Claremore, OK (August 18, 2011) – The Sommer Spezial Dressage saddle, considered the ultimate dressage saddle by world-class dressage riders, is bringing a whole new meaning to the term the “art of dressage.” The Sommer Spezial offers an unprecedented quality of design and options, giving riders the ability to customize the saddle into their own piece of art.

The Sommer Spezial is offered exclusively in the United States through The Horse of Course, Inc, one of the nation’s premier tack shops specializing in dressage tack, clothing and supplies. “The Sommer Spezial is the ultimate dressage saddle in several ways,” said Beth Haist, CEO of The Horse of Course. “According to everyone who has ridden in one, or owns one, the Spezial is the ultimate in comfort. It is part of Sommer’s FlextraEQ series, which offers cutting edge technology for both horse and rider. One of the great things about the saddle is that the ability to custom design it really does turn the saddle into a piece of art, from choosing the color of leather, piping and stitching to having the option to laser your name, image or company logo onto the flap of the saddle.”

Haist added that the ability to customize the Sommer Spezial is something riders do find extremely special. “I have seen riders create a saddle with an alligator seat and contrasting piping and stitching.  A Sommer Spezial saddle that is customized truly is a work of art.”

The Sommer Spezial offers a mono flap design that gives the rider a close contact feel and new innovations in the tree eliminate all pressure. The saddle features a deep seat with a wider seat base, a narrow twist, and ½ panels for the optimal clearance of the scapula and large shoulder muscles. Extra extended stirrup bars allow the rider’s leg to naturally fall into the right position with their heel under their hip.

All Sommer saddles are fully adjustable through the tree of the saddle to ensure the tree angle matches the horse’s shoulder angle. Designed in combination of wool-flocked panels for custom flocking to the horse’s back, shorter tree points for maximum shoulder relief, wide panels for optimal weight distribution, and a wide gullet for spinal clearance and freedom of movement. “This saddle will immediately win you over with its classy, yet very modern design,” Haist said.

The Horse of Course opened their doors over 20 years ago in Oklahoma, and today they are highly regarded as a one-stop dressage specialty shop. “We provide fashion, an extensive selection of breeches, show clothes, custom shadbellies, as well as a complete selection of dressage tack. My husband, Marty Haist, is a saddler, not just a fitter, and he goes to the shows to service our customers’ saddle needs,” Haist said.

Check out the Sommer Spezial Dressage saddle at The Horse of Course’s mobile show trailer at the USEF National Dressage Championships at Gladstone, The Dressage at Devon CDI, Saugerties and the New England Dressage Association show. “We will have our mobile show trailer at all of the shows except for Devon, where we will be set up in booth 52,” Haist said. “When you see the Sommer Spezial Dressage saddle you will definitely want one for yourself.”

The Horse of Course offers top proven brands, innovative new products, complete customized saddle fitting and customized bit fitting. To learn more about The Horse of Course, and the Sommer Spezial saddle, visit their website at www.thehorseofcourse.com.