Rider Testimonials

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

Hi Amanda [Silver]

I want to thank you and to let you know how much I appreciate you and my Schleese saddle. Oni is a dream for me to ride but I know this would never be if he did not have this perfect saddle for him.  Today you adjusted for the changes in his muscle development after riding in his Schleese saddle for a year and the difference is so wonderful. I am very grateful that you can adjust his saddle in such a way to fit his big Friesian shoulders. I can hardly wait to get on him tomorrow.

Amanda, you and your husband are so knowledgeable and kind and easy to work with. Oni and I both enjoyed our saddle fitting today very much.

See you next year!

“Dear Jochen:

Several years ago I read a review of your book, ordered it immediately, read it several times over & realized that here was someone that was on the same wavelength as myself. This was re-emphasized over the last several days. It was a real pleasure to meet you in person, learn from you & feel inspired to continue to keep trying to improve the lot of the horse.”

Dr. Sue Dyson
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Specialist in Equine Orthopaedics
Associate European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging

Head of Clinical Orthopaedics
Centre for Equine Studies
Animal Health Trust

Photo: Jochen with Dr. Sue Dyson at his recent clinic as guest of Caroline Lindsay of “Learn Saddle Fitting Resource: CPD MSFConnection (Perfect Movement Solutions)” in the UK

I have been riding, competing, and studying dressage for 40 years. I was very impressed when I first sat in the Schleese Obrigado saddle. I can easily say, that this saddle is the best saddle I have ridden in. I have ridden in numerous saddles over the many years, and none compare to the Schleese.

The Obrigado provides complete shoulder freedom for my horse. This saddle made my mare feel like she had an easier time coming up through her shoulders and withers. I felt like I was sitting into the horse, rather than on top of a saddle. I felt closer to my horse. It kept me where I was suppose to be, yet I didn’t feel boxed in.

The Obrigado is impeccably made, and not one detail was missed. The attractiveness and comfort is unparalleled to any other saddle I have sat in.

The Obrigado is the saddle of a lifetime and this is the saddle of choice for me!

Hi ,

Just a quick note to say how pleased I am with my recent saddle fitting with the Julia [Dixon-Curtis] and Alexa [Frye]. They were on time, professional, passionate and helped me understand how my horse’s measurements have changed over the 2 years of using a Schleese saddle. Dillon’s shoulders have gotten more even and have put on more muscle. They adjusted the pommel and reflocked it as my Quarter horse mare is built very downhill and the saddle adjustment, though perhaps minor, makes a major difference in the way I sit and greatly improved my comfort. I enjoyed trying the new Western saddle although right now I need to help my daughter purchase another car but we did write down all the particulars for  a future purchase.

 

I just want to tell you, and please relay the information to Alexa and Julia who were out at Tundra’s this week, that I am beyond DELIGHTED with my new saddle—the prototype pony saddle.   I don’t know if they told you, but my heretofore sluggish pony, Penny, bolted forward!  I almost thought she was spooked.  But the energy has continued, and even my barn manager noticed a difference in her demeanor!  Her walk is freer, her trot is lovely, and her canter — well, I have to work on getting used to this new speed!

Thank you very very much!

“Obrigado!” Thank you!

Love my new Obrigado! I was very happy to find out it was much lighter in weight than my Wave 🙂

Thank you!

I am writing to thank CDS (California Dressage Society) and Schleese Saddlery for the CDS 50th Anniversary Saddle Spectacular Raffle. I was thrilled to be the winner of the Schleese saddle which was fitted and delivered to me February 17 [2017].  Jochen spent several hours educating me on the importance of proper saddle fit.  He began by watching me ride in my old saddle then taking the saddle off, he used colored chalk on my horse to explain how a saddle is fit according to the horse’s anatomy. Then he sat me on a saw horse to check my position and how my leg hung naturally. I was measured for saddle size then I rode in a demo saddle which required only a minor adjustment. The change in my horse’s gait was amazing with more shoulder freedom and more ‘step under himself’ with ease.  My position changed into a more upright position and my leg hung naturally without any effort from me in placement.  I loved the demo saddle and took it with me the same day. The experience with Jochen and his team was very educational and a complete pleasure. I look forward to our next saddle fitting session and I continue to be thrilled with my new Obrigado saddle!

