More saddle nonsense from me (treeless saddle fitting)

[Caol Ila]

I may yet fix that Orthoflex but in any case, I have just bought a Barefoot Lexington + special Barefoot pad on ebay for quite a good price. It should be delivered tomorrow.

I figure if it works, great, and if not, I'll put it back on ebay. Hopefully my horse will tell me fairly quickly whether it works for her or not.

I was wondering if there's any tricks to fitting them? I'm pretty handy at fitting a normal treed saddle and I'm used to the reactor panels, but I imagine this is going to be different from all of the above.

 

[PortuguesePony]

I think a lot of it still applies so you should be fine. Last time I used a treeless it was just a case of making sure it was the right length, last rib rule and all …’though some will beg to differ on that one (treed or not, a different saddle can’t add extra ribs?! But you can put them slightly further forward if you want as it shouldn't interfere with the shoulder as much I guess as no rigid parts) and that is balances front to back, in that it doesn’t massively tip forwards or backward because that’s where it will put you.

If Barefoot are still doing the removable pommel inserts (?) and it’s tipping back, then trying swapping it for the wider one or, what I did was to do away with the pommel insert all together and instead stuffed the pommel pocket with rags to give a soft pommel. If it’s tipping forwards then a narrower insert or front riser. I think, with the treeless you can just shim front or back for any imbalance because there’s no tree width to consider.

 

[Caol Ila]

Well, it's here. I like the look of it. Big high pommel and cantel, which I like (Orthoflex has similarly silly sized pommel and cantel). It's a solid, funny looking thing -- which suits me because I can't be doing with normal looking saddles. A bit rubbed in some places, like where the stirrup leathers go, but all stitching, etc. looks to be in good condition. For the price I got it, I didn't expect it to be anywhere near immaculate.

Fingers crossed my horse likes it as well. Having lunch, then off to the barn to find out!

I started using the Orthoflex, not because my horses were exceptionally difficult to fit, but because they changed shape, as horses do, and I got fed up with constantly having saddle fitters out, dicking around with various pads (riser pads, gel pads, the whole bloody lot), and having to buy and sell saddles all the time. The idea of the saddle that moved with the horse worked well. Twelve years of no problems. Here's hoping this treeless thingy works as well as the Orthoflex (it's at most two or three years old and minus the moving parts).

 

[Caol Ila]

Well, I have to say, that was the weirdest f - **kin thing I have ever ridden in.

The good news is that, after initially being hesitant to move out, my horse seemed to really like it. I could feel her saying at first, "What the hell is this thing??" (I had the same thought), but then she found it gave her the opportunity to move freely and forward. In the last few weeks, she's been slightly less forward than usual and I was sure it was because the Orthoflex wasn't quite right. With this, she was a lot more energetic and impulsive.

The bad news is that I found it odd and it will take a lot of getting used to. In part, I think it's because I have ridden with the world's worst chair seat since I can remember. I also really like sitting slightly behind the vertical and drawing my lower leg up. All are longstanding habits that won't die and I have tried on and off to fix it. Well, they have to die now because this saddle won't let me ride like that. It more or less forces you into a correct dressage position. I'm not sure I want to go there -- LOL.

The saddle will not let me ride like this:

This is probably a good thing.

 

[Abbeygale]

I have had a barefoot lexington for about 3-4 months now, and I have to say I absolutely love it. Did you get the removeable knee blocks with your saddle? Is your Lexington new enough to have the VPS pads built into the saddle (built up areas underneath the saddle, to help provide spinal clearance)?

From the pic you have posted, you are sitting nice and upright in your upper body, you just need to have the feeling of pushing your weight down into your heels. Is your horse a little lazy at times? Which is causing you draw your heels up to feel like you are using your legs more to get him /her 'going'? The way you have your legs now look like you have your knee up over the front of the saddle flaps (the idea is to use the saddle flaps to rest your legs on )

I did find it took some time to get use to my Lexington, and the first day I rode my girly in it, she was not sure at ALL about it. But we both love it now - and have just completed our first endurance ride in it last weekend

Here we are doing some beach work before our endurance running!

 

[Caol Ila]

I'm not sure, as this was a used ebay wonder. It does seem built up under the saddle.

My leg just goes there, of its own accord, regardless of what my horse does or doesn't do. I've struggled with it for years. The Barefoot saddle, unlike many riding instructors, just would not let it go to where it is in that picture (using an Orthoflex there). It kept trying. This might be crap in the short term but could solve a lot of problems in the long term.

 

[Abbeygale]

Fingers crossed it helps! As I say, I found my Lexington really bizarre the first few days, and I was really disappointed for those few days. However, now I would not be parted from it! Its the first saddle I've had in years that I actually find comfortable, and is supporting my position.

 

[Caol Ila]

Fingers crossed it helps! As I say, I found my Lexington really bizarre the first few days, and I was really disappointed for those few days. However, now I would not be parted from it! Its the first saddle I've had in years that I actually find comfortable, and is supporting my position.

Indeed! It feels really bizarre and I'm wondering, "WTF did I just do!" I'm hoping I settle into it. The horse did in about half an hour, so that's a good start.