Duncan Browne - Junior winner:

Baie baie dankie vir die saal wat jy vir my gemaak het ten duurste maar hy
werk baie baie goed en ek het almal gewys dat ek die beste van die beste is.
Maar sonder jou great saal sou ek dit nooit kon doen nie. Baie dankie!!

Alan Browne:

Hi Leon en Mariaan, baie dankie vir die moeite wat julle gedoen het om na
ons plaas te reis en verskeie saals op Duncan se perd Ahira te pas. Soos
julle uitgewys het, het die perd n eiesoortige konformasie wat n "custom"
saal nodig het. "The proof of the pudding is in the eating" the Tri Nations
Champs was not only won in a record time, but the mare was also awarded best
conditioned in the class. Your saddle is truly performance proven!!

Juanita Labuschagne - Light weight winner:

Being a young rider in this sport, it’s overwhelming and sometimes confusing when you need to decide which saddle will be best to start out with and more so to carry you for some time.

After 30 months since being introduced to the sport of endurance riding, In April 2010 I competed in the FEI International Championships at Schweizer Reneke , it was the horse’s and my first 120km ride and we had a phenomenal experience so much so that it culminated into me winning the light weight division.

Further to this great achievement, I got awarded best conditioned Horse in my class as well as overall “Best of the Best”. To achieve this in such a short period of time, I believe only two factors could have helped from a rider’s perspective: One, support from key individuals in preparation of both rider and horse for the ride and secondly, the outstanding gear you ride with. 90% of the lateral is the saddle you sit in.

Leon’s saddle is a pleasure to ride with whether you are just on a hack or riding competitively on a 120km international event. The saddles are of the highest quality. I can fully endorse and recommend the Trail Rider Full Leather Enduro saddle to any new rider in this exciting & rewarding sport. You will never ride with a different saddle.

Gillese de Villiers:

In uithourit is ‘n saal wat gemaklik is vir beide die ruiter en die perd, van uiterste belang.  Ek ry reeds vir die afgelope 8 jaar in verskeie van die Enduro modelle en het gevind dat dit beslis die beste keuse is vir myself en my perde.  Die saals is ontwerp sodat die ruiter die mees gebalanseerde posisie op sy perd inneem en hetsy vir kompetisie of net om jou perdry te geniet, is Leon Liversage se saals by verre die beste keuse. My een saal is swaarder gemaak met sowat 10kg lood, sodat ek in die FEI standaardgewig klas kan deelneem en selfs met die ekstra gewig het ek geen probleme met die balans van die saal of enige drukpunte op die perd nie.  In teendeel het my perde al verskeie langafstand ritte wat strek tot 160km gewen en ook die bes-voorbereide perd toekennings ontvang. Die saals is van die hoogste gehalte en die vakmanskap is uitmuntend, ‘n enkele saal word vir soveel as 300km per maand gebruik in oefening en dan selfs dubbel die afstand in kompetisie, en is dus ‘n uitstekende belegging vir enige ruiter.  Ek beveel Leon se saals  aan vir enige perdeliefhebber, van kompetisie op die hoogste vlak tot diegene wat net gemaklik en met selfvertroue sy perd wil geniet.

Het al meer as 11000km in uithourit voltooi en 9 keer vir die Nasionale span gery, een daarvan as Kaptein.  Ook in 2006 deelgeneem aan die Wereldspele vir perde en die 2008 Wereld Uithouritkampioenskap – waar Crypton met die swaar Enduro Light ‘n 42 ste plek behaal het.

Wendy Adams: Equus Horse Safaris

Equus Horse Safaris started with Leon Liversage Trailrider saddles when we opened our doors in 1989 and we’re still riding in Trailriders!  We even have some of the original saddles which are now 20 years old and apart from minor repairs to stirrup and girth leathers and replacement of the support panels, they are in great shape.  More importantly than me saying thank you to Leon for such wonderful saddles, I think my horses would like to express their thanks!  In 20 years and fitted to more than 80 horses, we have really had very few back problems or pressure points.  Leon has always been generous with his time and advice when we have had questions and has gone out of his way to custom fit a new saddle for us.

