TBs and treeless saddles?

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

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The post in Stable Yard got me thinking so here's my question. Does anyone use a treeless saddle on their TB? Have been thinking about trying one on and off for a while but not sure about whether they would be suitable for a high withered, medium fit tb. They seem to be geared towards the lower withered, rounder figure, but I may have the wrong impression!
She's very hard to get a good fit, at the moment she has a Thorowgood high wither. Are treeless really better for their backs? And if so, why isn't everyone using them! Any thoughts would be very welcome...
 
I tried one on my TB and it fitted her fine, there was enough wither and spine clearance. However they do take some getting used to and I actually thought my horse felt lame the first few strides she took in it!! I ended up sending it back though as she is very sharp horse and you don't get any knee roll on most types and I just didn't feel very secure or that i could do anymore than hack in it, although people do jump in them etc to me even trot took some getting used to! I would say you should buy the proper underlay for them as this gives the right spine clearance. One thing I will say I noticed is that normally my mare pulls moody faces when girthing, she didn't pull one face whilst girthing the treeless so must have felt comfy in it.
 
My TB when moving loose in the field has beautiful big elastic strides but as soon as you put a saddle on her she became short striding etc Her back had been checked and saddle was made to measure for her.
I had a Barefoot Cheyenne Treeless saddle for my endurance horse which he hated and bronked in sooooo I thought what the hell I'll try the TB in the treeless before I get rid of it - well she LOVED it!!
Her beautiful big strides came through, she stopped all her silly jogging and napping, the difference was amazing!!

So I would say for some horses treeless saddles are the making of them but for others (like my arab) they are the breaking of them!!

There are several companies that will let you trial their treeless saddles so why not give it a try....??
 
My TB had girthing issues - I got a Barefoot Cheyenne - he no longer has issues with girthing any more - He has very high withers and is a medium fit I would say - the saddle never slips and I have some extra padding underneath mine cos my ned has no topline. I feel very secure in the cheyenne, big ellaborate spooks are very easy to sit! I have jumped in mine, nothing major though and hack out in it all the time. I have also galloped across the fields in it. I would recommend treeless anyday.
 
Sounds promising then, my mare does pull a face girthing up, and she just doesn't go quite right in a treed saddle even though everything has checked out fine. Might sort out a trial then...
 
I have treeless, though I am on the other end of the range - large hairy horses. Old clydie has never moved better and loves the treeless.

I have the barefoot london (dressage) which comes with two sizes of knee rolls. It has three types of pomels - average which fits most horses, extra wide for table tops with no wither and narrow for high wither horses.

My youngster goes very well in it. I did make sure I bought the pad designed for the saddle.

Took a little getting used to, but I hack out, have galloped and done small jumps no problem. People who have ridden on it have comment on how comfortable it is.

Wish I had this saddle when I had my ever changing and very fussy backed WB.
 
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