A Happy Anniversary

A couple of months ago I mentioned that I was in California being filmed for an educational spot on the Bay Area Equestrian Network’s website. Well, the spots have now been completed, so check them out – this is part of the press release that went out to promote our participation.

"How To Tell If Your Saddle Hurts Your Horse" - The new Horse Lover’s 2 Minute How-To Video from Bay Area Equestrian Network

May is Saddle Fit Month on BAEN! All month we're featuring videos from Jochen Schleese, Certified Master Saddle Fitter and Founder of Schleese Saddlery http://www.schleese.com/ and SaddleFit4Life. www.saddlefit4life.com Special thanks to Christiane Noelting http://www.christianenoelting.com and Joanna Robson, DVM http://www.inspiritusequine.homestead.com/ for their help in making these videos.

Schleese is the first and only company to develop a full line of female saddle models to address the true needs of women (the majority of riders in North America). Working closely with their clients, Schleese Saddlery Service has changed the industry threefold - in the way saddles are designed (their patented AdapTree is fully adjustable through all stages of development), the way saddles are sold (in personal saddle fit evaluation and analysis of horse and rider on site) and the way saddles are fit (both statically and dynamically).”

This was truly an interesting experience, as these spots were filmed with an actual storyboard, script and director – which results in a truly professional product. My thanks to Kathryn Lauritzen of Padma Video for a job well done!

The other thing I wanted to just briefly mention is that this month I have reached a milestone in my personal life – my wife Sabine and I are celebrating 25 years of marriage this year (one year more than our business has been around!) and looking back on when we made our first trip to the area we settled in, I can still remember the conversation we had in deciding whether or not to take the chance and move to Canada. We were lucky in that Mr. Hans Pracht, whose facility was the host property for the 1986 World Dressage Championships, offered me the position as the Official Saddler; for Sabine this was the opportunity to come back home to Canada after living in Europe for 9 years.

We’ve come a long way – and I want to take this opportunity to thank not only my wife, but also my staff and business partners, our loyal clients, our friends and associates in the industry – and all of you who hold your horse’s comfort and well-being as paramount in this sport! We look forward to what the next couple of years bring with them!

Jochen Schleese, CMS, CSFT, CEE

www.schleese.com