Rider Testimonials

Dear Schleese Team,

Last year in the US, I’ve met your saddles for the first time. We were solving some problems with various horses, including sore back and SI problems. The custom fit Obrigado saddles saved the day and made exceptional difference in complementing our classical dressage training. Thank you for that! I study and teach classical dressage in Portugal with the pupils of Nuno Oliveira.

I really like how the saddles compliments the work with the horse -youngster or schoolmaster- without compromise. Also I was very pleased to work with your staff during the fitting in Seattle. Even though I was fitting saddles before, I was very pleased to get new knowledge from them. We spent a nice afternoon fitting 3 dramatically different horses (QH and Lusitanos, age from 4 to 17), breaking down our issues to detail. Thank you!

I just want to write and thank you and your company again for the generous gift of a custom made saddle. We were all so excited when we found out that we were getting a Schleese saddle.
Hemi is the recipient of the beautiful custom fitting saddle. He is a very special horse. He is a 17.1 hh Oldenburg gelding with a heart of gold. Everyone who comes on the property falls in love with him. He follows people around like a puppy dog and loves to cuddle, blow on your neck or lick your face.

Hemi has a very special job. He is a lesson horse for riders of a variety of ages and abilities. Because of his gentle nature, he is perfect for riders with various needs. He stands perfectly still while beginner adults learn to groom. His current riders include a 16-year-old young man with Autism, a father of 4 children (2 of whom have Autism), an Occupational Therapist (who wrote the letter recommending Hemi for the saddle) and a single Mom who recently lost her Mother to cancer. I also enjoy riding Hemi because he always tries his hardest to please and to learn. We do some low level Dressage and jumping.
The saddle that Hemi won has made life much better for him and for his riders. We had had a difficult time finding a saddle that fit Hemi because of his up-hill build and asymmetric shape. Saddles always slipped back and to the right. This saddle stays in place on him. In the past, Hemi indicated that he was uncomfortable in various saddles we tried by pinning his ears back when asked to canter. He happily picks up a canter for all of his riders now. In the past, riders had a hard time finding their position and learning to post because saddles on Hemi placed their legs too far forward. They find it very easy to keep their legs in the correct position with this saddle.
I am very impressed with the beautiful workmanship and the fantastic fit of this saddle. Next time I buy a saddle for my own horse, I will definitely be looking for a Schleese. Thank you so much.

When I had qualified and entered Amistad for Rolex 2010 it was there I decided was a good place to start looking for a saddle sponsor with all the vendors available.  There were so many saddles to look at many representatives to speak to.  I had met Miriam Boutros at the Schleese Saddlery booth while I was sitting in every saddle they had.  She was professional, courteous and very friendly taking the utmost time to tell me all about their saddles how they are fitted so horse and rider can get optimal comfort out of their saddle.

It was the detail of explanation plus sitting in them and liking the feel myself that I picked Schleese Saddles out of all the vendors I visited to ask for a sponsorship and with fingers crossed approximately 4 weeks later I got a call that they’d come and fit my horse for me.  I was excited to ride in a Schleese saddle!

Schleese saddles are in my opinion by far the best saddles on the market for comfort, quality & looks for the rider and allowing any horse to perform to its highest ability because of the freedom of movement it provides and also the comfort of how/where it sits on any horse that is fortunate to be properly fitted with one!

I have been riding in their saddles for almost 8 years now and as 2018 is just around the corner I would like to thank you, Jochen and Sabine, for your superior Saddles which I have had the honour to be sponsored with.  Julia Dixon you are amazing and talented saddle fitter our horses love you!

Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart and I would like to wish Schleese Saddlery and all its staff a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

On behalf of Sunrise, I would like to thank you most sincerely for the saddle which you donated for our therapeutic riding program. It is a beautiful saddle, and I’m sure it will be most useful in our program.

Every day, we see the amazing progress that can be inspired by the human-animal bond, as riders speak their first words, stretch further or sit up straighter on their horses. Our certified instructors, wonderful therapy horses, and dedicated volunteers work together to help each rider reach their therapy goals.

Sunrise is also a special place of belonging and acceptance, where individuals of all abilities can belong, contribute and thrive emotionally and socially. This personal growth is every bit as important as the physical or cognitive therapy goals and achievements.

Thank you again for your amazing gift, and for choosing to support Sunrise through your anniversary contest.

