Treeless or not?

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Hi

My saddler has been able to fit my youngest with a new synthetic to tide him til he is ready to have one made as he is simply too broad. The biggest bar on the market is too narrow for him and he is extremely reluctant to make him one as he will very possibly have outgrown it before it is ready (custom size trees take an age apparently) and has said our only option in the interim is a treeless (he didn't want to say recommend!) and to not spend a fortune on one. Or to learn to drive and drive him (I did say I wish I could have them as a pair lol!).

Pony is like a table top with flat withers and majorly bulky shoulders. I weigh 8 stone.

Having a look around old posts I'm hedging on trying a Libra.I've also been recommended to give Lavinia Mitchell a ring as they might be able to sort me out with one wide enough - again I'm leery of this as it might be an amazing amount of money on a young pony who will more than likely outgrow it in the next year or two.


Any advice / options much welcome please.

Thanks
 
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Tbh a bespoke tree would not take long to do, depends who you go to and how much you want to spend.

Yes, he is going to change shape, but essentially will always be broad. If you can afford it get a really decent saddle made for him now, and then have it adjusted as he changes shape.

If money is an issue then a treeless is an option - I used one on a table top cob that I wasn't intending to keep so didn't want to pay out for a new saddle. I personally wouldn't bother with a top end one, just a decent generic one.
 
I'd happily have him one made now but at 3.5 y/o and all of 13.2hh (growing hard) I understand the saddler's worry of making him one but I just want to do what is best for the pony (and want to get him showing under saddle next year if possible)
 
Completely get what you are saying, however if you are planning on showing him you will be unable to use a synthetic or a treeless saddle - so maybe use the synthetic for the short term, and have a saddle made in the New Year.
 
If you do decide to try a treeless, don't go for one of the 'too cheap' brands. I've no experience of Libra so can't comment but I have a Barefoot Cherokee which I bought as a temporary measure for a very flat backed (and overweight at the time) mare I was bringing back into work and we both love it so much I'm still using it several years later. For good quality and not insanely priced I'd recommend Barefoot or Torsion - you sometimes see nice used ones on eBay. A good treeless saddle pad is essential though. And you'll likely get your money back if you decide to sell the saddle and pad on in a year or two.
 
Hi, I have just gone down the treeless route, my cob has a very flat back and I was having trouble finding a good treed saddle for him within my price range. I bought a 2nd hand Trekker Treeless saddle complete with a barefoot grandeur pad and I must say it is brilliant! I can mount from the ground without any slipping, my boy steps out lovely and freely and my back feels sooo much better.
 
The other pony has a GFS working hunter (that boy is only xwide)which I love. Is it that hard to balance treeless? I don't have the best balance after squashing some vertebrae although I can still trot circles bareback and not fall off
 
I had the saddler out a lot when looking for a saddle for my mare, I tried 3 different styles on trial and the only one that suited both of us was the treeless, My mare is 17hh and heavyweight with a very wide back so general purpose saddle always slip no matter what saddle cloth was underneath. She now has a synthetic treeless saddle and i would never have anything else I paid extra for the adjustable gullet because she does go wider in the summer.
 
I have the Heather Moffett for my wide horse.......I love it and So does my horse. I have the treeless version and I see no reason why you could not show in one. The flexee is even more saddle like. Mone feels like it is close contact, but is so supportive. I bought it off eBay second hand, paid under £500 for it ......Bargain!!!!!!
 
Why would you be unable to show in a treeless? Not all treeless are the same - I qualified for HOYS in my Solution treeless, and jump my mare very happily in my ansur jump :)

Personally, I would get a decent second hand treeless while he is growing, and see how you like it. If you aren't keen, then once he is mature try and sort a treed saddle then.
 
Yes that's what I was thinking as I'm not keen on the idea just lost with which one and not wanting to spend a lot on something I might not like at first (however if I do they might both get one). Not sure how riding one with a tree & one without will affect me

Thank you all so much
 
There is a good group on Facebook called unofficial solution saddles, where you can pick up secondhand bargains. I ride one of my horses in treed and the other in treeless. It makes no difference to me switching from one to the other. I love jumping my mare in my treeless, as it feels like the ultimate close contact saddle. Far better than the ultrawide treed jumping saddle I tried, which did just about fit but felt like I was sitting on a hard, wide table.
 
Just worth mentioning that the Flexee does have a leather tree and looking at mine, I would not think it would be suitable for a very wide table top type. However having also owned a Libra, that would be ideal and not hugely expensive for a growing horse. They review very well and mine loved hers. Just make sure it has a decent pad, e.g. a suber. The libra pad isnt up to the job imo.
 
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