Rider Testimonials

I wanted to drop you a note and let you know that destiny will have it that all roads in my life seem to lead to Schleese! I am now trimming for Margaret Boyce and her students in NY and I did know how close she was with the Schleese team. When we discover this, I of coarse was jumping out of my skin for the opportunity to see Jochen at a fitting nearby and drop in to say Hi. I have not forgotten all of you and the opportunity that was before us last year, I think that the future will hold something for us I will hope that destiny will continue to bring me right where I belong despite my over thinking it all. As my kids are getting older, I see that there is much potential for growth and you guys are always on my mind!

I had the opportunity to ride Margaret’s horse in a lesson and I wrote a story about it I thought you might enjoy. I like to write about experiences that seem to be “Big” in my life and I truly savor the emotion and memories by writing. I thought I would share with you my little story about Big, especially since he was in a gorgeous HK that I so enjoyed riding in…and the dynamic of balanced hoof care combined with good training and saddle fitting was thoroughly enjoyed by me on this day!

Hope you are well, I can still hear your voice on the other line and replay all of our chats in my mind, and I wanted to thank you for your support and understanding during that time of turmoil for me. You never know what the future holds. I’ll be probably popping up on Jochen here and there and around in NJ PA and NY if ever he just needs a spare set of hands. I so enjoy the learning from him and all working with all the pretty horses! Schleese is a part of the explosions of learning that I speak of in this story!

Best regards to you and all of the Schleese team! (Especially Julia who I have met and adore!)

I just wanted to take a minute to tell you how very happy I am with your saddle company. I just bought a Wave saddle with the help of Kristen V. and could not be more pleased. It goes without saying that I love my saddle and how the saddle fitter fitted my horse, but it is the exceptional customer service that I have received from everyone at Schleese that really surprises and delights me.

I am on a tight budget and to say that a Schleese saddle was out of my price range is an understatement. I considered the investment anyway because of your genuine passion for horse and rider comfort. It was the total trust and confidence that I felt in Kristen’s expertise that really sealed the deal. She is the first fitter who took that kind of time and so patiently educated me and evaluated my horse. She was just as excited as I was to find a saddle that made both my horse and me happy. She is an asset to Schleese and I feel lucky to have her.

Even though I was so happy with my saddle and confident in its fit, I still lamented the money I had just spent. Did I do the right thing? All those doubts are gone now that I have ridden my happy horse in our awesome saddle. It also gave me more comfort that you can imagine when I received my saddle, generously padded and safely wrapped in its lovely cover, with such a nice saddle pad to go with it. As if that wasn’t enough, I got a check-up email from to make sure I was happy with my new saddle and tonight I received a hand written thank you note from Schleese. You may think these are small things, but please know that they mean the world to me.

Customer service everywhere is on the decline. Thank you for being so very different! This was a big purchase for me and you could not have made me any happier or more confident in my decision. I plan to start saving for my jumping saddle next. I will never buy another brand of saddle and I will sing your praises to anyone who will listen!

Thank you!

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.!!!