Solution treeless saddles?

[Megibo]

Evening all,could you please tell me about them?
What are they like to ride in, do they slip etc
What model/style do you have?
Are they comfortable?
Does your horse go better in them than a treed saddle?
Do you get your horses backs checked as they are treeless?
Are they worth the price tag!
And would one suit me as I've got a high withered ex racer 16 year old, and a 14 year old 13.3 sec D who goes anywhere from slim and fit to barrel in the summer (despite my best efforts!!)
Can you mount your horse from the ground/mounting block or do you need someone else to hold the stirrup for you etc etc

Pictures of your horse in one also very much appreciated..

I had a libra treeless before and it was comfy but nowhere near stable enough to canter or jump in. Would not have hacked in it!
Thanks in advance

 

[ShadowFlame]

I think most people on here know I'm a convert

I have a Smart Native GP. Feels like a regular treed saddle to ride in, only more comfortable and closer contact. It doesn't slip, and I regularly mount from the ground with it. Every horse I've tried it on has either ridden the same or better than their regular saddle, never found an issue with backs in the time I've had mine. I've put mine on everything from a 13.3hh cob, upto a 15hh arab, with a fair few others inbetween. I've been able to mount from the ground with all of them (though there's a slight knack to it).

Well worth the (slightly ridiculous) price tag, IMO. Love my saddle!

 

[webble]

How easy are they to fit shadowflame? I really wish they did a synthetic one they look amazing

 

[Capriole]

Ive had one for a few years now, ride different horses in it. I'm just off for a shower so can't type a whole lot, but if you do a search you will see I'm always raving about mine on these threads

 

[ShadowFlame]

How easy are they to fit shadowflame? I really wish they did a synthetic one they look amazing

Very

It's recommended to have a rep fit up initially, and refer back to them should your horse drastically change, but the rule of thumb is that your pommel / cantle should be level, you should be able to squeeze a finger between the pommel and the wither, and the saddle shouldn't be pressing directly on the spine (unless you have the panel-less model... that's a whole other kettle of fish). As mine is the Native style, clearance really is minimal... but my Arab (who does have wither) is more than happy in it with no specialised pads or the like underneath.

The best part is that if any part of that fitting isn't quite right (say your horse is downhill, so your pommel is lower than your cantle), you just pad accordingly. Nothing will pinch, so all you're doing is re-balancing the rider.

Check them out second hand, you can pick up a bargain. Plus the freestyles are fairly similar to ride in, just not quite so conventional looking

 

[ozpoz]

Love mine. It is hard to imagine using anything else now.

 

[Kat]

I've got a fitter booked this week and I'm very excited!

 

[webble]

Very

It's recommended to have a rep fit up initially, and refer back to them should your horse drastically change, but the rule of thumb is that your pommel / cantle should be level, you should be able to squeeze a finger between the pommel and the wither, and the saddle shouldn't be pressing directly on the spine (unless you have the panel-less model... that's a whole other kettle of fish). As mine is the Native style, clearance really is minimal... but my Arab (who does have wither) is more than happy in it with no specialised pads or the like underneath.

The best part is that if any part of that fitting isn't quite right (say your horse is downhill, so your pommel is lower than your cantle), you just pad accordingly. Nothing will pinch, so all you're doing is re-balancing the rider.

Check them out second hand, you can pick up a bargain. Plus the freestyles are fairly similar to ride in, just not quite so conventional looking

I have a HM flexee and it sounds very similar to that to fit, they do look lovely addles and I have heard a lot of good things about them I just dont want leather

 

[ShadowFlame]

I have a HM flexee and it sounds very similar to that to fit, they do look lovely addles and I have heard a lot of good things about them I just dont want leather

You strange person Nothing beats a good leather saddle... it doubles as the air freshener in my car

 

[eahotson]

You strange person Nothing beats a good leather saddle... it doubles as the air freshener in my car

Well some vegetarians and vegans just don't want to use leather.

 

[webble]

Well some vegetarians and vegans just don't want to use leather.

There is this, I love that I dont have to clean the synthetic and the suede helps me stick on better than leather but yes I prob am a bit strange too

 

[Megibo]

Sounds promising so far.. !

 

[ShadowFlame]

Well some vegetarians and vegans just don't want to use leather.

Sorry, was meant in good humour - not to offend!

