08/04/2026
I’m often curious about what saddles people are riding in and recently I was surprised to hear a friend was riding in an old school Stübben Schultheis saddle. Surprised because I didn’t think the saddles were around anymore and even more surprised that given how much saddles have changed over the years for the comfort of both horse and rider, why anyone would choose to ride in a Schultheis was a little beyond me. Most of you will have no idea what I am talking about, but those who know the Schultheis saddle will know exactly what I mean!
But then I recalled my first experience of riding in a Schultheis saddle as a young rider and the memory of the feeling is something I will never forget. I remember feeling so connected to the horse and being able to feel the back of the horse as if I was plugged in and there was simply no missing anything the horse was telling me. Not to mention my abs were burning after only a minute! It was truly an amazing experience and one that, after many years of riding in the Schultheis saddles I can acknowledge had a huge impact on my riding.
Fast forward many years, both in Germany then moving back to Australia I felt indifferent about which saddle I was riding in, I hardly gave the saddle I was riding in much thought to be honest.
It wasn’t until 2023 when I was in need of a new saddle for a horse I was training that I decided to try a few different brands and approach the Saddlefitting subject with an open mind. The opportunity came about to try the Erreplus saddles and when I first sat in the Connect I felt the mare lift in her withers and I remember thinking, this saddle really is appropriately named as I felt more ‘connected’ to her through my core than ever before.
Skip forward a few more years and we get back to last week’s saddlefit with Sarah Laxton from Performance Saddlefits SEQ and my big boy Ginger Joe. We’re checking our 16” Dual flap Connect I purchased about 8 months ago from Sarah. Whilst Joseph is very comfortable to ride he is a hell of a lot of horse and I was finding that the saddle was slightly slipping right. Sarah adjusted a few things with our set up and it was better and I also tried a 17” Monoflap Connect which I liked but maybe not enough to warrant a new saddle order… then Sarah asked me to try a new model, the Erreplus D CLASSIC, which is very popular in Germany. It’s a more economical option, so it isn’t finished with the beauty and detail of the Connect range which are undoubtedly beautiful saddles. I was a little disappointed about that. Then I swing into it and I’m not so impressed, compared to the soft comfy seats of other saddles this one feels a little harder and unforgiving. I tell Sarah I won’t ride long in this one, I don’t really like it. But then Joe trots off and I feel something I had been struggling to create for a while now, I felt his back loosen and really swing and I said “uh oh… no Joe no!”
With Joe swinging along happily I could focus on the information coming through my seat. An honest saddle that holds you accountable to your seat and isn’t overly supportive, very much how the Old School Schultheis saddles used to feel. Except now the Erreplus saddles innovative design support the horse’s biomechanics so much more. It’s the best of both worlds. The saddle is like a good therapist for the relationship between your body and your horse, not always comfortable but very enlightening.
That's very easy to forget when there are a plethora of super-duper comfy saddles out there, I’ve sat in some saddles that are more comfy than my sofa! So comfortable I’m too busy relaxing into the saddle and forget about what the horse is doing or how it’s feeling.
But dressage riding isn’t downtime, we absolutely owe it to our horses to find a saddle that allows them to move freely and be open to saddles that hold us accountable as athletes, not couch potatoes.
So be mindful to choose a saddle that encourages body awareness and correct posture, even if it feels confronting to begin with. Having a good saddlefitter and riding coach will help you know the difference and find the sweet spot for horse and rider.
I’ll think about switching to the D Classic and in the meantime Sarah made some subtle flocking adjustments to my Connect based on what she saw during the saddlefit. Like most facets of horse training and management, saddle fitting is a process of learning, understanding, correcting and evolving.
Saddle fitting in itself can be an overwhelming exercise for everyone involved and getting it right first go is a big expectation. I’m learning to approach saddle fitting as just one of the many moving parts that are required to make all the wheels go round smoothly and I am very grateful for the collaboration with Sarah.
If you haven’t tried the Erreplus saddles yet I would highly recommend booking a saddlefit with your local Performance Saddlefit dealer.
There’s a good reason why so many top riders, including the Queen herself, Isabel Werth and rising superstar Charlotte Fry are choosing to ride in Erreplus saddles.
Time to get those abs burning and backs swinging 🔥💪🏼🌟
Pictured is the Erreplus D Classic alongside the old school Stübben Schultheis saddle as well as a photo of me and Glory from the archives riding in the Schultheis saddle during our time training with Catherine Haddad in Vechta, Germany.
