Some questions for those who ride treeless

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TomH

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For anyone who rides treeless, I wonder if you could take some time and answer some of my questions please?

- Why did you change to treeless?
- Which treeless saddle did you choose and why?
- Did you get someone to fit it, or did you do it yourself?
- Have you noticed a change in your horses muscles since changing to treeless?
- Have you had a physio check your horse recently?

Thank you
 
I was encouraged to try one, and was shocked at the difference! I bought a Solution saddle, with all fitting done by one of their agents, and ongoing support. There is enough evidence based research to make me stay with them and i wouldn't have considered another make. Everything I ride is now in one, because the difference in stride and musculature is clear. I use a back person once a year on average, as I always have done. I don't need a physio- they all enjoy a massage though.
 
- Why did you change to treeless?

I've never really "changed" to treeless. I backed my first baby pony in a treeless saddle in 2003 - nothing to pinch or rub, lightweight, comfortable...seemed logical. I've also used a treeless saddle to back my current pony.

I changed my first pony into a Saddle Company treed saddle after about 6 years treeless as my sharer couldn't ride in the saddle I had but I really needed her help and she was an excellent rider and great with my girl.

My last mare was also in a Saddle Company treed saddle and went well in it - she'd never been treeless, her saddle fitted her well, so I saw no need to change it.

Kai (my current and only pony right now) is in a Libra Trec treeless, and having been backed 5 months, I'm starting to think about upgrading to something better to do longer, faster rides in and to move on his jumping. I've not chosen anything yet but haven't ruled out treed or treeless.

- Which treeless saddle did you choose and why?

I started Dolly in a Fitform treeless, then bought her a Diddi Pad but didn't like it on her so sold it, and bought a secondhand Freeform. I loved that saddle and eventually upgraded to a brand new one that I had custom made for her (colours/poleys/knee rolls/etc). She was in that saddle until I moved to the SC one and she had regular physio/Bowen/vet etc over the years (for ligament and metabolic conditions) who all said her back and musculature were fabulous.

Kai's saddle is a Libra Trec which is very budget and basic but ideal for backing, light hacking and schooling. He goes really well in it but now that we're doing more, I fancy something more supportive (for both of us).

- Did you get someone to fit it, or did you do it yourself?

I've fitted all my treeless saddles myself.

- Have you noticed a change in your horses muscles since changing to treeless?

Not really - my baby horses were backed treeless so went straight from unfit babies to ridden horses. However, Dolly never developed atrophy or other saddle-related conditions and Kai has a super back. Their muscle tone and topline increased with workload as you'd expect.

- Have you had a physio check your horse recently?

Sadly I no longer have Dolly (she was PTS in 2011) but Kai was given a nice Bowen treatment recently (no specific reason - just the lady that does the treatment liveries on the same yard and was available on his day off) and she found nothing untoward.

I don't tend to get physios out unless I have a reason to and Kai's not given me a reason to. He gets trotted up every 8 weeks when my EP comes out to trim his feet, and gets an annual health check from the vets each year when they come out to do his teeth/vaccinations.
 
Got a libra treeless, reasons all the above, love it so does the cob and moves more freely. I did used to ride him bareback a lot though before i got the treeless.
 
TomH said:
For anyone who rides treeless, I wonder if you could take some time and answer some of my questions please?

- Why did you change to treeless?

Horse wasn't happy in his (seemingly well fitted) treed saddles, not overtly complaining about it but was developing uneven musculature.

- Which treeless saddle did you choose and why?

I didn't really choose it, he did, trialled some and he said 'this one' and I just went along with it.
(Never thought there would come a day when I would be in a treeless, tbh, I was a bit of a sceptic to put it lightly. We got a Saddle Solutions treeless.

- Did you get someone to fit it, or did you do it yourself.

Fitted for me, ongoing support if I need it.

- Have you noticed a change in your horses muscles since changing to treeless?

Yes. The uneven musculature changed in no time at all, and he has a lovely well muscled even back again.

- Have you had a physio check your horse recently?

Yes, nothing to report.

Thank you
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Knackered her back and it went every time I rode in saddle.

Cheap Indian but got lucky with equine wholesaler and it was a good one.

Physio helped fit

Pony is rounder through back

Physio every 3 to 6 months, happy with her progress, tried treed after 2 years sound and treeless and back went so we're treeless again
 
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