Being a western rider for 50 years I’ve ridden and owned 7 saddles that I thought fit me and my Arabians, Quarter Horses, and Tennessee Walkers. Saddle fit was frustrating as each horse had different conformation, and my body changed as I aged leading to a less than optimal ride. I was constantly frustrated with these saddles being generic cookie cutter designs assuming that any saddle would fit and provide that optimal ride. They were pretty on the outside but a disappointment in terms of how they fit me and my horses. Becoming exposed to biomechanics and correctness of movement working with various trainers, and attending clinics the Schleese Saddlery Devin western saddle was mentioned as the answer to my prayers for a saddle designed with rider and horse in mind. It seemed to good to be true. I saw your presentation Memorial weekend at the Mane Event at Westworld and got to sit in the Devin, see how comfortable and adjustable it was…and decided to purchase one, despite the price. 3 months later my stunning saddle arrived, was fitted to both my horses after measurements were taken of their withers and backs I enjoyed my first ride. I could tell with each successive ride my horse moved more correctly, rounding his back, relaxing into his best cadence of gait. It felt like riding on a cloud. It is obvious that no detail has been overlooked after 6 years of development before the Devin was released. I recommend without reservation this saddle and the customer service provided by Schleese Saddlery.

My daughter bought a Schleese saddle for me after watching me fall off my Clydesdale. Since I have been using a Schleese saddle, I have felt more confident riding such a big horse. I find after riding for over half-an-hour, my back was not hurting anymore. The first long ride I had after getting the Schleese saddle was 2 hours! I couldn’t believe the difference in how I felt when I got down off the saddle. I was able to walk ‘normally’ (without feeling stiff and bow legged)!

Thank you for making such a comfortable saddle that will fit any horse!

Hello from Powell River Therapeutic Riding. We were thrilled to receive the saddle you donated as part of your 30 year anniversary. It’s beautiful! And it fits our sweet Desi perfectly. I have attached a picture of him proudly wearing it. I’ve also attached a picture of our big Thank You sign, that now has your name on it for the next month. This sign is on one of our shelters that faces a busy road here in Powell River. It’s also beside the entrance that the PR Trail riders Club uses to access their riding arena. Thank you again for your generosity, we are truly grateful.

People often complain when unhappy but don’t take the time to share gratitude. Today was my first ride in my new Obrigado! Luanne Reaume has been fantastic. She got the measurements just right for me and my PRE stallion. It was a joy finally getting a custom saddle for me and my horse. And tada, I was immediately sitting perfectly and so comfortable to walk, trot, canter and piaffe! And my horse was happy too. I cannot wait to get back in this saddle. Your saddle manufacturers did a great job. The quality is beautiful. I have ridden in many different dressage saddles. This is the most comfortable and well balanced. It puts you in the exact right place right behind the withers! I wanted you to know what a pleasure it was to work with Luanne. She is a treasure to your company and we customers.

As a recipient of the 30 Year Saddle Giveaway I have had my saddle for two months now and I have never felt more comfortable and balanced in a saddle! We have struggled for years finding a saddle to work with both my body and fit my horse Adhemar and keep him happy, and Schleese has made that possible. I have not had any pain or spasms in this saddle even going into the colder months, as it lets my legs sit where are comfortable and doesn’t force me into one position. This is the first saddle that has stayed in the middle for Adhemar and I as well, enabling him to balance underneath me and overall making a happier partner. A huge thank you to the team at Schleese, I can’t thank you enough!

I want to thank Schleese Saddlery for the wonderful opportuinity to own a Schleese Saddle for my up and coming 4 yr. old named Bodhi. (Benicio x Carisma) He is moving amazing and is very willing in his training, I am sure his fitted saddle is making all the difference.  Until you have experienced riding in a fitted Schleese saddle you don’t know what you are missing.  Bodhi is so fluid and smooth is his movement, it’s like riding on a cloud. I am very grateful to the whole Schleese Team for making this dream come true. My goal is to make Elene Sergerie legacy come true and ride down the center line at the Olympics with this amazing horse that Kareen Heineking-Schutte bred.

Cooper, like his mom, clearly knows the value of a comfortable saddle!  I love my Schleese HK and so does my horse, Preston.  I have two very clever boys, don’t I?  Purchasing this saddle was the best decision I’ve ever made…after getting Preston, of course.  We both love the fit, comfort and freedom of movement.  I frequently tell people that, if I could, I would use it as my desk chair!  My back and body are the most relaxed when I am in the saddle!  And it’s just so pretty too.

Thank you Schleese!

The saddle has arrived despite all the problems with Quarantine…what a relief!

It is beautiful!!! I have now ridden in it for 10 days or so and perfectly at ease. On the pictures you can see I have a mammoth instead of a mare….I am waiting for a string mohair girth as the neoprene I am using pulls on those very long hair and she doesn’t like it!

The only small problem is that the saddle seems to shift to the right. There is some rubbed hair at the back on the right side. But… I am collapsed to the right especially at the walk. At the trot I am much straighter and so is the saddle. My mare has also a lower right hip compare to the left one…so we are not helping each other…2 left handed souls. I got my daughter on the saddle and it was straight so the problem is mainly me. ‘Melita’ pushes me to the right and in doing the saddle slid to the right. Pushing the saddle left is a no no at the moment as more hair get caught… Her movements are much much better especially her walk!

So if you could look at the pictures and see if we need to alter the fit in anyway that would be great.

Thank you again for all the help with customs!

Kind Regards