Treeless saddle for a 5 yr old? opinions needed please.

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GoJo

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I know there is a massive anti treeless brigade out there and i'll probably get shot down in flames for this post but i have tried the english saddle way and it hasnt worked well so here goes-

I want to get a treeless saddle for my youngster as he's such an odd shape at the moment and i've had 2 english saddles for him and neither fit right imo, tried the korrector pad with one (which was a wider fit) and a massive lambswool numnah but am not happy and neither is he.

He has a slight build, prominent withers and spine, long back and isnt even on his shoulders.

I think a treeless would be good for him in the short term but am stumped on which to get. This should allow him to build muscles in the correct areas without pressure anywhere hopefully.

Does anyone have any opinions on either the

Torsion -i know someone has one and is very happy with it and it did fit my boy really nicely, very light and looks comfy but slight issue as to whether the stirrup bars would cause a pressure point.

Heather Moffet Fhoenix- heard very good things- any opinions as never actually seen one!

Barefoot- mixed feeling about these.

Any others that are any good out there?

Any help much appreciated- i'm giving my boy 4 weeks off and i need a new saddle for when he comes back to work.
 
I broke my Cob (table top no withers) In a Safari Cub saddle not ideal but it did the job! you can imagine it looked like a pea on an elephant! because she is so wide we then got a Torsion. It is good very comfortable, I like that when you take it off you can see a clear space over the spine, The only down side was the dressage style girth, because she is so round as soon as you hang over the side to pull the saddle slipped, she is now 7 and has a proper working hunter type saddle that fits - even this slips because of her shape, But I would definitely try one, it was comfortable for both rider & horse.
 
please, please, please don't buy a torsion! i'm glad i've found someone else that appreciates treeless saddles as much as me! torsions were one of the first treeless saddles about and they need a serious design rethink! there are far too many pressure points! the whole point of a treeless is to benefit your horses back, which torsion's, in the long run won't, you might as well have a treed saddle! i can't recommend one specifically, it's up to you and your horse but any good saddler will tell you what is perfect for you both, as they can assess pressure points, the shape of your horse etc
 
I don't really know about the makes etc and have really limited experience of them - but YO has two (she spent about £1500 per saddle), but she has had to stop using them as they crippled her. I rode in one for an hour when I was having saddle issues and it had me in tears after half an hour. I really don't know how so say this politely - not sure there is a way so its split us both in half! I don't don't have fantastic hips as it is but it was an hour of pure hell.

So I think you do have to be careful about the seat and how it sits you.
 
I've got a HM Phoenix, it fits my horse beautifully and is the most comfortable saddle I've ever sat on. A friend borrowed it once and only managed 10 minutes because she found it too wide. The new HM Vogue is narrower
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I did several long sponsored rides in mine, may be its because Phoebe is so wide that it was comfortable then? cant say I have ever put it on any other horse!
 
Thanks for the replies and for not judging too harshly!!
so my original fears about the torsion may be founded then, i am kind of leaning towards a Fhoenix then as i havent heard anything negative about them yet.

I know there are some really dodgy ones out there which create pressure points on the horses backs and end up hurting them which is obviously what i', trying to avoid.

To make it easier here's a pic of said horse- this is him in his english with a korrector pad- he isnt the ideal candidate for a treeless because of his prominent spine but there must be something as i can't go bareback on him
blush.gif


ArchieApril08029-1.jpg


and this is his long/skinny back!!!!


ArchieApril08005-2.jpg
 
I've got a Ghost treeless, which is a nice saddle, my girl is happy with it anyway, and when I tried a PLP with it there were no marks in the putty.

Freeforms have a very good reputation, but I don't think they suit high withers, I've never had one though.

A couple of my friends have barefoots which are nice too, and they've had no problems with them.
 
Look at Treefree saddles, I got one second hand and my 14.2 roly poly and 17hh hunter both instantly took to it. Its made in UK, v good quality construcion, proper gullet (use with the specific pads designed for it), no bridging across the back, proper stirrup attachments not rings. I couldnt recommend it more, and you can remove/adjust just about everything.
 
I have a Total Saddles Solution one for a horse with more prominent withers than yours (I do need to use their riser pad with the saddle) and we both love it. Some people love these saddles, some hate them, some horses love them, some hate them! (search the forum for treeless saddles and you'll find a lot of views on different makes).
 
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