knowledge, experience, and commitment. AND very fun and entertaining. He sure does love what he does, thankfully. I feel soooo relieved and confident that my ongoing saddle issues have come to an end. I no longer have to helplessly witness my horse, my pet, go through such pain. He is such a love, and he has a big heart. At the end of our session, after our test ride in a pain-free Schleese, Ransom cuddled up to Jochen. They know. Some people dont give these horses enough credit, or care enough to get it right; thankfully, Schleese and his team do. Please extend my thanks to everyone.

Please let Jochen know that everyone here in Florida are very pleased with the saddle adjustments we received on Monday. Phrases like “It’s a miracle!” were heard around the place. I also heard that the folks in Ledyard are also extremely happy with the results of Jochen’s work last week.

Please thank him for us.

Hi Denise,
I don’t know if you remember me. I have a young horse that just turned 4 and I bought my saddle (triumph) in June in Ste-Julie. Just want to tell you that I really like my new saddle. I have no back issue so it’s great. My young horse likes it and he works really well. No more bucks!! I did my first two shows and won champion of my division with good results between 60.7% and 72.1%.
Thanks, see you soon for a fitting!

Dear Jochen,

July 4th marked the end of the trial period for Anne Lynn’s new saddle, & I feel compelled to tell you that it was well worth the 4 month wait!! I’ve always been aware that proper saddle fit is extremely important, but my sensitive little mare seemed like an exception. As you know, I had her back x-rayed, & to my relief, her back is fine! I even put her on Regu-Mate, thinking the temperamental problems may have been due to hormone pain! You proved to me that the minor saddle fitting issues I was having with her, were enough to cause her some major discomfort, & thus make her virtually unridable! From the first day u fitted her with her new saddle to the present, she has been a new horse! Each day brings marked improvement, & more importantly, she’s being compliant & happily doing as she’s asked! I’m also happy to report that my vet, trainer, & masseuse have all noticed a physical change in her for the better! She’s developing new muscle through her neck, back, & hind quarter, & NO SORENESS as before! Yesterday, July 18th, marked her 6th birthday, & what a happy & hopeful one it was! There’s a long road ahead of us, but I can now say that there’s a bright future for us to grow together as trusting dressage partners. Thank you so much for all you’ve done, & for sharing your years of knowledge & research! You’ve certainly made me a believer in you & your product!

I just wanted to share with you my satisfaction with your product. In June of 2010, I had a heart attack. As I lay in the hospital, I reflected on my life. I decided that I wanted to fulfill my bucket list. I wanted to go camping with my horses and ride the trails. I also wanted the best, most comfortable saddle for my horse and myself. I had tried a number of different saddles Stubben, Barclay) over the years, but nothing fit my mutton withered, table backed, horse. He was cinchy and never seemed to be content. I tried a number of saddle fitters and saddles, and I thought I had done the best for my horse, but I had an underlying feeling that the saddle did not fit him.

While I was recovering from my heart attack at home, I searched the internet and came upon your site. I found the Schleese videos very informative. I reviewed the videos for a number of days and continued to search the web. The Schleese saddle made sense (the wide channel, cut back bars) and I loved the idea that the saddle could be adjusted with help from a trained saddle fitter. I contacted your company and weeks after my heart attack, a saddle fitter came to my farm. She was very considerate and in July of 2010, I bought a second hand Schleese Liberty saddle.

In September of 2011, my husband and I, along with a group of older riders, went camping with our horses for a week in Algonquin Park. I am happy to report that I my horse and I were very comfortable during our longest ride (6 hours) in the Schleese Liberty dressage saddle.

Hi Karen and Jochen

My new saddle adjustment has been terrific. No more cold back, or bucking at all!!! We did 105 miles at the Desert Gold endurance ride in Monterey ,CA.

Over Thanksgiving. No more rubbing on the loin area either. I can’t express how happy I am with the saddle.

Thank You. And have a Joyful and Happy Holiday Season.!!!

Hi Jochen, I just want to pass along to you the email that I received from Mary Thacker, my student who came to Coopersburg w/ me and Gid back in the summer, and whom you fit for a brown jumping saddle. She had the 19 yr. old TB you kept exclaiming over….Their saddle just arrived Thanksgiving weekend, and she reported today:

Today’s ride was even better than yesterday! It only took a few minutes to get him soft, and after a good canter he was so flexible, soft and his back was up. It was amazing. I feel so balanced in this saddle and safer. Not that I felt totally unsafe before, but I think I rode a little more guarded and wasn’t realizing it. I’ve been galloping him around the outdoor and it is so neat in this saddle, I can’t explain it. You’ll have to ride in it, for sure. Maybe take Derby to the outdoor and get a good forward canter going. He just feels so different, I think because his back isn’t hollowed. We are both very, very happy 🙂

Hello Jochen,

I just wanted to send you this email to thank you for the effort you went through to ensure that I was happy with my saddle from your company. I do understand that you and Liana went above and beyond to help me out of a saddle that was not working for me and into one that really improves my position as well as my horse’s way of going.

I have forwarded a picture of me riding Deuce in the Wave saddle. I know you have a huge clientele but if you can remember fitting me originally (as a 240lb woman) into a hunter pleasure saddle at the Massachusetts Equine Affaire a number of years ago, I hope you will appreciate the difference.

Thank you again for making this saddle purchase possible.