Testimonials
Heike Kemmer 
German Team Gold and Individual Bronze Medalist
2008 Olympics
"Saddlefit 4 Life® improves communication between horse and rider.
My aids to the horse translate much faster so we can go forward with
a really good ride. My horse did a super job over the three tests
(at the Olympics). He was very fluent, I had a good connection to his
mouth, and we were working together I was very pleased!"
Hannes Müller
Instructor at the German National Riding School
"This needs to be taught at the German National Riding School. Every Bereiter and Reitlehrer needs to hear this. This is the first saddle that I've seen that I cannot criticize."
Gerd Heuschmann, DVM
DVM at the German National Riding School in Warendorf
"The saddle is the connection between horse and rider and plays a massive role in this partnership. A poorly fitting saddle cannot result in optimum performance even with an excellent rider. The saddle size impacts the longissimus dorsi of the horse’s back. Saddles do fit better than they did even 20 years ago but there are still many poorly fitted saddles and there is a lot of room for improvement. The industry simply requires better education, such as
Saddlefit 4 Life® is giving."
Joanna Robson, DVM, CVSMT, CMP, CVA
Author of "Recognizing the Horse in Pain
and What You Can do About It"
"My post-graduation experience of seeing numerous records filled with refills for steroids and antibiotics or frequent, needless, joint injections, soon left me desperately searching for a better way to practice. The ensuing experience (meeting Certified Master Saddler Jochen Schleese) changed my life, and subsequently changed the lives of the horses I've been able to work with.
When I met Jochen Schleese, the founder of Saddlefit 4 Life®, and listened to his in-depth explanation of how saddle fit affects the horse, I had a revelation. Here was someone who could put all the pieces together for me with compassionate understanding for the horse. I will admit, when I understood how much pain I had caused my horse, and how he had continued to try to do his job for me in the face of that pain, I cried uncontrollably. Now, I was armed with something different in making decisions - the knowledge of my horse's anatomy, how it dictated proper saddle fit...and options to correct his problems and continue to enjoy riding my horse knowing he was free from pain".
Udo Lange
7 times German Professional Dressage Champion
"A well fitted saddle needs to be checked 3-4 times a year for fit by a Certified Professional
– a Master Saddler or a Saddle Fitter, with input from the trainer and the rider."
Christilot Boylen
Canadian Dressage Team Member, multi-Olympian
"If your equipment doesn't fit, you will have huge problems from the get go. You won’t get very far with a horse that isn’t comfortable, a saddle that doesn't fit, and as a result, a rider that is out of balance because the saddle pushes him too far forward or back."
Jochen Schleese
Certified Master Saddler
"When I got more into the industry I noticed there is really a lot more you can do for the horse. You see the horse immediately relax when the saddle fits. The tree should protect the horse’s muscle and spine to relieve the horse’s back of pressure. The system allows us measure and analyze critical areas and pressure points on the horse, and fit the saddle to the horse in motion. We can adjust the saddle to fit the horse as his conformation changes for any reason. After a fit adjustment, instantly you can see the difference in the horse! There is nothing like this revolutionary system in the industry."
Margaret Boyce
Equine Canada Certified Dressage Coach and Judge
"For me as a coach and judge, we absolutely do not want to see all our years of hard work and dedication go down the drain because of ill fitting saddles on our horses. Saddlefit 4 Life®’s amazing developments, have absolutely benefitted the riders but more importantly - for the horse's long term health with immediate and visible results. Seeing is believing! I saw a close friend of mine whose horse has been misdiagnosed for years as to why he was not happy in his work. This horse had his hocks injected; he had an MRI and several other medical procedures trying to find the answer as to why this TB gelding was so resistant even in the most basic work. This horse saw saddlers, chiropractor, massage therapist - the owner felt she did everything she could for this horse and nothing seemed to help. Even the veterinary clinic found and treated the symptoms but never found the cause for this horse's pain. Jochen discovered several major fitting issues on this horse and immediately set to work like a surgeon, fitting the horse instantly with a new saddle and the results were beyond amazing.In all the years I have known this horse - I have never seen him produce a regular three beat canter under saddle until that very day. Once all the pressure points were relieved on this extremely sensitive horse he moved with so much freedom and regularity and offered no resistance - as a judge and coach I just started applauding and crying at the same time!"
