The good news is that my horse is developing spectacularly … the bad news is that the saddle needs serious adjustment and I can’t get a commitment to get here to do it. Patricia is great, but all she can do is pass along the message that there’s an urgent need. So, I’m having another saddle fitter look on it this morning. If the solution is to buy a well-made saddle from one person and have another adjust it, so be it. I’ll let you know if it works out.
Well. THAT was an experience. If it fit once, it certainly doesn’t fit now and there doesn’t seem to be any way it ever will again.
[edit]
Anyone with a little cash can post anything on Dressage Daily. i have seen them “profile” the most corrupt, kick back accepting, dishonest people- one wonders.
All I know about George is that I bought a very costly custom saddle that in the end does not fit my horse… Despite multiple, even pitiful pleadings (by me personally) on his e-mail, phone, secretary, and in writing- he did not come back to fix my saddle. I bought another saddle.
So the saga continues
Haven’t been on for awhile and don’t normally post but this topic is irritating because people keep [having trouble.] Defective air panels that pop and riders fall off (a quote mind you). Nice. And a word to the wise: the “coming up in the withers” explaination is crap. Your horse is compensating for ill-fitting equipment. First hand experience.
The only slightly consoling factor in regard to this topic is what goes around comes around even though sometimes it takes awhile…I can be patient for this one.
Its back!!! see above, anyone want an Equation saddle cheap?
Okay - could anyone help me out here? I have my eye on a saddle listed as a Schleese Canterbury on eBay. I’ve tried to do some research on this since I’ve never owned a Schleese and am not as familiar with the models. However, I see the Canterbury name being thrown about in this thread and it has me a bit concerned. Can anyone tell me if this is an actual model of Schleese saddle, or is it simply someone trying to pass off an Equation model?
[QUOTE=GreyStreet;5159821]
Okay - could anyone help me out here? I have my eye on a saddle listed as a Schleese Canterbury on eBay. I’ve tried to do some research on this since I’ve never owned a Schleese and am not as familiar with the models. However, I see the Canterbury name being thrown about in this thread and it has me a bit concerned. Can anyone tell me if this is an actual model of Schleese saddle, or is it simply someone trying to pass off an Equation model?[/QUOTE]
If it states Canterbury then it is a saddle made by George at equation or whatever he is calling himself now. The saddle is not a schleese. I believe at one time he was making a “copy” or the shleese, so most likely why it was advertised that way. The thread here does not mean the canterbury is a bad saddle, the thread has primarily been about service and support and fitting issues related to the “fitter”, no service, if things don’t go right he does not respond and many of us have been stuck with saddles that don’t fit our horses as we give up and move on to more reputable, responsive and responsible fitters. The quality of the materials is quite good that has not been disputed.
Just an FYI- the saddle on e-bay is NOT mine, just clarifying.
Actually Schleese had a Canterbury model a long time ago (check the last two digits of the serial number) LONG before George Gullickson ever appeared on the scene!
You can also see if the saddle nails say Schleese and the saddle plate is their.
[QUOTE=ToN Farm;5110689]
And here we go again:winkgrin:
I guess you guys missed the piece on Dressage Daily George wrote recently. Anyway, he has a new website and is selling Hennig in addition to his own saddles. Here’s the link.
http://www.equineinspired.info/[/QUOTE]
>
NOTICE:
>
> Equine Inspired LLC is not owned nor operated by George Gullikson. Equine Inspired LLC is a new private Saddlery started, owned and operated by me, offering custom Saddlery, stock saddles and soon - custom bridles, services such as Equine Massage Therapy, Saddle Fitting and Consultation services. These services are performed by myself and other professionals in the field that I chose to use on a referral basis.
>
> The article on Dressage Daily was not paid for, nor a paid advertisement by my company, nor anyone else. I have a relationship with KAM equine nutritional services and we work together to reprint educational material we find helpful and progressive to the horse industry.
>
> I have chosen to reprint George’s articles on my website and work with him on a professional basis because, as an Equine Massage Therapist I agree with his saddle fitting practices, I’ve seen great improvement in my clients horses that were previously compromised. He has designed saddles for all the top Saddlery’s over the years and has a world renowned reputation as one of the best Master Saddlers in the world - quote from the owner of Custom Saddlery. George is now a free lance saddle fitter who works with countless Top Level Riders such as Tom Noone, Megan Davis, Liz Austin and Becky Holder. I am privileged to be able to use George when he is available, as well as a few other saddle fitters, on a referral basis for saddle fitting and new saddle consultation for my products. George also does referral services for Euro-America, Custom Saddlery and other companies in Europe, but he is not employed by me or any of these other Saddlerys.
