January 2007 Schleese Newsletter
Happy New Year!
We wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2007! Be safe!
January Special
$200 Off the purchase of a New Saddle placed on order, or a New In-Stock Saddle!
Who’s Riding in Schleese?
(Find out at the end of the newsletter)
photo credit: Sparagowski Photography..
The horse in the photo is Gambler, a 14 year -old Danish Warmblood gelding by Rambo showing at Grand Prix. Anne is riding Gambler in his Schleese Wave saddle.
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Find out Where We’ll be in January- February
Click here for our event schedule.
Time to book your annual Saddle fit Check! Contact our agent or Coordinator in your area to reserve your Saddlefit Session. Not sure if there is a service location near to you? Contact us at
(800) 225-2242 or info@schleese.com. We will be happy to help!
News Bits
>> USDF Trainers’ Conference, Loxahatchee FL.
Cancelled due to equine herpes outbreak in the area
>>Our Travel Bags Just Got Smaller!
Our Saddle Fit Technicians will NO longer be able to fly with customer products, demo saddles or last minute requests due to Customs Dept. procedures. Please let your agent or Coordinator know what you need at your next Saddlefit Session at least 3 weeks before the date. We will ship products to your location in advance based on your Coordinator’s product “wish list”!
From the Horse’s Mouth
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I am here to sing the praises of Schleese Saddlery. Their ability to help me with my very talented but difficult horse to fit a saddle to is amazing. I have tried about twenty-five saddles since January. Every time I placed an ill fitting saddle on Chez he would try to work but the quality of his gaits went flat and he would eventually end up stopping, throwing his head up.
Could I blame him? Was I suppose to beat him into submission or punish him for simply telling me it hurt? For much of '06 I wasn't able to ride. I was on the verge of selling my dream horse. No matter what saddle or girth I tried they all flew up Chez's neck. I always ended up sitting on his withers. Schleese Saddlery and Kristen were the answer to my dilemma. I sent wither tracings and photos to Kristen. She brought a saddle that worked. All of the design features on The Derby saddle are just what my 'baked potato with legs' horse needs. Along with a Schleese designed girth the saddle stayed in place. Chez is now able to bring his back up and has the freedom to move his shoulders. The rounded tree, cut back pommel, point billet system and the smaller front to wider channel are brilliant features designed by people who care about the comfort of our equine partners. Finally a company that has indeed joined artistry and science together for saddle making. I will highly recommend Schleese saddles to all of my students and to anyone who cares about the comfort and well-being of their horse. 2006 was the year of the saddles... Thanks to Schleese 2007 will be the year of RIDING!! Maria Alexander Trainer/Instructor, Wilson Farms, Alpharetta, GA
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Just wanted to check in on the progress for the saddle I have ordered. I am very excited to get it, can't wait!!!
Also I wanted to let you know how much better my horse has been since I have had the rental saddle that was custom fit to his back. It is like I have a totally different horse now. It had gotten to the point just before Schleese came out for the saddle fitting that he was bucking like a rodeo horse when I tried to jump him, and even just schooling on the flat he was so upset, tense, and as I look back now, obviously in pain. The saddle that I had been using for my horse was too wide in the gullet, but my local tack shop, who came out to fit him before Schleese, had assured me that with some extremely thick pads that he would be fine, and other than the fact that the saddle was too wide it was otherwise a good fit. Unfortunately this is probably a common occurrence, as there are people out there fitting saddles that have no business doing so. Anyways, I just wanted to say how much I appreciate Schleese's professionalism and knowledge, I honestly don't know what would have happened to my horse had I not had a Schleese saddle professional fitted for him. Thank you so much, Amanda MacCormack Cattail Creek Farms, Kelowna, BC
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Hi there, thanks for the phone call. Your company is so prompt and courteous to deal with. Rachael said she will use her stadium saddle in the meantime while her new saddle is being built. Happy New Year! Looking forward to a great year of riding!
