Going treeless on a youngster????

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tangosmum

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I have just had the saddle issue bite me in the butt!

3 weeks ago my youngsters saddle fitted him...now it is too narrow. He is a Gypsy cob and filling out by the day.

I have been looking at Thorowgood XW and XXW saddles with adjustable gullets, but I also found Copperbeach Treeless saddles....supposedly ideal of youngsters and they change shape as the horse grows etc etc.

I am quite keen on the treeless idea...but worried I will struggle riding in it? I have never ridden in a treeless before...though love bareback riding, but my youngster at the moment is still a little spooky at times and I wonder if I will end up on the floor if I go with a treeless.

Anyone using a treeless on a youngster...and managing to hang on!???
 
No experience of treeless saddles but I did use a Wintec cob on one of my youngsters when he was backed. My other saddles slid round on him as he was rather round with a very flat wither. His withers have now come up and he is in an Ideal Jessica.

At the risk of being shot down in flames, I think it is more important not to fall off a youngster than to worry about the saddle being an exact fit. However, my youngsters are ridden in straight lines as much as possible and only for short periods. I do think youngsters get scared if they lose their rider.
 
you can get treeless saddles that are very similar to english, my friend had one on her 4 yr old showpony and when i rode him i couldnt feel the difference tbh, just a little bit more comfier :P
 
I think unfortunately the more you pay for a treeless the more like traditional riding it will feel (and look).

I have ridden in a heather moffett phoenix (I think that was the name) and it was okay... but they do have a tendancy to slip, so i'd be worried about parting company if your youngster put in sideways spooks or twists and turns, or it accidentally pressung on his spine.

Then again, its only one saddle and if you take good care of it it'll last you his lifetime and however many horses you care to ride in the future. :)
 
hi

i went treeless 6 years ago due to shape changing issues (although older horse after time out for injury) best thing i ever did - can't stand treed saddles now, make me walk like john wayne !

I have a youngster and fully intend on backing him treeless.

you need to buy in the higher end of the market or you will get issues with pressure points. heather moffetts are (IMO) the best, i now have a barefoot western purley due to the extra length to spread my (ahem) large posterier over :) - i've had no issues with this at all (happy hacker max 4 hour s/ride) the youngster will be treated to a heather moffett phoneix - current horse is happy hacker only due to injury the youngster is intended for dressage.

i did have some issues with slipping when i first went treeless, hitting the deck a couple of times. I believe that these saddles show you your balance issues, i think i subconsiusly adjusted myself as within a week no problems.

I'm completley confident with them now and have sat frequent spins/bucks general poncyness with no issues.

strongly suggest you get them on trial - both HM and barefoot do this, or srounge some rides on them (i'm in maidstone kent if your anywhere near here)
 
I bought Stinky my gypsy cob a treeless when he was three as I knew he was going to really bulk out over the next couple of years. I went for the Barefoot London and it is great to hack out, school and do a bit of everything in. I personally don't like to jump more than 2'3, but others have done 2'9 on him in it (mad buggers).

At five I also bought him a treed working hunter for showing, SJ etc competitions. He goes from one to the other with no problems.

I also have used the same saddle on our young clydesdale, and she too now has a treed saddle for competitions, but again will go in either type.

Our old clydesdale showed a big preference for the same saddle.

Make sure that you get one that fits correctly, use the pad designed for it and accept that you may hate riding in it and avoid the cheap end of the market. The Barefoot is probably the best of the mid ranged saddles in terms of fit and quality, but is not that pretty, you have to pay quite a bit more to get conventional looks.

I have two people who actively dislike my treeless, but most people find it fine, especially for hacking as it is so very comfortable. Treeless is it is a bit like riding bareback x western x english in feel and shows up problems with your position and balance if they are not good.

I keep the Barefoot as should my treed saddle be outgrown which is likely as they are now both six and still very obviously growing, I can use it whilst finding new saddles as the Barefoot fits them both well and has plenty of capacity width wise for the future.
 
I backed Toby in a freeform then rode him in it for a good year+. Lovely saddle, which both of us liked. With the correct pad and a breastplate it was stable and felt VERY secure. He then got a grown up tree-d saddle for jumping and showing once he's finished changing shape.

Piper (flat gypsy cob) will be backed in the same saddle before eventually getting his own tree'd.
 
I back youngsters and school young horses in Solution treeless saddles. To be honest, since I started doing youngsters in treeless I have been amazed at how much easier the whole process it, how much happier the horses are, and I've never had any problems with slipping saddles or anything. The horses' progress seems to be smoother as well - I can't say it is faster because I do tend to take a lot of time with them. I do find my saddles very comfortable and easy to sit in which helps :)

I would echo what's been said above though, go with the top end saddles, not the cheap ones.

As to the comment above that it is more important to stay on a young horse than worry about saddle fit - well, I would say that the horse is less likely to overreact if its saddle is well fitting and comfortable!:)


Theresa_F makes a good point about rider position and balance - I think that backing horses in treeless make you ride better and again makes it easier for the horse to cope with a person on its back
 
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I rode a very spooky pony in a Barefoot London treeless, but took the precaution of using a hunting breastplate just in case, so it couldn't slip back or nor sideways, hopefully. I found it fine, but I do think that you adjust your balance otherwise you might be slipping to one side or the other. Ideally you need a mounting block to get on.
Agree with the suggestions that you use the "top end" of the market of treeless saddles, don't buy a cheapie from ebay.

Interesting about the Solution saddle, I keep wondering whether to ditch all my saddles (3) and get a Solution instead. Trouble it, it is a lot of money!
 
ive no experience with youngsters but i am a very novice rider with a very bolshy cob
he changes shape more or less weekly so i bought a very cheap treeless saddle to try on him
i lov eit and so does he - as a nervous novice i can say i actually feel safer on my treeless - it sort of melts into his back and i can feel his movements much better
also - he is much more comfortable - no matter what his shape it fits comfortably - his old trqaditional saddle used ot slip like hell - his treeless doesnt move
could you borrow a treeless to try - i bet youd love it - since i bought mine lots of people at my yard have followed suit xxx
 
i bought a libra saddle with a beautiful sheepskin pad for £150 - i lov eit and the site i bought it from rang me personally to check the details ie girthstrap length etc - equinewhispers - excellent service - and no i dont own the company lol
 
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