black_n_white
Well-Known Member
As title really. Just wondering what everyone thinks of them.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Opinions on Treeless saddles
- Thread starter black_n_white
- Start date
Theresa_F
Well-Known Member
Some love them and some hate them.
I have the Barefoot - one of the better mid ranged ones and personally I like it very much - very comfortable and you can really feel the horse under you.
Has been an excellent choice for my young cob - I backed him at 3, he is now 4 and would have been through at least one or two saddles by now due to shape change and has a lot more to go.
I could also use in on the old clydesdale - he went very very well in it. Farra the new clydes saddle does fit, but she is only 4 so may well use the barefoot on her later.
I have their backs checked annually and the physio is happy with the treeless, has caused no harm to them.
I have the Barefoot - one of the better mid ranged ones and personally I like it very much - very comfortable and you can really feel the horse under you.
Has been an excellent choice for my young cob - I backed him at 3, he is now 4 and would have been through at least one or two saddles by now due to shape change and has a lot more to go.
I could also use in on the old clydesdale - he went very very well in it. Farra the new clydes saddle does fit, but she is only 4 so may well use the barefoot on her later.
I have their backs checked annually and the physio is happy with the treeless, has caused no harm to them.
Ashgrove
Well-Known Member
The same with anything, there are good and bad treed saddles and there are good and bad treeless saddles
I have a Phoenix, both my horse and I love it
I have a Phoenix, both my horse and I love it
vikuca
Well-Known Member
I would recommend them. I have the Barefoot Cheyenne for my young cob and it has meant I can stop worrying about whether the saddle fits him and just get on with riding. He goes very nicely in it and it is comfortable for me as well.
The only warning I would give is that these saddles seemed to be specially designed to make sure that conventional tack with not fit them ... numnahs, GP stirrup leathers & stirrups, seat savers, they either have to be special Barefoot ones or in the case of stirrups they have to be dressage leathers and safety stirrups. There are good reasons for it, but it can be a bit tiresome, especially with the inflated prices you have to pay for Barefoot stuff. Still, it is good quality.
The only warning I would give is that these saddles seemed to be specially designed to make sure that conventional tack with not fit them ... numnahs, GP stirrup leathers & stirrups, seat savers, they either have to be special Barefoot ones or in the case of stirrups they have to be dressage leathers and safety stirrups. There are good reasons for it, but it can be a bit tiresome, especially with the inflated prices you have to pay for Barefoot stuff. Still, it is good quality.
Annette4
Well-Known Member
Personally I don't like them but whatever suits you
Kenzo
Well-Known Member
I have used the Torsion, only reason I liked it is because it fitted and benefitted my horse (not current one on sigi) so I say, don't knock em till you've tried em, but....like with any saddle or indeed any other form or tack you put on your horse, make sure it fitted and checked regularly and by a saddle fitter, and your horses back is also checked out regularly.
Some people will warn you to stay well clear or treeless saddles due to bad experiences or things they have heard, but you can also cause just as much damage if not more with traditional saddle, hence make your own choice, all horses backs are different and take a different degrees of pressure and strain depending on the rider, the discipline, the confirmation etc etc only you and your saddle fitter can tell you yeah or neigh.
Some people will warn you to stay well clear or treeless saddles due to bad experiences or things they have heard, but you can also cause just as much damage if not more with traditional saddle, hence make your own choice, all horses backs are different and take a different degrees of pressure and strain depending on the rider, the discipline, the confirmation etc etc only you and your saddle fitter can tell you yeah or neigh.
Tiarella
Well-Known Member
atm i use one on douglas as i cant seem to find a nice one to fit him! theyre nice & comfy to ride in, but a bit hard to jump in. i like them though
ghosthooves
Well-Known Member
A couple of horses at my yard have them and there haven't been any problems (think they have barefoot ones). When I rode in them wasn't keen on them personally but then I only have ridden horses that have them a few times so I didn't have much of a chance to get used to them!
Rowreach
Adjusting my sails
I ride in Solution saddles and wouldn't put anything else on any of my horses
www.totalsolutions.com has some useful stuff on it if you are interested.
Silverspring
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I ride in Solution saddles and wouldn't put anything else on any of my horses
www.totalsolutions.com has some useful stuff on it if you are interested.
[/ QUOTE ]
Erm that's an IT websites...is this the website you meant to post http://www.solutionsaddles.com/index.shtml
I ride in Solution saddles and wouldn't put anything else on any of my horses
[/ QUOTE ]
Erm that's an IT websites...is this the website you meant to post http://www.solutionsaddles.com/index.shtml
mintaka04
Well-Known Member
I think they are fine if you are not doing too much distance in them.
I had a barefoot for a while and I liked it, but I wouldn't want to do endurance in it.
I know a few of my endurance buddies like the treeless, but only up to 50km. After that they can cause problems.
For general hacking about I would say they are ok.
I had a barefoot for a while and I liked it, but I wouldn't want to do endurance in it.
I know a few of my endurance buddies like the treeless, but only up to 50km. After that they can cause problems.
For general hacking about I would say they are ok.
D
Donkeymad
Guest
Torsions, the original treeless saddles, are brilliant. Very comfy and perfectly suitable for long distances. Just remember that, no matter what anyone says, they (treeless) will NOT fit ALL horses.
You also very much get what you pay for and would be best to avoid the 'cheaper' makes.