Joni I |
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Hi Christine! Oh my gosh! My saddle came in the mail today and it is beautiful! I can't wait to ride in it but that won't be for a few hours-darn this day job. Thank you so much for your help through this process of making some changes to the specs from the saddle I bought last year, and for suggesting air panels. I'm sure my horses will appreciate it.
Best Wishes, Susan Wren, CA |
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Dear Sabine and Linda, I wanted to let you know how well-received the first clinic with Natalie went, and I how happy I am with her work. Several people let me know, after the clinic, that they felt very happy over the care Natalie took, not only with fitting them and their horses, but also with explaining what was going on with their horses. They liked knowing the process of change going on the horse's musculature, and being able to understand what exactly was not fitting, and why. This was a tough crowd, because Kristen set a high standard in our area, but Natalie has really won everyone over. The way Natalie expresses ideas, professionally and in straightforward language that people can understand, gives people confidence in her while also allowing them to feel that they are partners in the saddle fitting process. In several instances, Natalie took the time to do that extra little "tweak" to a saddle, that made people feel she was really listening to them and working towards a truly perfect fit. Looking forward to many more successful clinics with Natalie,
Best regards, Beatrice Kondo, Saddlefit Session Coordinator, MD |
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Hello everyone at Schleese! The saddle is beautiful the craftsmanship is lovely. I finally had a chance to ride yesterday and it is the most comfortable saddle I have ever ridden in and Im sure my horse Sizzle would agree. When I was riding I noticed that the saddle is contoured to place me in a correct riding position I could actually put all my focus on my ride. I have a good body position when I ride, but even my instructor noticed a more relaxed rider/horse. So basically I just want to say I LOVE MY NEW SCHLEESE HUNTER PLEASURE SADDLE!!!
What leather cleaner and conditioner (products) do you recommend? From one happy rider! -Lisa P, BC Canada, |
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Hi! Greetings from Maryland. I wanted to email you regarding 2 things:
First, I wanted to tell you how impressed I was with Natalie when she came to fit my horse. She was quite professional, pleasant and gave me the feeling she would stay at my barn all day if that is what it took to get my saddle fitted correctly. Thanks, Natalie!! Next, like the mare in the Schleese newsletter, my horse changes very quickly when in work, and I would like my saddle to be looked at when they come to Timonium, MD for the Horse Expo in Jan. My horse, Beaujolais, is extremely sensitive and difficult to fit. Kristen worked with the horse for the last 3 years and seems to be able to "tweek" the saddle to make it perfect for Beau's sensitive self. I would like Kristen to pass on her magical insight! Happy Holidays! Thanks, Cheryl G., MD |
Look Who's Ridning in Schleese!
ANNE HORNBEAK, Folsom, LA
Anne Hornbeak began a career with horses showing Arabians and Half Arabians in almost every seat and division imaginable—with the exception of dressage! Regional and National titles number in the hundreds from both Anne and her students with National Championships in Native Costume, Show Hack, Trail Horse, English Pleasure, Western Pleasure, Side Saddle and Hunter Pleasure. Dressage lessons began approximately 16 years ago, and slowly the training business that started in 1984 was devoted solely to dressage training and instruction. Leif Sorensen, from Denmark, began teaching clinics in Louisiana 5-6 times per year in 1996, and these clinics are now held at Hornbeak Stables. Several students have traveled to Denmark and found horses with Leif and Anne’s help. Other notable clinicians include: Ulla Salzgeber, Jan Ebleing, Jane Savoie, Stephan Kieswetter, Max Gahwhyler and Eckhart Myners. Anne has her Bronze< Silver and Gold medals from USDF. Both Anne and her students have shown medal winners in Region 9 at every level from Training through Grand Prix.
Congratulations and well done Anne!
We are proud to work together with Anne who is our agent and representative in Louisiana. Anne organizes and hosts 3 Schleese Saddlefit Session each year providing convenient service for her students. Thank you Anne for your dedication and organization!
Pass this newsletter on to your friends and dressage club!