On a side note, I work with hundreds of satisfied clients, including clients that have work done by George and have his saddles. I’m sorry to hear about these bad experiences, I guess there are good and bad with everyone associated in the horse world. I personally love my Equation and the fittings I’ve had. I don’t normally post on these things but I heard my company was being dragged into a negative thread and wanted to clarify. [edit]
I happen to know one of the top level riders" Equine Inspired LLC listed whom George fits. Had a horse come back from several months with that person (having been ridden with one of his saddles) with back pain to the tune of a ‘5’ out of 10 (was vet checked upon coming home by a very well respected vet).
Makes me sick to think this horse was working his heart out with a sore back. Oh and saddle was apparently “custom fit” for the horse.
“One of the best saddlers in the world” would not leave this many angry customers and back sore horses in his wake.
Once or twice maybe. And sure there are some sour grapes out there that could account for some of the reports. But not this many people with the same complaint over and over again.
I’m not usually this angry. But I feel I need to speak up as an ADVOCATE of the horses who are the real LOSERS here.
I’ll have to figure out how to post pictures cause I got a few good ones…
In what is fairly hilarious to me (in a bitter sort of way), the new website recommends air panels for high-withered horses, and yet they will not accept any saddles on consignment that are not wool flocked.
That is was an oversight on my part, I am happy to accept air panel saddles, [edit] Thanks for bringing that to my attention. Good catch. My website is new, so I do appreciate constructive criticism in a positive spirit.
Something sounds very fishy to me here. So, Equine Inspired, why do you not have any information about yourself on the website? Are people actually ordering expensive Hennig’s and ‘female saddles’ from you over the net without knowing your bio?
Just fyi - George Gullickson is NOT a master saddler by any stretch of the imagination. He is an engineer; what he originally learned about saddlery he was taught by Jochen Schleese and thereafter felt he knew enough to start his own company. What training he has had since then I don’t know; please do not insult the saddlers who have had YEARS of formal training and certification/examinations by lumping basically self-taught ‘craftsmen’ into the same pot.
1 Like
And PS - interestingly enough the addresses for this new website and the Gullicksons originate from the same zip code. Coincidental? I wonder…And there is no more website for Equation Saddlery. Coincidental? I wonder…
[QUOTE=3s;5270250]
Just fyi - George Gullickson is NOT a master saddler by any stretch of the imagination. He is an engineer; what he originally learned about saddlery he was taught by Jochen Schleese and thereafter felt he knew enough to start his own company. What training he has had since then I don’t know; please do not insult the saddlers who have had YEARS of formal training and certification/examinations by lumping basically self-taught ‘craftsmen’ into the same pot.[/QUOTE]
I agree with you to a point. However, imo, he is a heck of a lot better than some of the ‘fitters’ that have had only a short course of training with Jochen and are out there claiming to be saddle fitting experts. At least George knows the horse anatomy (and no, he is not bullsh*ting).
Yes, I have an Equation saddle with air panels that needs to be sold. French leather, 17.5-ish seat, MW tree and short flaps. Paid $4k for it in January, 2010. Haven’t been able to use it for months, so it’s in nearly new condition. What would be reasonable to expect for a sale price?
hmmmmmmm. website, forms for saddle, etc look just like GG’s.
[QUOTE=ToN Farm;5270310]
I agree with you to a point. However, imo, he is a heck of a lot better than some of the ‘fitters’ that have had only a short course of training with Jochen and are out there claiming to be saddle fitting experts. At least George knows the horse anatomy (and no, he is not bullsh*ting).[/QUOTE]
He does know most of it…but after, on more than one occasion, telling me my saddle was putting pressure on my horse’s cervical vertebrae…well, that pretty well shot his anatomical credibility with me. I can’t recall ever putting a saddle on my horse’s neck. 
Please avoid listing specifics about saddles available for sale to comply with the site’s no-advertising policies.
Thanks,
Mod 1
