I've bitten the bullet and gone treeless!

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CobsGalore

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I've been having problems with my saddle recently, I've had two different saddlers out numerous times who make adjustments and assure me that it fits my horse, but i know that it doesn't and I am finding it uncomfortable to ride in.

He isn't muscling up as much as I would like him to and I constantly feel like one of my stirrups is longer than the other.

so...I have bitten the bullet and gone treeless.

i am picking up a second hand barefoot Cheyenne drytex on Saturday that I just won on ebay!

Im very excited to try it and have done lots of research recently, but just wondering who else has one of these?

Did your horse muscle up nicely under it? Will I need special padding until he does? (It comes with the barefoot pad, but will I need something else?)

Experiences please!
 
Nice one, the barefoot saddles are pretty good, I've got a London.

you will need a special pad underneath, the barefoot ones are quite good.

They do take a bit of getting used to, as the feel is very different from a treed saddle.
 
I have ridden in a treeless before but it was just a cheapy one not a barefoot!

I'm very excited to go for a ride in it! The one I've got is the newer model with VPS so I am hoping that the barefoot pad will provide enough spine clearance, if not, i read somewhere you can get extra padding for the pads?
 
You may find the one sidedness is made worse by the treeless, well it was for me anyway. I used to love my heather Moffett treeless but since buying a treed dressage saddle I can't get used to the stretch through my hips, although my horse always loved it!
 
CobsGalore said:
I constantly feel like one of my stirrups is longer than the other.
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For years and years I'd always felt uneven in the saddle but didn't know why. It wasn't until I had a Medical for an accident compensation claim that the specialist told me that I had one leg shorter than the other!!!! Not significantly, but it did explain why my saddle always seemed to be slipping over to one side, and I would always struggle to get a correct canter lead on one rein.

If you're feeling that one of your stirrups is "longer than the other" then that is a classic sign that you might have the same problem. Its very very common in fact; but can cause all sorts of problems for not only you but also your horse as what can happen is that you're unconsciously trying to right yourself, and as a result you'll lean to one side: resulting in pressure over your horse's spine/back area. This can lead to vices like bucking, or even a noticeable uneven-ness in trot or in canter getting a correct canter lead.

It might be an idea to book yourself in with someone like a chiropractor or an osteopath as they may be able to help straighten you out a bit. Also...... you'll need to get your horse seen to as well. My chiropractor does us both with is an obvious advantage, but it IS important if YOU have treatment, to get your horse sorted out as well, especially if you're making a change like switching to treeless because any issues like this will only be amplified by a treeless saddle, as (obviously!) because there is no tree, which acts as a support and a frame, you and the horse will be in closer contact. Which is why if YOU the rider are not level, it will become more noticeable for both of you.

I've just got a treeless saddle too! I got it on e-bay - got it on Monday morning!. My trainer rides treeless a lot, and I'm asking her to come over and have a peek at the saddle and how it sits on my two horses. Apparently (from what she's said in the past); the most important thing is the pad underneath, as much as the actual saddle. And not every treeless saddle is going to fit every horse. Which is why I'm asking her to come and have a look. You can also hire, I think (dunno where, have seen it somewhere on-line) something called a Port Lewis impression pad (think that's the right name - anyone else???) which basically tells you if there are any pressure points under the saddle. So whether you have a treeless or a treed saddle, you can tell what's going on. Apparently with treeless saddles you have to watch under where the stirrup bars go as this can cause problems (in a treed saddle the whole tree will support the weight, in a tree-less, can be more of a pressure point on the horse's back).
 
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I will definitely get myself checked out if I still feel like my stirrups are wonky after riding in the treeless, but it's only been since I've had this saddle I've felt that way. I did have a car crash last year though so perhaps it could be down to that.

Thank you :-)

I always get my horse checked out but never myself!

That goes the same for new shoes, wardrobe and vet/dr though!! Haha
 
My friend has a Barefoot Cheyennes. Bloody horrible saddle. Basically a soft bareback pad with pommel stuck from and back. No protection for the horse from your seat bones on stirrup bars. The horse developed white patches under the stirrup bars ( despite an expensive Equitex pad).

The whole point of a saddle is to protect the horses back and distribute concentrated pressure so they don't cause damage. The soft treeless saddles can't do that.

There are far better treeless saddles about. I've got a Freeform (the freemax saddles are nearly as good) and it's base is stiff and ridged enough to protect their back and spread pressure. The HM saddles are also stiff enough to spread pressure.
 
I've got a cheyenne. A good friend of mine has competed extensively in one for years- hunting, sj, xc, point to point etc. her horses see a back specialist at least every six months and has had no ill affects from the treeless.....no white marks here!
 
The stirrup bars can on some horses create a pressure point, depends if they are sensitive or not.

