Treeless issues?

Phoebe

Phoebe

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I am doing some research on buying a treeless and having wasted sooo much money over the years on ill fitting (advised!) saddles I am looking for some basic pitfall advice on what to avoid... I have heard of bridging stirrup leathers and cheap versions. Can anyone highlight what makes I should avoid please? I have a budget of £600 really.

Many thanks in advance

PS - I am aware of the need for fitting too... looks like i may have to buy over the internet and get a fitter out (I hope they are more reliable than some treed fitters)
 
My advice would be to avoid the cheaper end of the treeless market, and try to find one of the better known makes second hand. I used to ride in a Freeform and had no problems with pressure from stirrup leathers, etc.

Good luck!
 
well advised to look in detail at the construction of the saddles....... as you mention some of the earlier treeless saddles had just one strap over the back holding the stirrups ( and if trotting all the riders weight) on that narrow band. Most of the newer ones now attach to a web of support which spreads the load just like a treed saddle. Its a long time ( 10 years) since I was researching it all so cant remember the "ones to avoid". getting old and memories fade :rolleyes:


There are also flexible treed saddles now on the market you could consider and these
http://www.bettersaddles.co.uk/acatalog/Treeless_Saddles.html

might be of sound information :cool:

they do loan saddles too ;)

I am a fan of the dartmoor but its a bit more than your budget
 
heather moffett is bringing out a leather tree saddle soon, if you go on the EE forum you'll find out more info but basically it is flexible like treeless but provides more stability and support but is similar to treeless in the fact it moulds to shape of horse
 
With a budget of £600 you would be better off getting a second-hand one of the good makes; Freeform, Heather Moffett, Solution, Ansur.. You might be able to find a new Barefoot for the money, they are good entry-level treeless.

Or as Caroline23 said, HM's new leather tree'd saddle looks good. A synthetic version will be available soon well within your budget, and with her saddles you know there will have been a LOT of pressure testing involved as the horses' comfort is her priority.
 
Hello, thank you. I've been in touch with Heather but only on fb... I was expecting the new type to be much more expensive than that and I do trust her.
Yes, the logic in going for a better second hand one is good. I'm going to look at the barefoot now and also dartmoor and freeform.
I rode in a friends today and me and Josh liked it. I felt really comfortable and loved the extra contact and feeling!
 
try before you buy I tried an Ansur once all was fine until I started sitting trot I instantly got most terrible back pain , ( I was having a lesson at the time) I swoped back to my dressage saddle, pain went it was so extreme we put the treeless back on again and as soon as I started sitting trot terrible pain again don't know what it was but it was intense pain it was a shame as the horse seemed very happy in it.
 
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