Jumping in a treeless saddle?

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weebarney

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I would like to know peoples experiences(good or bad) of jumping lower level affiliated sized sj courses or xc courses in a treeless saddle, can it be done? I love the idea behind treeless saddles but are they realistically only suitable for flatwork and maybe the odd jump?
 
I spoke to my saddler about treeless and he said that the ones he has seen don't distribute weight very well and put pressure on the area around the stirrup bars.
 
Do some searches on here about the subject - lot of discussion.

I know someone who events at a high level in theirs with no probs, but then there are treeless saddles and treeless saddles...... have a look at Solutions treeless
 
pootleperkin said:
Do some searches on here about the subject - lot of discussion.

I know someone who events at a high level in theirs with no probs, but then there are treeless saddles and treeless saddles...... have a look at Solutions treeless
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Echo this. Don't even think about the cheap rubbish you can get on Ebay. If you want a treeless saddle go for the best- Solution Saddles.

I have both the jumper and the dressage and event in them very happily :)
 
I've been jumping very happily in my Solution saddles for upwards of 7 years now. Maccachic I think maybe if you are interested you should do a bit more research than that! I imagine if your saddler doesn't sell treeless (and doesn't know much about them) then he won't be advocating them to his customers :)
 
Friend uses treeless on her boy and competes upto BE100 for him. She switched to the solution saddles as her horse has had issues (mild KS) and this was felt to be the best solution for him. He certainly seems happy in it and she has both the dressage and SJ saddle.
 
I've tried to research , trouble is a lot of people day they jump in a treeless but not specific as to whether they jump a 2' log on a hack or whether they seriously compete. Hence me asking a fairly specific question about them. I take it people only seem to compete in a solution?
 
Why not ask the companies for references? Obviously they will give you people who are happy in them but you should be able to determine if they are happy. James Robinson shouldn't be hard to track down.
 
Didn't really want to talk to any companies just was more wanting what real people have done or not done in them. I've got a good treeless at the moment for a youngster and basically wondering if the only way I'll be able to compete treeless is with a solution? In which case I'll have to sell and save! Or go back to treed.
 
I compete in mine (Solution); not to a high level but that's nothing to do with the saddle - mine and my horse's capabilities are the cap on that!

I've jumped upto 1m 40 at home in my solution (horse is 14.3hh) and have done full day's hunting in it, jumping whatever hedge is infront of us. It doesn't move and I'm very happy with it :)

I'm not sure I'd be happy doing either in a different make of treed saddle, I'm pretty sure the Solution (and it's American predecessor the Ansur) are the only make tested and used at the higher levels.
 
Which one do have at the mo' Weebarney? If you tell us, then I'm sure folk on here will tell you if they have done much higher level jumping in them. I'm guessing most will be in Solutions though.

Solutions do have some jump saddles in varying sizes on 'sale' on their website at the minute. Still pricey though.
 
GinaGeo said:
I compete in mine (Solution); not to a high level but that's nothing to do with the saddle - mine and my horse's capabilities are the cap on that!

I've jumped upto 1m 40 at home in my solution (horse is 14.3hh) and have done full day's hunting in it, jumping whatever hedge is infront of us. It doesn't move and I'm very happy with it :)

I'm not sure I'd be happy doing either in a different make of treed saddle, I'm pretty sure the Solution (and it's American predecessor the Ansur) are the only make tested and used at the higher levels.
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Which solution do you use?
 
I guess being a Heather Moffett, it should have a reasonable re-sale value?

Going from your original post where you say you have a treeless, but can you jump in them to any level, well answer would seem to be yes for those designed for it, but your biggest problem is that yours is a VSD! :)

Whether Solutions are the only ones worth considering or another brand, such as a Heather Moffett in a jump shape, is the real Q.
 
pootleperkin said:
I guess being a Heather Moffett, it should have a reasonable re-sale value?

Going from your original post where you say you have a treeless, but can you jump in them to any level, well answer would seem to be yes for those designed for it, but your biggest problem is that yours is a VSD! :)

Whether Solutions are the only ones worth considering or another brand, such as a Heather Moffett in a jump shape, is the real Q.
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To be honest doesn't bother me its not a jump saddle, I've jumped affiliated for years up to fox hunter and never had a jump saddle, I don't think anyone really 'needs' one til they are doing seriously big stuff. I just don't want to cause the horse problems especially as he's a baby.
 
I competed up to BE Novice level in a Heather Moffett Fhoenix. I did find it didn't put me in a great jumping position though and when horsey left a leg XC and I flew off the front (when I really should have stayed on!), I decided it probably wasn't wise continuing with it for eventing.

I do love the Solutions though. I have the older style, freestyle jumper and dressage. The jumper is great, puts you in a very good jumping/ XC position and I feel totally secure in it. I would highly recommend getting them out for a fitting session to see how you feel in it.
 
weebarney said:
To be honest doesn't bother me its not a jump saddle, I've jumped affiliated for years up to fox hunter and never had a jump saddle, I don't think anyone really 'needs' one til they are doing seriously big stuff. I just don't want to cause the horse problems especially as he's a baby.
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If it doesn't bother you then, I really don't think it'll bother the horse :)
 
I jumped a cob with a big pop up to a metre in a Barefoot Cheyenne. I thought that I would get hit by the high pommel, but that didn't happen at all, and the young cob jumped really well in it. If you were a man, it might be more of an issue.....
 