Basically the stirrup bars are attached to each other over the back with basically a seatbelt like bit of material (the description my saddler gave), so obviously when you put weight in the stirrups this pulls tight across the back. If your horse is sensitive to that then it can cause issues.

My welsh cob got a really sore back from just a week in a barefoot (it was a loan while I had no saddle) despite using the proper barefoot pad and a prolite underneath also, yet I have a friend who has used them for years on her horses with no issue at all.
 
I used a treeless saddle for awhile while getting my girl's weight under control :) One day we were mooching along, trotting up a field and I noticed this weird sensation... it was her heartbeat thumping up through the pad :D I haven't felt it again since going back to a normal saddle and I miss it.
 
I've got a Barefoot London too :) the most comfortable saddle I've ever sat on, plus Ben really strides out in it; Never had any white hairs or problems, infact when I had his back looked at a couple of months ago, she was surprised he was 22 years old! I do pleasure rides of around 10 miles each week, love it :)
 
springtime1331 said:
You may find the one sidedness is made worse by the treeless, well it was for me anyway. I used to love my heather Moffett treeless but since buying a treed dressage saddle I can't get used to the stretch through my hips, although my horse always loved it!
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I think treeless highlights your onesidedness more so you have to ride properly to corect it. It does feel strange at first but you get used to it and it can help improve your riding
 
Blimey, so negative ! i have the exact saddle (cheyenne drytex) and I adore it. Shy moves very freely under it, so much better than when he was in his treed saddle - he can really stride out.
 
Kallibear said:
My friend has a Barefoot Cheyennes. Bloody horrible saddle. Basically a soft bareback pad with pommel stuck from and back. No protection for the horse from your seat bones on stirrup bars. The horse developed white patches under the stirrup bars ( despite an expensive Equitex pad).

The whole point of a saddle is to protect the horses back and distribute concentrated pressure so they don't cause damage. The soft treeless saddles can't do that.

There are far better treeless saddles about. I've got a Freeform (the freemax saddles are nearly as good) and it's base is stiff and ridged enough to protect their back and spread pressure. The HM saddles are also stiff enough to spread pressure.
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Oh dear! That doesn't sounds very good!

I have to say though, the information on their website sounds very impressive. I suppose I will just have to wait and see when I get it!

The good thing about Barefoot saddles is I suppose if I don't get along with it, it can go straight back on ebay!
 
Let us know how you get on with it, I am pondering saddles for the millionth time whilst not riding my horse... I have never ridden in a treeless and am trying to save some money up again, I am going to try one more dressage saddle as have heard the isabell Werth wintec may work :-)

I just wonder if it will make me feel wildly insecure or something!
 
mandwhy said:
Let us know how you get on with it, I am pondering saddles for the millionth time whilst not riding my horse... I have never ridden in a treeless and am trying to save some money up again, I am going to try one more dressage saddle as have heard the isabell Werth wintec may work :-)

I just wonder if it will make me feel wildly insecure or something!
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I dont think it will once you are used to it, I jump in mine with no problems, just sit straight and make sure your girth is done up
 
I've got a cheyenne and also treated myself to a Barrydale in the new year.

I've been treeless now for 5 years after repeatedly trying to get a saddle for my friesian that didn't restrict her shoulder. I have never had any problems with my cheyenne at all and have found it to be really comfortable - I've now got 3 horses that I use it on. My only niggle with it was that it doesn't give the rider the best ever leg position. I got the Barrydale because I've been having knee problems and thought that a saddle with knee rolls might give me a bit more support - it does and I am very impressed with it.

I don't think I would ever go back to a treed saddle now.
 
I was struggling to choose between the Cheyenne and the Cherokee classic which has knee rolls. In the end I went for the Cheyenne, mainly because of funds. If I feel that I miss having a knee roll I can always save up for the Cherokee.

I am mainly doing it for my horses back though. I am hoping it will help him muscle up :)
 
CobsGalore said:
Oh dear! That doesn't sounds very good!

I have to say though, the information on their website sounds very impressive. I suppose I will just have to wait and see when I get it!

The good thing about Barefoot saddles is I suppose if I don't get along with it, it can go straight back on ebay!
Click to expand...
I've had a Barefoot Cheyenne for years. Used on my welsh cob stallion as he kept getting wider and I was fed up with changing saddles. I ride at about 12 and a half stone, and have ridden all sorts in the saddle including TBs. I use the Grandeur pad underneath, and I've jumped in it as well. NEVER had any marks or tenderness on any of the horses. It doesn't have any knee rolls, and puts you in a classical deep position, but can make some peoples backs ache if they already have a dodgy back. Certainly all the horses that I've ridden, go really well and freely in it. The only problem is getting on, as it will slide around the horses back, so you really have to tighten the girth before you get on, as its pretty difficult to tighten when riding.
 
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