Rider Testimonials

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.

Wow, wow, wow, wow! I am so grateful and amazed at your generosity. It’s taken me a long time to write because I didn’t think I could possibly find the words to express my thanks adequately. I still don’t have the words but am finally writing anyway! My new saddle is amazing!! When you decided we needed a special new saddle, I thought it was really for my horse. After all, I hadn’t had any problems with saddle fit for myself when the saddle fit the horse and my last saddle was comfortable for me. I knew the new saddle would fit Juilliard beautifully, but I have been shocked at how big a difference it has made for me too! My seat and legs are always exactly where they need to be, without me even trying. And this isn’t just when the horse is still. It’s at all gaits, lateral work, etc.! I feel like I’m sitting IN my horse, not on top of him. My legs are long without me having to stretch them down. I have always envied how male dressage riders have such effortless position, and now I sit just as effectively as they do! This saddle puts my weight over precisely the right spot on my horse’s back. In every saddle prior to this, I’ve always felt behind the motion with Juilliard’s medium and extended trots. Now for the first time I am in balance with the motion for these big trots. It is wonderful to no longer be fighting my saddle, and to instead have one that makes my job more easy and comfortable! The biggest change I have noticed with Juilliard is the adjustability of the canter. With previous saddles, in even just a lengthened canter, it always felt like the rear of the saddle was blocking the movement of his back, and he had to brace against it hitting him. Often I had to go into a half seat or he would buck instead of making his stride longer. Now his back has room to move with the new saddle, and he easily and willingly elongates and makes big round jumpy strides (like he hasn’t done since he was young and saddle length wasn’t an issue). This is such an amazing saddle for both of us, and I can’t thank you enough for making it happen! Many, many thanks!!

I have just had my first ride in my new Eagle saddle. I will preface this by saying I was skeptical about my spending this kind of money for a saddle. As I explained, I’m from the old school, and had always gotten by without much special attention to the saddle before – I guess I was just lucky that my previous horses did not have the problems that are apparent today.

I’ve ridden off and on since I was 7, and am now 57. I took time off when having a family, but always found some way to at least ride “other people’s horses. I was hoping lots of work on the roads and in the fields would be enough to have him do H/J and equitation at least, but the kissing spine diagnosis most likely suggests that won’t be happening.

But this morning, I just had my first ride in my new saddle, on the scenic back roads here in upstate New York. Bagavond was very happy. I always knew him to be a pretty smart fellow, who needs a job. He loves getting out. And I have never had a more comfortable ride. I feel now I can work with him safely, without exacerbating his problems. So today was the first day we had it all together – and my first day back to my life’s passion.

I also appreciate the video on your website of the 93 year old woman. You see, my sister had a friend, Frances, up in Cazenovia, NY – and she rode until she passed away at 95. That is who I wish to be. There is nothing like having a horse in your life.

Each of our 3 horses has the benefit of having their own Schleese saddles and I am disinclined to risk their backs with a non-Schleese saddle…

By the way, my gelding, Cloud Nine Cometa took 4th Grand National Champion in his division at our National Show. He’s also the 5th highest pointed gelding among all Paso Fino divisions nationally. We owe much of our success to the benefits derived from using Schleese saddles. When Cometa’s saddle returned from 6 weeks of service at your facility, he moved much more freely and really perked up. It was his testimonial to the excellent fit and related freedom we experienced with his saddle. I feel that our success is tied directly to our Schleese saddles. Thank you for providing such a wonderful product.

I met Jochen Schleese in 2007 at Dressage at Devon, where I showed my Oldenburg Stallion “Diamunde” in the 5 y/o FEI Horse Competition and in the Breed Show. I immediately loved the idea of the saddle being adjustable to both horse and rider, but was otherwise not too fond of having to spend what seemed to be a small fortune for a new saddle (I had only owned my stallion for one year, and had bought him his 3rd saddle already). Jochen persisted and we met the day after my competition finished. After a wonderfully informative fitting and lecture it was time to ride my horse in this new saddle. No saddle pad, crowded, crazy warmup arena at Devon, and 10 minutes into the whole thing people were watching a 5 y/o stallion playing with his newfound back and shoulder freedom and a rider smiling from one ear to the other. So, only one regret: I should have bought the saddle before my FEI competition. And this was only the start of a very wonderful relationship with Jochen and the Schleese company. Together, we now have developed a new saddle called the “Elegancia” for the short-backed Iberian and modern Warmblood Sporthorse. Boy, wait until you try this one! I have yet to feel this much freedom in my horses’ backs!!!  And to come back to the “small fortune” idea: Yes, I feel fortunate to ride in a Schleese saddle, my horses are happy and sound, and I have saved more money and time than I can tell you! So, look at the big picture: You are investing in your and your horses’ health!
 

