Jochen Schleese has made it his mission to help horses move freely and happily in properly fitted saddles.
In 1982, after qualifying for the European Championships I had to retire my beautiful Hanoverian gelding due to lameness, and my riding career came abruptly to an end. I wish I knew then what I have learned in the past 25 years as a Certified Master Saddler, consulting with equine professionals around the world.
After placing in German nationals in 1982, ‘Pirat’ began showing signs of lameness, which at the time I did not attribute to the saddle, since I was surrounded by experts – vets, trainers and farriers who all had a job of keeping us fit for the team. When I think of the remedial applications we used in an attempt to ward off the lameness, including blocking, blistering, re-shoeing and all sorts of pharmaceuticals, I could cry.
Jochen, from Germany, is a former eventer.
I know now it was simply the fact that the construction of my saddle was not in keeping with the requirements of the horse. With every step, his shoulders were hit by forward facing tree points, the too narrow gullet impacted his spinal processes, ligaments and nerves along his back, and the gullet plate likely pinched him impeding his wither muscle as he tried to jump and move. I had followed the advice of experts, but the result was a ‘textbook case’ of torture for my poor horse.
As my horse had suffered from an ill-fitting saddle, I am very determined to prevent this outcome for other horses. My life-long study of the horse in motion, equine development, the detrimental effects of poor saddle fit, led me to develop Saddlefit 4 Life® in 2006 – a global network of veterinarians, trainers, physiotherapists, chiropractors, massage therapists and saddle fitters dedicated to protecting horse and rider from long term damage. I teach the Saddlefit 4 Life® principles and system to riders and professionals so they will be able to recognize and diagnose suspected saddle fit issues and find answers for rider concerns. The key saddle fit principles – the saddle must stay off reflex points on the horse’s back, which result in negative behaviours, while ensuring complete back freedom to accommodate the bio-mechanics of the horse in motion.
As a Certified Master Saddler, Jochen works hard to ensure his clients’ horses are able to compete to the best of their ability, in comfort.
Never again should any horse have to suffer for the ignorance of his rider, nor will a once sound horse have to be farmed out, or put down because the damage is so severe that nothing more can be done to help or change the situation. It’s all about helping horse and rider by improving back health and comfort. For me, the biggest thank you is when a horse begins to move freely, happily and well in a properly fitted saddle. Often riders throw their arms around me crying with joy, because the difference is that visible and they realize how much harm they had unknowingly done riding in an ill-fitting saddle. This is my calling – teaching professionals around the world so together we can improve the well-being of horses and riders worldwide.
~ Jochen Schleese courtesy of Saddlefit 4 Life