I have a HM Vogue, I jump in it. I don't compete at the min or jump all that regularly, but did a few decent length schooling sessions in it last summer jumping between 2'6 & 3'3, and it was fine, pony was fine, I was fine etc etc. Did a 30min XC lesson in it but only over tiddly 2'-2'6 fences as I hadn't done any XC for ages. Dante jumps better in it than he ever has in a treed saddle, so I'm planning to buy a GP flexee for jumping this year as I hope to do more, if I ever feel up to it, as current saddle is a dressage one.
 
weebarney said:
To be honest doesn't bother me its not a jump saddle, I've jumped affiliated for years up to fox hunter and never had a jump saddle, I don't think anyone really 'needs' one til they are doing seriously big stuff. I just don't want to cause the horse problems especially as he's a baby.
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I did my first baby ODE in a dressage saddle, and spent years team chasing/SJ/eventing in a 'generally purposeless' GP (!) so I get where you are coming from!

I would have thought if horsy is happy in the saddle and you can cope with it, then you are good to go?

I did post a link a while back about pressure points in treeless saddles in a study commissioned by the company that owns Solutions - it was impartial, so is worth a read, if that is your main worry?

Here, I have found the link: http://barnmice.com/profiles/blogs/saddle-fit-and-treeless-vs-conventional-saddles-back-pressure
 
weebarney said:
Which solution do you use?
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I have a small collection now. I've got a Smart Close Contact suprabloc Dressage Saddle which I've only had for a couple of months. And two original GP's. One is set up for me and the other for mum and we use our saddle on whichever horse we ride, just use the pad set up for that horse. Mine's about two years old now, with a suede seat and knee rolls. I use the slimline jumping blocks with it which gives me plenty of space to get my stirrups short. It rides like a jumping saddle and is very comfortable - I quite frequently head off for five hour hacks in Summer and don't regret it when I get home! I can send you some pictures of my boy's jumping in it if you like.
 
Solution Saddles are afaik the only make of treeless which are permitted for use under FEI rules, so anyone who has evented or sj'd at a higher level will have used these. I currently know of several people who have or are competing at 3* and 4* in Solution saddles and high level dressage. They are also becoming more common in the show ring. Somewhere (I shall see if I can find the link) there is a great picture of someone sjing in a Solution Jumper.

If you like the original models rather than the SMART, you can pick up 2nd hand ones quite reasonably on ebay or through the unofficial network that exists.
 
pootleperkin said:
I did my first baby ODE in a dressage saddle, and spent years team chasing/SJ/eventing in a 'generally purposeless' GP (!) so I get where you are coming from!

I would have thought if horsy is happy in the saddle and you can cope with it, then you are good to go?

I did post a link a while back about pressure points in treeless saddles in a study commissioned by the company that owns Solutions - it was impartial, so is worth a read, if that is your main worry?

Here, I have found the link: http://barnmice.com/profiles/blogs/saddle-fit-and-treeless-vs-conventional-saddles-back-pressure
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Yeah it's the whole pressure point thing that bothers me most. I worry that they may be nice and comfy on the flat but when you jump there must be a lot of force coming down through the stirrups that you just wouldn't get doing dressage. I'll have a read of the link thanks.
 
I really don't think you can draw an overall conclusion about treeless saddles in any general respect. There are some very good ones, and some complete deathtraps!
 
philamena said:
I really don't think you can draw an overall conclusion about treeless saddles in any general respect. There are some very good ones, and some complete deathtraps!
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Should probably have worded op better, would like to know what people have used and what they thought of jumping courses in them(not interested in cheap crap!)
 
In my experience (which is quite broad when it comes to this subject :)) horses are a heck of a lot happier jumping in treeless than treed. The shoulder is freer, the back is freer, the bascule is better, and on landing they don't have the force of the rider's weight following through behind the tree points behind the scapula ... and from the rider's pov, they are comfy, supportive, and are flat enough to get your bum back over a fence without landing on the cantle.
 
Rowreach said:
In my experience (which is quite broad when it comes to this subject :)) horses are a heck of a lot happier jumping in treeless than treed. The shoulder is freer, the back is freer, the bascule is better, and on landing they don't have the force of the rider's weight following through behind the tree points behind the scapula ... and from the rider's pov, they are comfy, supportive, and are flat enough to get your bum back over a fence without landing on the cantle.
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This!
 
Rowreach said:
In my experience (which is quite broad when it comes to this subject :)) horses are a heck of a lot happier jumping in treeless than treed. The shoulder is freer, the back is freer, the bascule is better, and on landing they don't have the force of the rider's weight following through behind the tree points behind the scapula ... and from the rider's pov, they are comfy, supportive, and are flat enough to get your bum back over a fence without landing on the cantle.
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Sounds good, I suppose I'll just give it a try and see how we get on!
 
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