You also very much get what you pay for and would be best to avoid the 'cheaper' makes.
hellsdarkrose
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Torsions, the original treeless saddles, are brilliant. Very comfy and perfectly suitable for long distances. Just remember that, no matter what anyone says, they (treeless) will NOT fit ALL horses.
You also very much get what you pay for and would be best to avoid the 'cheaper' makes.
[/ QUOTE ]
Do you have to get them specially fitted or can a normal saddle fitter fit one.
Torsions, the original treeless saddles, are brilliant. Very comfy and perfectly suitable for long distances. Just remember that, no matter what anyone says, they (treeless) will NOT fit ALL horses.
You also very much get what you pay for and would be best to avoid the 'cheaper' makes.
[/ QUOTE ]
Do you have to get them specially fitted or can a normal saddle fitter fit one.
HelsB
Well-Known Member
The Heather Moffett Treeless dressage saddle is amazing ;D Sits me in the correct position, I never have to worry about whether it fits my horse and it is sooooo comfy!
I am a "showing" person, and was loathe to give up my showing saddle, but this is the best move I have made, for my horses's back, my position and our RESULTS !!
Tried some of the others, looked at THEM ALL.... and this is the most conventional to look at and to ride in. Wouldn't go back now.....
I am a "showing" person, and was loathe to give up my showing saddle, but this is the best move I have made, for my horses's back, my position and our RESULTS !!
Tried some of the others, looked at THEM ALL.... and this is the most conventional to look at and to ride in. Wouldn't go back now.....
Nudibranch
Well-Known Member
Agreed Torsions don't fit all, disastrous on my tb, though I imagine any treeless would be. As others have said, it's important to get it fitted by an "independent" fitter (i.e. not a Torsion rep as my friend did!). I found the Torsion really comfy though and good for my stirrup length, which I like long. My guess is that the lower withered horses will probably suit them best.
So half recommendation and half warning! Sorry!
So half recommendation and half warning! Sorry!
beanie176
Active Member
Personally i dont like the barefoot ones, i have ridden 2 different horses in them and absolutelly hated them, really didnt feel safe felt like i was rolling all over the place and as for wot my legs were doin!!!!!!!!!!
As for the ansur, now total saddle solutions i fell in love immeaditly. felt so secure, legs in the right place wonderful feeling under me and they come in true dressage or jumping styles to the point where you wouldnt know they were treeless. Just a shame about the cost. But as with everything, each to there own and each horse will be different
As for the ansur, now total saddle solutions i fell in love immeaditly. felt so secure, legs in the right place wonderful feeling under me and they come in true dressage or jumping styles to the point where you wouldnt know they were treeless. Just a shame about the cost. But as with everything, each to there own and each horse will be different
Pondrider
Active Member
Hi there,
I have been using a (modified) fhoenix on my ex-race TB with steep drop behind withers for around six months now, as we find it more comfy and get a better pressure distribution reading than with the sixty or so others we tried (treed and 'treeless'), but will echo the previously posted comments that different styles of 'treeless' saddles suit differing types of horses and rider: no one make/model will suit everyone.
As a general guide though, I've found that the more 'performance' that is required out of a 'treeless' saddle, the more structure/structured padding will be require for pressure/force distribution against the horse's back - quite a few of the less structured ones I've tested showed undesirable pressure under the stirrup hanger area when using more stirrup support (in rising trot, for example), although conversely some stiffer types were not flexible enough to conform to the back profile without impinging on the tops of the spinous processes.
'
If you are thinking of buying one, then the best I can advise is to 'trial' several first and if possible get a simple comparative pressure test done of each whilst being used **on your horse** - ( I will let you know some multi-make suppliers I've used to trial saddles/PLIP if you want to pm me.)
Have fun!
I have been using a (modified) fhoenix on my ex-race TB with steep drop behind withers for around six months now, as we find it more comfy and get a better pressure distribution reading than with the sixty or so others we tried (treed and 'treeless'), but will echo the previously posted comments that different styles of 'treeless' saddles suit differing types of horses and rider: no one make/model will suit everyone.
As a general guide though, I've found that the more 'performance' that is required out of a 'treeless' saddle, the more structure/structured padding will be require for pressure/force distribution against the horse's back - quite a few of the less structured ones I've tested showed undesirable pressure under the stirrup hanger area when using more stirrup support (in rising trot, for example), although conversely some stiffer types were not flexible enough to conform to the back profile without impinging on the tops of the spinous processes.
'
If you are thinking of buying one, then the best I can advise is to 'trial' several first and if possible get a simple comparative pressure test done of each whilst being used **on your horse** - ( I will let you know some multi-make suppliers I've used to trial saddles/PLIP if you want to pm me.)
Have fun!
hpenn
New User
hey im kinda new here.
I love treeless saddles. I have 4 hilasons and 2 bob marshalls and they all work out great for me. I prefer hilason better because its very comfortable and afforable as much. Bob marshalls cost way to much and are kinda stiff. Hilason has a great selection of treeless saddles. The ones i have are endurance ones. The leather is really nice and stong as well.
http://www.hilason.com/category/1/0/TREELESS+SADDLES.aspx
I love treeless saddles. I have 4 hilasons and 2 bob marshalls and they all work out great for me. I prefer hilason better because its very comfortable and afforable as much. Bob marshalls cost way to much and are kinda stiff. Hilason has a great selection of treeless saddles. The ones i have are endurance ones. The leather is really nice and stong as well.
http://www.hilason.com/category/1/0/TREELESS+SADDLES.aspx