Schleese Saddlery Service
Custom English Dressage & Jumping Saddles
Jochen Schleese guest speaker at ‘Get Connected!’
Annual Conference Nov. 27-29, 2009
The Conference education program offered delegates a wide variety of topics. Sessions held Friday, Saturday and Sunday offered the opportunity to hear equine experts share their knowledge and know-how on topics that spanned many different disciplines and interests. Jochen Schleese lectured over 90 minutes to 45 OEF delegates about the importance of a properly fitted saddle to protect horse and rider from pain and long term damage.
“Horses can’t lie – they clearly tell us when they are in pain. We just need to understand their behaviour and be aware of the signs of ill-fitting saddles” states Schleese. White hairs, stress lines, sores in the wither area, dry spots, hollow tense backs, saddles rocking or bridging, stumbling, bucking, refusing jumps, pulling and rooting down of the head, head tossing, refusing to go forward, 4-beat canter, not tracking up, long term difficulties in training and behavioural issues are all signs.
“The rider may experience: difficulty staying in position; discomfort in the hip and pelvic area – especially for women; lower back issues; feeling like the saddle is falling to one side; behind or in front of the motion; falling or leaning to one side; feeling twisted in the saddle; stirrup leathers feel uneven; and/or shoulder-hips-heels out of alignment.”
Schleese related these symptoms to actual saddle fit issues and provided an understanding of the principles of anatomy as they relate to saddle fit for horse and rider in motion. “No more should horses have to suffer the effects of ill-fitting saddles because of the ignorance of the rider” according to Schleese.”
Jochen Schleese has been invited to return to teach at the 2010 OEF Conference. Plans for next year include two seminars, ‘Basic Saddle Fitting’ and ‘Advanced Saddle Fit’ lectures. The Ontario Equestrian Federation, OEF, is the umbrella organization committed to equine welfare and providing leadership and support to the individuals, associations and industries in Ontario's horse community. Striding for Equine Excellence! The OEF is committed to the highest standards of horse welfare, advocacy, pursuits and accessibility. Ontario is the 4th largest horse industry in North America with a horse population estimated at more than 375,000.
Schleese Saddlery Service is happy to provide ongoing support to the OEF as a sponsor.