Introducing Another Sponsor of “Dover’s World Live”- Schleese Saddlery!

I am so pleased to announce another of my 5 Presenting Sponsors for my upcoming Radio Show, “Dover’s World Live”, which premiers one week from today, Tuesday, October 19th at 6:00 pm on AM 1230 WBZT. Schleese Saddlery is a company which I have known, along with its founder, Jochen Schleese, for many years. I have to tell you that I have been involved with and actually designed saddles for a number of other manufacturers over the decades and am still great friends with some of the owners. That being said, I have to hand it to Jochen, who I joke with since he very much directs his advertising toward the “female gender”, because with great care and many fittings, we came up with a saddle which I can honestly say is the most comfortable and closest fitting to the horse that I have ever ridden in. The fit on the horse is reminiscent of the Schultheis Saddle which I rode in 30 years ago but the craftsmanship includes state of the art design and materials which provide the rider (male or female) with extraordinary comfort! It’s pretty much like sitting in your favourite chair at home, while affording you the perfect seat and leg position you need on the horse. So, in the end it’s sort of the reverse of that old “Irish Spring Deodorant” commercial with the lady who says, ”Made for the man……but I like it too!” Schleese may be directing its energy toward the female clientele, but I guarantee all you guys out there will love riding in my saddle.

Hi Schleese — Just want you to know that I absolutely love my saddle and wouldn’t trade it in right now even if you gave me the new one for free!! That’s how great this saddle is! Your saddle fitter has it adjusted beautifully for my horse and I completely depend on it to give me the support I need. That’s what happens when you make such a great product! Maybe next time.

Hi,

I bought an older used Schleese a week or so ago and got it just in the nick of time to have it fitted [by your fitter at the last clinic].

I can’t believe the difference it’s made in my horse! Our first ride was just lovely. We had our 2nd ride today, and she is moving like a different horse! I feel like I’m part of my horse. We’ve had our share of saddle woes and attempts at fittings through the years. How nice to be able to give her the gift of a saddle that really fits her—and can be adjusted as she changes shape!

Not only is my mare difficult to fit, but I am, too. I have a very long femur and my knee has always stuck so far out in front of the saddle or my knees were so wide, there was no way for me to sit properly. Not a problem for the Schleese! In fact, I was amazed that when I rode in this saddle on my very round horse that I felt like she was suddenly much narrower because my leg was actually in the correct position. I even had to shorten my stirrups!

I can’t thank you enough. We’re looking forward to many more wonderful rides together and I can’t see myself ever riding in anything other than a Schleese!

I have enjoyed all of the e-mails that have been sent my way. I am a ‘horse owner from way back’ but mostly breeding and not serious riding. This is changing and I am in need of a new saddle. Am looking seriously at a Schleese product, and have very much appreciated all the helpful information on your informative videos. This Savoie video is no exception. Thank you so much for the information presented in such an easy to understand manner.

“I have been riding horses for over 50 years and have always felt that the perfect saddle had yet to be developed. I often dreamed of a saddle that could be adjusted to fit any horse and accommodate its physical development throughout its training.

A saddle that would encourage a proper seat position and actually enhance the riding experience without causing physical damage or discomfort to either horse or rider.

I had thought it impossible and was very skeptical when Jochen Schleese claimed to have developed a saddle that could do that and more.  The horses immediately had a freedom of movement and suppleness that was amazing and actually encourages the horse to work through their backs.

We thank Jochen Schleese for devoting his life to researching and developing his saddle system and is now educating trainers and riders to listen to their horses.

Horses always tell the truth.”

I may sound like a broken record…but just wanted to pass on that I am once again totally shocked by what a difference my saddle fitting made! Please pass on to Jochen that all the canter problems I was having w my new horse are totally solved! Nothing has changed but the saddles! Thanks to you all!