Equus has had many thousands of guests over the years, the majority from overseas.  Guests may be casual novice riders or Olympic medallists, but their reaction to spending many days in a Trailrider saddle has always been extremely positive, no matter what they are used to riding in at home.  I believe the guests’ comfort is partly due to the comfort the horse experiences and therefore the ease of his movement and partly due to the comfortable position the saddle puts the rider in (a natural upright position with a long straight leg – no back pain for the rider!).  On a mobile safari, riders may cover more than 300kms in a week and even the casual novice riders experience less saddle soreness and stiffness.  

An important feature of Trailrider saddles for commercial trail companies is the high pommel and cantle and deep seat.  It offers real security to the rider – very important for those novice riders, but also for everyone else who might encounter a grumpy black rhino in the bush and need to stay in the saddle during a hasty retreat!

I am just ordering probably my 30th Trailrider saddle.  Maybe I’ll reach 40!

Ronelle de Villiers: only rides Liversage saddles.

"Since I got myself on a Trailrider there was no stopping me. I decided I had to get one and I can feel the difference in my horse's performance. My Saddler has a nice, broad back and we can do just about anything on a Trailrider. We can even jump with the Trailrider, I am ecstatic with my saddle, even though I mostly do trail riding." My husband also has a Trailrider and it is perfect on his mare's back. He also rides trails with me and we cannot do without our Trailriders. Leon's excellent workmanship saddlemaking skills are exceptional. You will never go back to any other saddle.

Cindy Budler:

"I have used one of Leon's endurance saddles for many years now, and can highly recommend it to anyone who spends many hours in the saddle. It is not only comfortable for me but for the horse too. My first endurance mare had a very flat back and very well developed shoulder and with that saddle we did many miles (including 100 milers ) with no back or shoulder problems. I have since used it on 3 different horses - all youngsters who are totally different in shape and muscling - and never had any rubs or stiffness. The saddles distribute your weight over a much larger area than most other saddles and hence the horses back does not suffer. One bonus is the fact that the stirrup leathers put your legs in the perfect position - right under you, and if anyone has ridden for long distances you will appreciate how much better your balance and comfort is in that position!! Another good point is the fact that no more do my toes go dead after a few hours in the saddle - again the leg position and the wider stirrups that absorb the shock.

These saddles fit so well on the horse that you can ride with a loose girth and even mount with no girth!!!

Leon's after sales service is the BEST in the country. I have spent hours in his workshop while he has worked on minor adjustments to fix something that has worried me, or adjusted the saddle to fit a very differently built horse with unique shoulder and wither development. These saddles work- they are proven every year by many many endurance riders over many 1000's of kilometres."

Kristene Smuts:

"I bought my saddle from Leon, sight unseen, just over 3 years ago. The first ride I did was a 30 km ride in a GP saddle - I couldn't walk for two days! My next ride was a 60 km two weeks later and I phoned Leon and placed my order. He said he was a bit overloaded and that I could have my saddle in six weeks time. I explained my problem to him and two days before my ride, he personally delivered my saddle to my office. I completed my ride without feeling tired or having any pain anywhere. That was more than 3 years ago. Ever since then I've used my saddle on various breeds of horses, including a Thoroughbred, without any problems. In fact, I had been battling to get the Thoroughbred to round and come on the bit, but as soon as I put my saddle on, he was soft and willing, giving me a nicely rounded frame.

Today I have a 16.1 hh Anglo Arab with a high wither, longish back with very little muscle development and a 15 hh Arab with hardly any wither, a short back and better developed muscles - the saddle fits both horses perfectly. I've never had a problem with the saddle and I never get tired. I highly recommend Leon's saddles for their comfort to both horse and rider."

Carol Ann Smit:

"When I am asked to treat other peoples horses I always take my 2 Liversage saddles with even if its to just prove how badly their saddles fit & 99% of the time that's what is causing all sorts of damage.

Just by seeing how Leon's saddles have so much surface in contact with the horse & they seem to actually hug around the horse makes them realise they need to make a plan with their old saddles.
Thank you Leon from me & Gulilah Nasri we really appreciate what you have done for us.

P.S. The Barnsby was sold last year I now only own 2 Liversage saddles & saving up for my 3rd."