Treeless saddle recommendations plz help

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katiehorse

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Is there anyone in the midlands (a professional) who will come out with a selection of treeless saddles for me to try on my flat withered 13hh pony. Theres so many I have no idea what to go for. I have a budget of about £500. Plz help
 
Have a look at the "Better Saddles" website as I think there are some people on there that will let you trial one of their treeless saddles for a week.

I've got a "Tree-Free Exmoor" saddle, which I trialled for a week first for fifty pounds which is then deducted if you decide to buy. The Tree Free Saddles people are based in Buckfastleigh, Devon. I don't know whether they'd travel or would cover your area though. I can highly recommend their saddles.

Failing that, you could always look on e-bay and buy something to try. If you buy a good well known make like Barefoot or Torsion you should be able to re-sell and get your money back if you don't like it. But avoid like the plague the cheap and nasty imitation saddles which at best are shoddy and at worst downright dangerous.

If your pony is flat-withered however, you may find that treeless is perhaps not your best option as a treeless saddle will tend to slip on this sort of back.

I got a Lovatt & Ricketts treed saddle for my traddie at a local equine car boot sale for £50....... personally with the sort of back you describe you would have a great deal more stability, and safety, with a treed saddle TBH.

"sbloom" on here fits for the Andrea Hicks/Native Pony saddles. I don't know whether she covers your area but if you PM her I'm sure she'd give you some good advice; they have a website and sometimes second hand saddles do come up, if infrequently.
 
I was advised by the back person that a treeless would probably be the best option for him as she thinks I'm gonna have a game getting a standard saddle to fit him
 
I'm also using a treeless saddle at the moment. Only borrowed untill I sort something out.Not an expensive one. Just for ambling round the farm on him and he's going really well in it
 
How tall are you and (not to be rude) what clothes size? Only asking as I have a treeless on my 13hh pony so can share my experiences...

There aren't many treeless saddles short enough to fit small ponies - there's the Freeform Junior, Barefoot size 0, 15" Libra, FlexEE (comes in 15" and 16") and (I've recently found out) the Piccollo Ghost saddle.

I'm 5'5 and a size 8 and couldn't fit into the Freeform Junior, fitted into a 16" FlexEE but didn't get on with it, and deliberated between the Barefoot and Libra before settling on the Libra. Kai's been in the Libra since I backed him 3 years ago (bar 3 months in a treed saddle last year - he preferred his Libra) and goes really well in it. I fit fine into the seat and can comfortably rise to the trot, canter in a forward seat and jump in it, BUT it offers no leg support so I'm looking to upgrade and am thinking of trying the Ghost.

If you're any taller/bigger than me, you may struggle with the seat size on the Libra or Barefoot (the raised pommel and cantle blocks do hold you pretty centrally and would likely be uncomfortable if you didn't have some space between you and them) and unless you're much smaller, you'll probably find the Freeform Junior uncomfortable too (such a shame as they're usually my favourite brand of treeless saddle). Worth looking into the FlexEE and Ghost though :)

Obviously remember to budget for the recommended accessories with whatever saddle you buy. Good luck! :)
 
I am just waiting to trial a Ghost saddle. They do trials for £30 plus shipping, deductible if you buy the saddle. They retail at £330 - £415 and look to be excellent quality.
 
kaiserchief said:
I'd love to hear how you get on with the Ghost, Wagtail. I've been talking to Louise at Equine Whispers about them and have been added to the waiting list for a trial saddle. Exciting!! :D
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I'll put up a thread on it once I've tried it. I should get it sometime next week.
 
I trialled and then bought a ghost saddle. Fabulously comfortable for both me and both my cobs. Also wonderfully light. I also have a treefree which again I love although it's a western style one. The big lad I use a heather moffet Phoenix which is great and he goes well in it but I find it a bit of a nuisance in that it takes time to warm up and mold to horse and rider and in the winter takes ages.
 
kaiserchief said:
How tall are you and (not to be rude) what clothes size? Only asking as I have a treeless on my 13hh pony so can share my experiences...

There aren't many treeless saddles short enough to fit small ponies - there's the Freeform Junior, Barefoot size 0, 15" Libra, FlexEE (comes in 15" and 16") and (I've recently found out) the Piccollo Ghost saddle.

I'm 5'5 and a size 8 and couldn't fit into the Freeform Junior, fitted into a 16" FlexEE but didn't get on with it, and deliberated between the Barefoot and Libra before settling on the Libra. Kai's been in the Libra since I backed him 3 years ago (bar 3 months in a treed saddle last year - he preferred his Libra) and goes really well in it. I fit fine into the seat and can comfortably rise to the trot, canter in a forward seat and jump in it, BUT it offers no leg support so I'm looking to upgrade and am thinking of trying the Ghost.

If you're any taller/bigger than me, you may struggle with the seat size on the Libra or Barefoot (the raised pommel and cantle blocks do hold you pretty centrally and would likely be uncomfortable if you didn't have some space between you and them) and unless you're much smaller, you'll probably find the Freeform Junior uncomfortable too (such a shame as they're usually my favourite brand of treeless saddle). Worth looking into the FlexEE and Ghost though :)

Obviously remember to budget for the recommended accessories with whatever saddle you buy. Good luck! :)
Click to expand...

Hey I'm 5ft 6 and have skinny Butt. He came with a treed saddle which is 16seat and I fit nicely in that but he was showing some issues when he had that on and he's not having the issues in the treeless I'm using which is a bigger seat. I am only walking on him round the farm. And only want something for hacking nothing else.
 
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