Schleese saddles are known as the leading gender appropriate saddle on the market for many reasons—handcrafted, fully adjustable, recognizing both human and equine anatomical and biomechanical requirements, and with the most highly recognized warranty and service in the industry.
Schleese global operations include saddle manufacturing and onsite saddle fitting, while following the internationally accredited SaddleFit4Life philosophy. We regularly refit our saddles to the ever-changing horses back or to subsequent horses over the years through our ongoing onsite saddle fit evaluations and adjustments. Our clients appreciate our regular on-site service, but there are times an adjustment just can’t wait for one of our Certified Saddle Ergonomists. Many bodyworkers and vets now recommend 3-4 saddle adjustments per year to maintain optimal fit and equine health. Recognizing that it is not always feasible to accommodate these needs on a regular basis, we still want all riders worldwide to have access to our gender appropriate, infinitely adjustable saddles with ongoing saddle fit support from a Schleese team member.
Here’s the great news! Because we listen to the vets, trainers, bodyworkers and, most importantly, the RIDER, we have created a game-changing custom saddle fitting system to complement our 35+ years of saddle fitting services and ever-growing catalogue of saddles.
We call this new system the DIY Custom Fit System where we can fit the saddle on-site with the rider to the custom measurements taken by them with the Schleese 3D Printed Wither Tracer at the barn, anytime and anywhere. What makes this system so unique are the 5 new innovative features. The patent pending 3P Gullet Plate, the patent pending CB Stirrup Bar, the two panel options—Hybrid and IP and the exciting TruForm Fitting Pad that comes with the Hybrid option. With the world changing around us, this system gives the rider the peace of mind that they will always have a saddle that fits!
Schleese’s patent pending features on the DIY saddles mean the gullet plate can be adjusted on either side independently in width and angle as well as orthopedically (asymmetrically) if necessary to accommodate the horse’s natural unevenness. The patent pending CB Stirrup bars (Center balance stirrup bars) are attached in the center of the tree rather than at the tree points of the saddle (where most other stirrup bars attach). This helps to distribute the rider’s weight more evenly across the saddle support area rather than concentrating it over the front of the saddle, all while still keeping the rider’s leg in the correct position.
The DIY saddle can be custom fit on-site by one of our Certified Saddle Ergonomists (CSE), Certified Schleese Saddle Representative (CSSR), virtually with one of our saddle fit expert support staff, or by the rider on his/her own using this fitting system. The saddle can be fit 24/7 anytime, anywhere.
The term DIY Custom Fit System stands for “Do It Yourself with custom measurements with expert fitting advice.” Some might think this is one of those “fit your own saddles with interchangeable gullet plates…”—far from it! We have 12 points of adjustability with this saddle making it the only truly DIY adjustable saddle ever made, which is unheard of in the industry!
About Jochen Schleese and Schleese Saddlery Service Ltd.
Jochen Schleese got his certification as Master Saddler in Germany at the age of 22 and came to Canada in 1986 to establish and register the trade of saddlery in Ontario, Canada. With over 80 different models designed over the years, Schleese Saddlery Service Ltd is the world leading manufacturer of saddles designed for women, specializing in the unique anatomical requirements of female riders. Schleese authorized representatives provide diagnostic saddle fit analysis and saddle fitting services across the globe to maintain optimal saddle fit to horse and rider.
He and his company have been the recipients of numerous business and industry awards over the years and have been featured in the Wall Street Journal , twice on the Discovery Channel and now on PBS. He has also won a “Winnie” award for his DVD “Beyond the 9 points of saddle fit” as best educational video in 2017 at the EQUUS Film Festival in NYC as well as one in 2019 for best educational book for his best-seller: Suffering in Silence: The Saddle Fit Link to Physical and Psychological Trauma in Horses.
He is a regular guest lecturer at various equine and veterinary colleges around the world.
For more information about Jochen Schleese and Schleese Saddlery Ltd. please go to www.saddlesforwomen.com or www.saddlefit4life.com.
