A massive numpty question about treeless saddles!

VioletStripe

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Hi, a numpty moment if I may? :D Just wondering why people use treeless saddles and what the benefits are of them? Purely out of curiosity, and sorry if this a thick question - it's just something I've always wondered!! Thanks in advance!! :) xx
 
I've ridden everything in Solution saddles since I was introduced to them by a FBHS about 5 years ago. Not only do I find them very comfy :) but all my horses go much better in them, I can fit them to any horse that comes through the yard, and I back my youngsters in them and am convinced that it makes the backing and riding away process go a lot more smoothly than doing them in treed saddles. It stands to reason that they are going to be more comfortable in them. I don't have problems with changing shapes of horses and I don't have to have their backs done nearly so often. Also, I sold 8 treed saddles which I used to have to keep to try to accomodate lots of different horses, and now just have the two, a dressage and a jumping saddle. I've even got a Solution GP for my small son to ride in, and it has done 3 ponies so far and should last him for many more years (and bigger ponies!) to come. Someone asked me the other day if I was "still" riding in treeless, and I replied "why wouldn't I be?". The link below might be of interest.




http://www.solutionsaddles.com/sswgt.html
 
Violetstripe, i too know nothing about treeless saddles but am glad you have posted this.

I am actually looking to change my horses saddle within the nxt month or 2 as it is really a bit too long for him. He is a 14.2 and its 17.5 inch and he could really do with a 16 or 16.5 inch. Its certainly not hurting him in any way....he has had everything checked but i dont really like the saddle as its synthetic and want a smaller one for him.

Rowreach i have just read through the info on the link you posted, thanks for posting that its really interesting. I hadnt really thought of a treeless before, i know the person who owned my pony for 4 years before the girl i bought him from always rode him in a treeless a 16 inch so im wondering if he may go better in it.

The big stumbling point is that i was only going to be looking to spend about £500 on a second hand leather one.
Do you know if its possible to get a half decent leather treeless for that amount???
 
I have one of the original and still one of the best makes of treeless saddle (Torsion). It is very comfortable, can be easier to fit and has a good chance of fitting more than one horse, it allows you to feel the moveement of the horse and oten allows the horse a much freer movement.
They will NOT fit (or suit) all horses though.
 
Hmmm, I've often thought about going treeless, but what puts me off is the hassle about getting the "right" pad underneath and all that, coz apparently if you don't you can cause a lot of problems with rubbing, pressure on the spine etc.

Also, I would want a synthetic saddle rather than a nice leather one as I've gone all bone idle since I had my wintec!
 
One of my friends has recently bought a Dream Team saddle for her cob mare, she couldn't get a treed one that fit her properly as she's very flat backed and has no withers. The company sent her a special pad for the saddle as well, and she loves it, says she feels a lot more secure and the horse is a lot happier.

http://www.dreamteamproducts.com/
 
AFAIK the only treeless saddles which are allowed for use in competition under FEI rules are the Solution/SMART ones, and most makes of treeless would not be suitable for jumping in (other than popping a small fence).

Solution saddles tend to hold their value, but in answer to skychick's question, I have seen several sold on ebay for around the £800 - £1000 mark.

TBH the price of them put me off to start with, but the fact that I will never have to go through another saddle fitting nightmare more than makes up for it and actually makes them very cost effective over time:)
 
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