freeform saddles-any experiences?

MotherOfChickens

MotherOfChickens

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I have a brick outhouse of an Exmoor who is really just used for hacking. I also have a youngster who is not an Exmoor or an outhouse.

None of my saddles currently fit either and want something lighter weight than my old Wow for them until they are older and especially for the Exmoor. I am quite tempted to get a really nice bareback pad for the Exmoor but have been looking at treeless as I am looking and trying to not find them ugly (funny I know, considering I love the Wow so much :p ). There seems to be freeforms, an older HM saddle, Torsions and some Barefoots on eBay atm. I have ridden in the HM Vogue and liked it-but ponio is very round and have heard they aren't brilliant for round ponies- I expect that very round and any treeless isn't so great?

I am not against treed obviously, and it might be that I end up going that route but just wondered what people thought.
 
When after many trials and terrible behaviour problems when ridden and many saddle fittings with a master saddler, I was offered a Freeform to try - my horse and I have never looked back, it was almost as if she heaved a sigh of relief. She is a big built IDxConnie. I have had my Freeform for many years now, the only problem being that now in my late 60's the hips creak quite a bit when getting off as my horse is wide, but that is a small price to pay for having a relaxed and happy horse who is a pleasure to ride.
 
thanks Carrots. just don't know whether to take a punt or not :/ partly because although I know length of treeless isn't as imperative as length of treed, it may well look awful on the pony-even though he can take a 17inch saddle.

shameless bump!
 
You probably need the Freeform SB model. It's designed for adults riding on short backed equines. (Pony Squishers in other words!). I loved my Freeform, rather regret selling it, but needs must sometimes.
 
I had a Freeform Evo which I bought 2nd hand on E-bay.

I liked it and found it comfortable, and very much like one of those huge sofa's which you just sink into - too much in fact, which was why I got rid of it as I didn't feel it was supporting me enough, and I found I was getting lower/lumber spine area ache on longer rides as it just allowed my bum to sink back into the cushioned-ness of it rather than supporting. Tho' to be fair maybe the saddle I had was just a little too big and I might have not found this happening with a smaller one maybe?? Who knows.

Also I was a little concerned that the stirrup bars area had enough protection. On a longer ride when the horse had sweated a little, there was quite a lot of obvious indentation on the stirrup bar area on her back, which I wasn't too happy about.

But on the plus side they are nice comfortable saddles - more so than a great many others on the market IMO, and seem designed for rider comfort.

I had the synthetic one, which was very easy to care for.

Have also tried Barefoot (can't make them fit either me or the horse! what fits one won't fit the other it seems :( ).

Current saddle is an "Exmoor Tree-Free", another E-bay buy. A lovely little saddle which has got plenty of support for the horse's back underneath AND is supremely comfortable for the rider! The best E-bay bargain I ever had. The company are based in South Devon and are very knowledgeable and helpful. Highly recommended!
 
All the brands you mention are good, it's just a question of finding which one suits you best. I generally lean towards the HM range as I have used them on all shapes of horse with no issues. I am currently riding my completely spherical Fell filly in a HM FlexEE which suits us both.
 
Yep sorry meant to add that I recently acquired a HM FlexEE VSD synthetic; it needs shimming to make it fit my trad cob correctly - I've asked a proper fitter to help me with this, BUT TBH don't know if I could be @rsed to fiddle and faff around if I didn't have an expert to help me with it??? If you read their website it seems to be quite a common problem.

Tried the HM Vogue and also the Phoenix. Wasn't used to treeless then, and couldn't walk properly for at least three days!!! Tho' might be better to try now as I'm used to treeless.
 
Just to mention that it's actually a FreeMAX Evo - not the same make as Freeform at all. Freeform are pretty much the Rolls Royce of the treeless saddle world, used by pro endurance riders etc. Freemax are quite nice, not the Indian knock offs, but not at all the same quality as Freeform.

I've used a Freeform on my horse (both an SB and one of the DeLuxe versions), and just as with treed saddles, we found that a given treeless does not suit every horse. Mine did not like the Freeform at all, although it was borrowed from a friend whose horse loved it and went really well in it. We ended up with a Barefoot - not as nice a saddle in terms of quality of manufacture, but the horse was quite clear which he preferred!

Seeing as you have an Exmoor, have a look at the Exmoor treeless saddles - they are known to be excellent and occasionally come up on eBay (there's an Exmoor model and a Dartmoor model, I think one has knee rolls and the other doesn't - they are usually listed as Treefree Exmoor or Treefree Dartmoor).
 
I've had two Freeforms and loved them (sold the first one to upgrade to the second one which I had customised with extra large knee rolls and poleys on the seat). Easily the best, most comfortable, versatile and well fitting saddles I've ever had. Just a shame they don't come small enough for my current pony (the Juniors would fit him but not me) :(

Dolly was 13.2hh and took a 5'6 rug and just fitted into the Freeform SB. Slightly shorter would have been better but her saddles never rubbed or moved and her sweat marks were always perfectly even (I used a Haf Airnet pad under the saddles, as recommended by Goldfinch Equestrian who used to sell them).
 
thanks everyone-I like the look of the exmoor but I need something secondhand. After some research I think the freeform will be too long for him. he's only been backed in a saddle pad atm-i am quite tempted to upgrade to a Christ Lammfelle pad for the time being.
 
I was just going to jump in and say the same as Brightbay, Freemax saddles aren't the same as Freeform, and in my opinion at any rate they aren't the same quality.
With this sort of saddle you need to ask how is the weight from the stirrups distributed? A single strap of webbing in the body of the saddle, ending at the stirrup bars is something to think twice about. Lots of evidence of pressure problems with them. The Exmoor and Dartmoor Treefree saddles originate from a design by Tom Widdicombe. They distribute pressure by using a web of webbing across the body of the saddle. I believe Freeform do something similar.
I always use good quality pads under treeless saddles, I added to the grandeur pad I used under my Freeform by adding full length shims made of memory foam.
Heather Moffet's saddles use memory foam to distribute pressure as well.
Weight is important when going treeless, you do need to check the weight limit. It's tends to be14 stone.
Also, particularly if using a saddle with solid blocks for pommel and cantle, make sure it fits your bum! You should not be in a position where your backside is resting back against the cantle and pushing it on to your horse's back. Unfortunately, some seem to find these saddles encourage an armchair seat, so they end up doing that.
Oh, and if you go for a bareback pad - consider whether or not stirrups are a good idea. Personally I hate stirrups on a bareback pad, I don't think they are stable enough for them.
 
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