Schleese, Jochen Articles

saddle fitting, short person saddle, short legs saddle, schleese, saddlefit4life

Riders of smaller build often require very specific adjustments in saddle design to ride comfortably and effectively. Simply cutting the flap shorter is not enough to create a proper fit. If the knee roll or thigh block sits in the wrong place, it can push the rider’s leg outward, preventing correct contact between the horse and both the upper and lower leg.

Jochen Schleese, saddle fitting a growing horse, saddle fit colt, saddle fit filly, saddle fit young horse, horse lameness, horse back pain, equine back pain, equine injuries, equine lameness, horse saddle fit

Spring and summer often mark peak season for purchasing young horses. With a new equine partner comes a host of decisions—chief among them: when to begin training and whether to invest in a specially fitted saddle.

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Q: I ride a Thoroughbred with a moderately roached (convex or round) back. How should I determine if my saddle fits correctly? A: The nine main points of saddle fit are absolutely common to all saddles and all horses – if you want to determine whether and how well your saddle fits, these points should be considered, and each of these points has video instruction on our website at www.saddlesforwomen.com.

Girls Outnumber Boys horse riding, Jochen Schleese, horse riding, McClellan Saddle, horse riding erectile issues, George B. McClellan, dysfunction, Dr. James Warson

Why Do Girls Predominate Equestrian Sport? Imagining a young equestrian rider typically brings to mind a young girl proudly leading her pony. Youth-oriented horse media predominantly showcase girls, with photos of boys being a rare sight. While I’ll explore some reasons why boys tend to shy away from horses at a young age later in this article, it’s important first to highlight the critical need for proper saddle fit from the very beginning.

horse misbehaving, horse bucking, girthiness, poorly fitting saddle, jochen schleese, Saddlefit 4 Life, Saddle Fitting, equien ergonomist,  Unwanted behaviour may be caused by a poorly fitting saddle

Many equestrian articles focus on addressing issues such as a horse that rushes, stumbles, or refuses to move forward. Often, the rider is assumed to be at fault, with solutions centred on changing rider technique or seeking veterinary advice.

Equine Symptomatic Lameness, Why is my horse lame? Why does my horse keep stumbling? Why does my horse trip over his own feet? Symptomatic lameness right hind leg, detecting Equine Symptomatic Lameness

Why is my horse lame? Why does he keep stumbling? Why does he seem to trip over his own feet? The horse suffering from back pain or injuries can exhibit symptomatic lameness, which can also manifest as behaviour issues including stubbornness or resistance. When the horse is displaying symptoms of lameness and logical treatments are not working, the horse’s owner may turn to injections, anti-inflammatory creams, or chiropractic adjustments at the sacroiliac joint.

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Question: I frequently see half pads being used under saddles, made of either gel, memory foam, or leather. Do you think these pads are necessary or is a properly fitted saddle sufficient to cushion a horse’s back? Answer: There is an old wisdom that a well-fitting saddle should not need anything underneath it, save perhaps a thin cotton pad to protect the saddle from the horse’s sweat.

saddle soap, clean horse tack, care for horse tack, Jochen Schleese, Equine Ergonomist, care horse leather, cleaning horse leather

Taking proper care of your leather goods will greatly enhance their appearance and lifespan. One of the greatest misconceptions in leather care has been with the correct use of saddle soaps. Saddle soaps are basically just what their names imply: soaps, and as such are to be used for cleaning only. In fact, sweat, which is acidic, and soap are the two greatest enemies of leather if they are not removed.