There is this, I love that I dont have to clean the synthetic and the suede helps me stick on better than leather but yes I prob am a bit strange too

I'll give you the cleaning point, but you can have a suede seat / knee rolls as an option

 

[Megibo]

bump

 

[Brownmare]

I love mine! I have had it on everything from a roly poly pony to a tb with sharks fin withers and it fits them all (with different pads obviously!). Mine is a Smart GP and I have 2 sets of knee blocks to convert it for dressage or jumping. I have hunted in it and mounted from the ground (on a roundish horse) although i prefer to use a block in general. Without exception every horse has gone better in it including one who was supposedly unrideable as he bucked on mounting but loves his solution

 

[Brownmare]

I should also say that, for me, it has worked out much cheaper than a conventional saddle as i have used it on 5 horses of my own plus a few clients horses without needing to call a saddler out / reflock / buy new saddles each time...

 

[GinaGeo]

I've been using Solution saddles for nearly three years now. I turned to them initially when one of my horses began having various issues and would only accept ridden work bareback. He was very suspicious at first, but visibly relaxed when he realised it wasn't going to poke him.

My youngster has only been ridden in Solution saddles, his physio never has to do much, if anything.

I'm on my phone and can't post pictures from it, but will do from my laptop later!

As for your questions. I have two Original GP's and one Close Contact, supra-bloc Dressage saddle. All size 4. I can mount from the ground if I want too, although I don't tend to. I don't find they slip, although you do have to ensure any pads are fitted correctly. Yes, they are very comfortable, I find normal saddles hard in comparison.

They are expensive, but they are handmade in the UK, they are a quality saddle and there us a lot of research behind them and it's that you're paying for. The payment plans are very reasonable.

I love my saddles!

 

[Pascal96]

Another Solution fan here. I have a Freestyle and both my horses go well in it. It also is kind to my bad back and I don't get stiff even if I haven't ridden for some time. The nice thing about a Solution saddle is that you can have it on trial to make sure that it really suits you and your horse. One of mine didn't like the Smart but loves the Freestyle - I think it is because the pommel is stiffer on the Smart. Both of mine are warmbloods with a lot of shoulder movement and they both put the saddle behind their shoulders but once there it doesn't move atall.

 

[Megibo]

Have any of you got photos of your horses in them?

 

[Capriole]

Not really any decent ones I don't take many photos.

 

[Megibo]

Shame! Will do some more reading on their trial thing and then may well take one to test ride properly first

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Freestyle dressage with no pad underneath and a slightly too long girth, just bunged on in the field to see if it was worth pursuing as a possible saddle for her.

 

[Megibo]

thanks Faracat. They don't look hugely different to a treed saddle

 

[Kat]

Well I was very impressed with the service I had when I had the fitter out and I have got a Smart Sport v2 dressage on trial.

Still early days but so far very positive. Horse is noticeably more free through the shoulder. DH is no longer in danger of castrating himself trying to ride in a 17" saddle, his back is more comfortable and his position is much better. I have managed almost 3hrs in the saddle on a long hack and came back comfy.

Just need to work out how to pay for the ****** now!

 

[Carrots&Mints]

I dont understand the hype about Treeless saddles? Someone please explain the plus sides of them to me My friend bought one for her highland and it was the most grotesque thing I've ever set my eyes on!!

 

[Kat]

The initial attraction for me was being able to get a bigger seat. My horse can only take a 17 " saddle, but that is too small for me (and ridiculously tiny for OH). There are other benefits too though.

I wouldn't have considered another make of treeless though as I wanted to be able to jump and compete etc.

Mine looks like a normal dressage saddle. And the GP and showing models are so traditional you wouldn't know it is treeless.

 

[Carrots&Mints]

Ahh right, have you any photos? The one my friend had looked like one of the western saddles

 

[Kat]

Photos and information about the benefits and features on
www.solution-saddles.co.uk

 

[Carrots&Mints]

Im affraid I've not been converted, if you get your saddle checked every 6 months by a qualified master saddler, I dont see the problem with using a tradition saddle with tree.

**runs away quick!!**

 

[Kat]

You don't have to be converted and you don't have to run away. It isn't a case of treed saddles being wrong.

Solution Saddles are just another option that might work for someone. If you are happy with your saddle then that is great but many people have issues getting a suitable saddle for them and their horse.

The other issue is that you can get your treed saddle checked regularly but what happens when it stops fitting? You have to buy another saddle. And when you change horses you need a new saddle. Saddles without a rigid tree are much easier to adjust the fit of for horses that change shape or for different horses.