#207 Master Saddler Jochen Schleese

began riding at 13 and went on to compete on both Hunt Seat and Stock Seat IHSA teams at North Central Texas College before earning a bachelor's and master's degree from Tarleton State University. She served as both Vice President and President of Tarleton's equestrian team and became the university's first rider to qualify for IHSA Nationals, placing ninth in Alumni Horsemanship in 2017. Since 2017, she has served as Head Coach of the Tarleton State IHSA Team, guiding riders to IHSA Nationals nearly every year, while also co-owning MK Performance Horses, which has earned more than 30 World and Reserve World Champion Pinto titles across multiple disciplines. With experience in hunter/jumper, ranch, dressage, western dressage, and other disciplines, hunter/jumper remains her primary passion as she continues to pursue her USHJA Instructor Credentials.

brings more than 35 years of diverse equestrian experience to her role as Head Coach of the Northwestern University Equestrian Team, with a background spanning A-rated competition, Olympic-level work, and World Equestrian Games experience. A PATH-certified therapeutic riding instructor, she has extensive experience teaching riders of all ages and abilities across hunters, jumpers, equitation, dressage, and horsemanship. Meggie is passionate about building confidence, strong horsemanship, and a lifelong love of horses, while also bringing her professional experience in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership to her work.

is a collegiate rider at Centenary University with nine years of experience in the saddle. Tristan has developed a strong foundation in the hunter/jumper community and continues to grow as a rider through dedicated training and competition. Outside of collegiate riding, Tristan works and rides at Redfield Farms with Emil Spadone, gaining valuable experience and further developing their skills in the sport.

Dr. Cory Kieschnick is a Professor and Chair of Equine Science & Management and Director of Equestrian Sports at Delaware Valley University. With more than two decades of experience in undergraduate equine education, Cory is passionate about supporting the people who teach riders and care for horses. Cory is the co-creator of the Riding Instructor Refresh Workshop, an affordable, hands-on professional development program designed specifically for riding instructors and stable managers. After successful workshops at Delaware Valley University and Centenary University, Cory has created a replicable model that can be used by equestrian programs, barns, and organizations across the industry. For more information about attending or hosting an Instructor Refresh, contact [email protected] or visit @InstructorRefresh on Instagram or Facebook.

Lauren has served as Director of Education at the United States Hunter Jumper Association since 2019, bringing a lifelong passion for horses and extensive experience in the hunter/jumper community to the role. Lauren earned her undergraduate degree from Northern Illinois University and her master's degree from Rockford College (now Rockford University). After leaving the Chicago area in 2009, she made her home in Lexington, Kentucky, where she lives with her husband, three dogs, and cat, and keeps her horse nearby. Lauren is also a USEF Licensed Official, holding "R" cards in Hunter and Hunter/Jumping Seat Equitation.

Raegan Comeaux is a USHJA Credentialed Instructor, a USEF Licensed Official ("r" hunter and equitation), and the founder and CEO of EMES-Equine Mastery Education System. Raegan has been riding, training, and showing horses since the age of 8. After earning her degree in Animal Science with a specialty in Equine Science and minors in English and Marketing, she spent 34 years building her training facility from 30 untamed acres to the 148-acre elite training facility it is today. She remains passionate about creating positive change in the hunter/jumper industry to ensure the safety, wellbeing, and education of riders and horses alike. Raegan specializes in partnering riders and horse lovers with the ideal mounts. She then molds the partnership through one-on-one instruction to be the best that they each can be. Raegan's students have been competitive on a national level for the past 25 years and have traveled to compete in prestigious horse shows like Capital Challenge, Devon, Pony Finals, Junior Hunter Finals, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, the Washington International Horse Show, the USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships, and the USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships. When Raegan isn't integrating all the best information into EMES, or training horses and riders, or judging hunters and equitation as a USEF Licensed Official, she loves spending time with her husband and children, riding her young horse, wakeboarding and slaloming, gardening, reading, and cheering on the New Orleans Saints! Through EMES, Raegan wanted to offer the hunter/jumper world the opportunity she didn't have growing up: the ability to learn, train, and advance no matter their location. To find out more about Raegan, you can read about her career, visit her EMES coach's profile, or reach out to her directly at [email protected].

Jochen Schleese is a Certified Master Saddler, internationally recognized saddle fitting expert, author, and founder of Schleese Saddlery Service and Saddlefit 4 Life®. After his own riding career was cut short due to his horse suffering saddle-related injuries, Jochen dedicated his life to improving equine welfare through proper saddle fit and ergonomics. For more than 40 years, he has educated riders, trainers, veterinarians, and saddle professionals worldwide, authored bestselling books on saddle fit, and pioneered innovations in adjustable, gender-correct saddle design that have transformed the industry.

Joining the podcast are members of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) equestrian team, fresh off an impressive performance at the IHSA National Championships. Representing the program are Head Coach and Equestrian Director Ashley Henry, Assistant Coach Sammy Perlman, and several standout student-athletes who earned multiple national titles, top-10 finishes, and championship honors across team and individual competition. SCAD continues to showcase the depth, talent, and excellence that have made the program one of the nation's premier collegiate equestrian teams.

The University of Lynchburg, one of the top programs in collegiate equestrian, talks about their recent NCEA National Championship win. Under the leadership of Phillip Williamson, the Hornets have built a nationally recognized program with multiple championship titles. Joining him are standout student-athletes Kristin Palmer, Stella Patenaude, Amaya Bellfield, and Maddy Rubin, all of whom have helped contribute to the Hornets' success through their talent and determination.

is the Head Riding Coach and Associate Professor of Physical Education at Washington and Lee University. With more than 30 years of experience in the equestrian industry, he has coached nationally competitive collegiate riders and programs at Albion College, Randolph College, and Cornell University. A Virginia native, Mitchell has also served as Director of Jumper Programs for the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association and remains active in collegiate equestrian leadership through the IHSA. In 2025, he received the IHSA Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his longstanding contributions to the sport.