Treeless saddles??? advice please...

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BB2008

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Sorry two posts in one night but your advice is always so helpful!!!....

I collect my new filly tomorrow she is rising 3, she will make 16.1/2hh and probably be about med fit. I am also taking on loan a nice 15.3hh Fresian mare to keep her company, med saddle fit. she is really quiet and easy to ride so will be a good influence on my youngster!

Anyway neither horse has a saddle. I have been advised to buy a treeless saddle as the mare has always been ridden in one, (I am only having her for six months) and been advised that it would be really easy and good to use it for breaking my youngster before buying her a 'normal' saddle. I have also been told treeless saddles can fit all. I only intend to hack the mare and do intend to buy my youngster a good saddle once she has finished growing and begins real work. I am not rich so if i can buy a saddle which suits both the mare and breaking my filly next year then great - but don't want to risk either horses backs at all!!

Has anyone had any experience, advice, views.... I've never ridden in one or actually even handled one!!!
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the big problem i see with treeless, which i can't see a way around, is this: trees were first put in saddles because someone invented stirrups. once you have a lot of downward pressure on one point on both sides of the horse (as opposed to bareback, where pressure's spread across the whole seat and thighs of the rider), you need a tree to physically lift that band of pressure up off the spine. there's no way around this, it's basic physics. so, based on that, i wouldn't touch one with a bargepole either. sorry!
 
Definitely agree with this, have only come off twice in my whole life and both were due to treeless... they are quite comfy and once on board you do feel really secure, my tb went really well in one. BUT mounting can be a problem, I found it slipped and trying to rectify this even a fraction pinched her (this is with a humane girth too) resulting in an almighty rear then a buck, sending me flying.

Second time I was really, really careful getting on and it still sent her nuts - no slippage or anything but something must have pinched somewhere because she reared and went over backwards! A lucky escape for both of us. I can guarantee this was down to the treeless, she never did anything like this is a treed, ever. She's a sharp horse but not this bad usually.

Basically I'm sure they have their uses but I won't be going there again.
 
Heather Moffatt's Fhoenix treeless saddles are fantastic.

The issue with stirrup bar pressure is negated by the design which spreads the load along the length of the saddle rather than in just two small places on either side of the wither. On independent pressure tests the Fhoenix out performs all the treed saddles.

You can get on from the ground in them and they're very comfy to sit on plus much easier to sit bucks with a treeless as the saddle molds to the horses shape rather than pinging you into the air!

I wouldn't touch the other makes of treeless but the Fhoenix's are in a different class. Friesians are also notoriously difficult to fit in treed saddles, so unless you get one custom made you'll probably struggle.

Invest in a Fhoenix - you won't regret it!
 
I have one on a very sensitive horse, we couldnt find a treed saddle to fit him. I can get on from the ground and do more on him then I did in a treed saddle, as I feel more secure. So far its been fantastic and I can't fault it
 
They do NOT fit all horses,just most, but my saddler - and myself - would now use nothing else.
 
Oh dear - now I am more confused than ever!!! I suppose i was looking for an affordable option but not sure this would be he best way to go???
 
I have a cheyanne Barefoot, brilliant, had mine for about 2.5 years and travelled miles, wouldn't have anything else, never had any trouble getting on from the ground ever, on and off quite a bit on holiday every day and on 8.5 hour ride, no problem, had slight pinch problem with girth but easily solved with sheepskin sleeve, they dont suit every horse, you need the proper numnah to go with the saddle to give the spine clearance ect, no muscle atrophy on his back, trotted and cantered better first time we tried it, I woudn't go for a cheap one without the proper numnah, maybe thats what others have tried and failed with, sharpens your riding up as some dont have knee rolls to rely on.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Heather Moffatt's Fhoenix treeless saddles are fantastic.
The issue with stirrup bar pressure is negated by the design which spreads the load along the length of the saddle rather than in just two small places on either side of the wither. On independent pressure tests the Fhoenix out performs all the treed saddles.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd agree with the above as have one for Willow and love it on him and several other horses I've used it on. I hasten to add they were all at least 12 years old, safe established horses who showed a definite preference for the Fhoenix. I have bought an adjustable Thorowgood Hi wither GP for the new boy as IMHO think youngsters need the support of a tree.
 
Thanks everyone. Think I may get one for the established mare, but will still invest in a new saddle for my youngster. I am confident at breaking in horses with treed saddles so think I'll stick to what I know for the time being. she is only young so I have time to save!!!
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