54 SIDELINES JUNE 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Saddleft 4 Life® in 2005 - a global network of equine professionals
dedicated to protecting horse and rider from long term damage. I
teach Saddleft 4 Life® principles and system so that suspected
saddle ft issues can be recognized and diagnosed.
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
the horse 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 ftted saddle! This is my calling – teaching
riders around the world so together we can improve the well-being
of horses and riders worldwide.”
Photos courtesy of Jochen Schleese
About the Writer
Jochen Schleese graduated from Passier Saddlery in
1985 as a Certifed Master Saddler at age 22. He moved to
Canada in 1986 as the Offcial Saddler for the World Dressage
Championships. Jochen worked with the Ministry of Skills
Development to register the trade of saddlery in Ontario in
1990. Recognizing that many female riders are plagued with
pain and health issues simply from riding in a male saddle (due
to anatomical differences between women and men) Jochen
developed and specializes in saddle design for women.
Jochen is a guest speaker at horse shows, trade shows and
veterinary colleges. He is the recipient of numerous business
and trade achievement awards and has been profled in
prestigious media including the Wall Street Journal and the
Discovery Channel (“How it’s Made.”) In 2005, 2007 and 2009
Jochen was the Offcial Saddler to the World Cup Finals in Las
Vegas and is on the Advisory Board of the Equine Sciences
Academy.
Jochen now focuses his efforts teaching Saddleft 4 Life®
principles to educate and certify equine professionals around
the world. Jochen is presently working on his frst book entitled
“Suffering in Silence – Exploring the Painful Truth: The Saddle
Fit link to Physical and Psychological Trauma in Horses” to
be published later this year by Trafalgar Square. For more
information on Jochen, visit www.schleese.com.
Jochen taking part in Pony Club as a 16-year-old.
Always a horse person, Jochen and his wife Sabine on their
wedding day in 1985.
Jochen Schleese