treeless saddles-advice please!

[lynspop]

hi,am thinking of possibly investing in a treeless saddle for my horse, a 16hh IDxTB who has a lot of muscle wastage under saddle and very high withers-i think this might provide a good solution to finding a saddle that fits,at the moment i use polypads and prolite pads to stop pressure etc under the saddle.
Just wondering what other peoples experiences are with treeless saddles?
i would use it for hacking,general flatwork and basic jumping.

 

[GinaGem]

Used a friends treeless saddle on our cob when we first got him. It felt really stange at first but i got used to it. Have to say i prefer normal saddles though. Don't think i would have wanted to jump in it either. Can't remember the make. My mare is the same breeding and when she had the same loss of muscle we got an ideal saddle. Fits lovely. xxx

 

[mrussell]

I tried
Freeform - didnt feel safe enough myself as it slipped if I did any faster work
Ffeonix (heather Moffett) - worked ok but rubbed and slipped no matter what I tried.
Dartmoor - no no no
Free and easy - close but still moved to the side and wasnt right for me either
Kay Humphries (Mondial) - looks nice but made my fella slam on his brakes in canter
Balance - tree'd but unconventional - felt way to wide and not at all comfy
WOW - er..........wow. Loved it. Bought 2! Never thought I would go XC again but cant fault the stability, grip and comfort of the WOW saddles

 

[lynspop]

brilliant,will look into both wow and ideal saddles.
its so difficult to know whats best when you're looking for a new saddle,and every company wants you to buy theirs,so they all make it sound ideal for your horse!

 

[mrussell]

You really need to try them for yourself as what feels great to you might not work for someone else...and vice versa!

Shame you dont live close to me as you could try my saddle (on my horse).....

You can borrow treeless ones easily enough... try the bettersaddles website as they loan them out. They dont need fitting as such as they are treeless.

Good luck!

 

[I_A_P]

second the wow!!

 

[Chex]

I like my treeless, it doesn't slip nearly as much as my treed (which was fitted!). I've not jumped in it yet, but don't have any worries about that. My pony is a round barrel cob though, with no withers!

 

[Tierra]

More support for the wow

I have a warmblood with withers like mount everest, enormous shoulders (and movement) and at the time of fitting, rather bad muscle wastage and general lack of topline. He's also extremely short coupled through his back and his previous 17inch made to measure rubbish had given him bruising directly above his kidneys.

The lovely people at first thought fixed us both. He's got lovely top line now. The lateral movement of the tree allows for true shoulder movement and, of course, the saddle has been able to be changed to suit him as he's muscled up

Cant rate them enough. They're fabulous saddles.

 

[MillionDollar]

I LOVE the Heather Moffett Fheonix saddle, its half treed, and in the cantle, so it fits any horse (still needs fitting though). It puts you straight in the correct classical position and is so so so so comfy. Super_Kat has just got one, prehaps you should PM her.

I know when i can afford one i'll be getting one straight away.

Also though i do really like WOW saddles and would have one of those any day. My friend has just brought one and got on with it so well.

 

[Partoow]

With your horse NO to treeless saddle as the saddle will 'hang' off the highest point ie the withers and at the back the spine. the 'edge' are finished with a hard seem i have found this to cause some problems. The WOW saddles give you freedom AND support

 

[ss1]

I've recently purchased a Solutions saddle and I think it is fantastic. My horse has fairly high withers (3/4 TB) and had muscle wastage behind and in front of the withers.

Since using my new saddle she is much freer in her paces and works much better. I have been riding in it for about 6 weeks now and she has muscled up really nicely. Mine is the Jumping saddle and it gives me a sense of stability that I never got from any other saddle I tried.

Their website www.totalsaddlesolutions.com

 

[mrussell]

That was my problem exactly... I had narrow withers but wide shoulders and a croup high shape (a bit like riding a traffic cone). The WOW was the only saddle stable enough to give my fella confidence.

 

[Magicmillbrook]

What sort of price range are WOW's - Would I need to take a seat before I heard the Pice? Pm if you would rather not divulge on the forum.

 

[MillionDollar]

Think my friend paid £1,600 for dressage saddle, leathers and a WOW girth?! She only had the one set of flaps though, no extras (like jumping flaps) which are £180??

Think most people say if you want saddle, girth and extra flaps have around £2,000 handy.

I'm no expert though.

 

[Julieq]

I am thinking about getting one off the saddle solutions jumping as I am having lots off issues with my treed saddle.

3 off my friends have just bought from saddle solutions one has the dressage/jumping the other dressage and one jumping they highly recommend them.

I am having a trial ride next week, I will keep you updated fingers crossed my fussy mare likes it.

 

[Tierra]

Im sure the wow's are retailing at around the £1400 mark ish... that usually comes with a set of stirrup leathers but no girth.

HOWEVER, the extra flaps run to about £450 a set so they do bump the price up rather a lot if you decide to go for two sets.

I heard rumours last year of a price increase being due though.

 

[lynspop]

has anyone used or heard much about the Suber numnahs which are now one the market? they have a cork filling and are supposed to be excellent for horses with muscle wastage under saddle/at withers? they are currently retailing at about £80-someone suggested this mayb a temporary solution until i can get a new saddle.