Talk to me about treeless...

[ycbm]

I worry about the pressure points, especially from the stirrups. I don't ride loads, on average over summer it will probably be about 4 times a week of hacking. The current saddle fits fine so I'm not sure if I would be making a mistake in trying something new. I'd like a trial, but its not going to be for long enough to see if pressure points build up is it?

I hacked a lot on hills in mine and the stirrup bars marked one of the two horses which I used them on and the girth strap, through the underneath saddle flap, marked the other.
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[Hackback]

I had thought about a TCS myself but I don't like the chair seat effect I see in a lot of pics and think it must be worse for the horse's back to have the rider sitting unsupported over where the cantle would be on a normal saddle. I also asked my physio's advice and she really doesn't like them.

I had a Solution native which was fine, but I wouldn't say it was much lighter than a treed saddle. I also think they are expensive for the quality of the leather but there is a fb group called Unofficial Solution Saddles where 2nd hand saddles are advertised. I also had an Ansur Konclusion, which I loved and so did my horse for many years but his withers got too prominent to fit the saddle so I've had to retire it. Solutions and Ansurs really need to be properly fitted, they have different bases which suit horses differently, it's not a case of one size fits all. I do like the traditional appearance of them though, especially if you're into competing (I'm not ?)

 

[MotherOfChickens]

Ghosts need to be ridden-in, I do not feel perched at all in mine, it is a different feel to the tree free though.
Barefoots have a wide twist and don’t, ime, give as much support to rider position as a ghost or tree free.
A long time ago I rode a horse regularly in an ansur and hated it, as did the horse apparently!

 

[Pinkvboots]

I do (riding in Solution saddles since 2006). I've found them to be a total blessing in terms of being able to fit them to any horse that came through the yard, and tbh I wouldn't still be able to ride if I had to sit on a treed saddle because they give my broken bits huge grief due to the lack of movement. I can ride happily in my Solution and my back isn't sore at all.

Also in all those years I've never had a horse with any saddle related issues (other than normal bodywork maintenance that any ridden horse might need).

However, and it's a big however, much like using any saddle, it's up to the rider to be observant of any changes in the horse, and be able to make any fitting tweaks necessary for horse and rider.

Upthread there was mention of someone being put in a chair seat by their saddle. Certainly with Solution saddles that should never happen if the saddle is fitted to the horse and balanced to the rider properly. I don't know enough about other treeless makes to comment but if they can't be balanced effectively then they have no business being anywhere near a horse.

I literally borrowed one for my little arab years ago while I was waiting for his new saddle, I just felt like I was sitting on a numnah with stirrups they may have got better since but I haven't ever tried one again.

 

[Caol Ila]

Ghosts need to be ridden-in, I do not feel perched at all in mine, it is a different feel to the tree free though.
Barefoots have a wide twist and don’t, ime, give as much support to rider position as a ghost or tree free.
A long time ago I rode a horse regularly in an ansur and hated it, as did the horse apparently!

Aye, I know you said that in my saddle thread, but I wasn't sure it would ever be ridden in enough. And the horse was a lot more braced than he was in the TreeFree. He's so flat-backed, though. You could rest your pint on his spine. I wonder if that made perched feel really perched.