Best regards,

30 Years of Schleese Saddle Giveaway Winner…

“On behalf of the Thoroughbred Retirement Network of Louisiana, I’d like to extend our warmest thanks for such a fabulous saddle. We are beyond thrilled to have received the new Wave dressage saddle to use on our off-tracks. ‘Stormin’ Eddie is heading off to Pensacola, Florida this weekend for another recognized dressage show. The difference the saddle has made for him is amazing. His lateral work, shoulders + back end are so free now. We’ve also included a picture of a few of his awards last year from the Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Incentive Program.

Again- we are so grateful to have been selected to receive such an incredible training and riding tool. It will be with us for a very long time.”

First of all it was amazing to be a recipient of a saddle. I can still hardly believe it!

Although I’ve only had the saddle for a short time I have noticed some things:

1. It’s comfortable, it puts me in an excellent position and it doesn’t weigh a ton. I’m able to easily lift it onto my six-year-old mare who is over 16.1hh.
2. My mare, Spring Song, moves beautifully in the saddle and loves it. No histrionics while saddling her. Just a sweet look and a mare ready to go for a ride.
3. My riding coach pointed out the saddle’s gullet. It’s wide and comfortable for Spring Song.
4. A friend who knows his way around saddles helped me fine-tune the adjustment on Spring Song. This was easy to do because of the webbing adjustment on both sides at the back of the saddle.
5. He pointed out that the tree is adjustable, too. Yippee!
6. Although Spring Song doesn’t have a long back (or a short one) it’s a relief that my new saddle isn’t too long. Length is most certainly a deal breaker (or maker!).
7. In the past thirty years we’ve experienced with each of our horses the arduous search for the right saddle at various stages of each horse’s training and life. This translated to five saddles in 20 years for one Thoroughbred and three saddles in nine years for each of our two Lusitanos. With the adjustable capabilities of the Schleese saddle I’m looking forward to a lifetime of comfort for Spring Song. No saddle hunting for her!

Winnie Stott

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Colby’s Army lead instructor Kim Coleman Light. “For almost a year I’d been trying to get my rider to sit up with her legs underneath her and as soon as she sat in the Schleese saddle, mission accomplished. All of sudden I have a rider who is advancing much faster. What a difference a Schleese saddle can make!”

Kim Coleman

Dear Jochan Schleese and Staff,

I am very grateful for what you have done and can’t begin to thank you enough for all your patience, wise council, good humor and support.  Your team has always been reliable, approachable, efficient and knowledgeable. I have found your entire group to be professional and proficient in all aspects of your work.  You are supportive and empowering, allowing me to excel in the things I love most.   I really appreciate all of your encouragement and guidance every step of the way. As always, I am impressed with every encounter and personal service your company has offered.  I will forever be grateful for the way you have personally dealt with me, my horses, and all of my concerns.  You have provided us with such great appeal, dedication, creativity, exceptional skills and an amazing ability to connect with your clients!  The service and personal attention is extraordinary! Your timing and quality have always met my expectations and your communication is always done in a professional manner.  You have proven to be creative in problem resolution and overall consistent in meeting our expectations.  The work was above and beyond what I could have expected.  I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with the level of detail that comes with your experience.  Many thanks for all you do, your help, advice, and for looking after us.  Without this we would be at a complete loss.  I am so very thankful for being chosen to win your 30-year anniversary saddle.  Our rescued horses have made such a drastic improvement since riding in your saddles! I look forward to many more years working with you.

Sincerely,
Melissa Verga Harris