Treeless Saddles and Bitless Bridles

Maesto's Girl

Maesto's Girl

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Hi all

I am currently completing a diploma in horse car, management and behaviour and I have a question for you all to help me out

I need to gather some opinions of both treeless saddles and bitless bridles? What are you experiences - both positive and negative - and the differences you found using them compared with 'standard' tack

Thanks in advance
 
you may have to tighten up your criteria - each horse/rider combination is different and what they are aiming to do will have a huge bearing on what tack is suitable.

For example I use a particular brand of treeless saddle on my native ponies, especially when they are young and growing - there are other brands that will not fit, they are not all the same. Although fit is the primary motive for choosing this saddle - I know enough to tweak the fitting myself as the pony changes shape - cost also comes into it, I've had enough young horses to know that there are times when you need to change saddles every few months (if not sooner!!!!) and this is extremely time-consuming as well as costly.

Again with bitless bridles it depends - I have used a sidepull on newly-backed ponies in conjunction with a snaffle which helped greatly with one horse in particular, otherwise I personally don't get on with bitless. For others, with other horses, it will be a good option.
 
Personally I'm not a treeless saddle fan, too much bulk and not enough security.

Bitless is great if it works for the horse, I've used occasionally on mine when needed (he has fleshy lips that can occasionally get rubbed), but he seems to prefer bitted.
 
Thanks all.

Catikin totally get that it's wide reaching but getting opinions from all types of riders, ages, experience. For example, why someone may not think a treeless saddle is suitable for them is just as useful so really appreciate your response and indeed any more that come in. It all helps
 
I was 'converted' to treeless a number of years ago - I bought one for a young horse as she had an enormous shoulder and was changing shape almost daily, the idea was to see if treeless suited (and it did) and then to use the treeless saddle until she had matured and then I would look to getting a treed saddle for her.

I loved the treeless so much and she moved so well in it after the issues we had had trying to fit a treed saddle because of her shoulder, that I never went back to treed. Granted I hack and do the occasional fun ride so that did play a part of my decision to stay with treeless - the current models that I use are Barefoot which don't even look remotely like a treed saddle. If I had wanted to compete or show then I might have had to go down the route of a type of treeless which look like a treed or a custom made - both very expensive options (in comparison)

I'm happy with the saddles that I have, all 3 of mine are ridden with treeless saddles, they all fit them, I've never had any back issues - and yes backs are checked regularly - most importantly the horses seem to be happy in them.
 
I LOVE treeless saddles! They are so comfy for me and I used to ride an ex racer at an old RS who went tons better in the a treeless saddle than a treed one. Regarding bit less bridles I have seen them work miracles. A horse that would let no one ride with a bit in its mouth you could then chuck anyone in. I've always found easytrek the comfiest and have one now.
 
went to a few saddle maker talks and they all stressed how damaging treeless saddles are if stirrups are used with them because the load isn't spread correctly across the horses back and it forms pressure points. That always put me off them.

I have used bitless bridles on rescue horses who came in with teeth/contact issues and found them very useful.
 
All the evidence I've read slates treeless I wouldn't use them on a horse at all... bit less bridles are portrayed as kind but in my experience this is not the case ... more open to the idea of bit less tho that treeless
 
There are vast differences between types of treeless saddles, the worst can be very damaging and you generally get what you pay for. I am very happy with mine, but wouldn't consider another brand.
Bitless bridles can be very harsh in the wrong hands, they operate on different pressure points, but these are still pressure points.
Skilled fitting and good riding make the difference.
 
All of this is so helpful. I've ridden in a hackamore twice but that's all the experience I have with bitless...and nothing about treeless!
 
I've just bought a Ghost treeless for mine. I didnt really want to but hes so tricky to fit it was about the only thing that would work. I've gone for the more conventional looking one, but it does still look a bit odd with no rider on. Its incredibly secure and he seems to find it very comfortable as does his rider :)
 
Not a saddle expert at all so steering clear of that.

I've ridden in Dr Cooks (head hugging), hackamore and side-pull style bitless bridles. As with any device (or even a bare hand) they can be misused. I'd say it is far easier to do thoughtless damage in a bit though. Probably very very closely followed by a hackamore. The head hugging some will like, some won't. And fit makes a difference because some people find they don't release very quickly on some horses (although I personally haven't found this, but an aware of some horses who don't like them). A side pull is not very different to riding in a head collar. In an ideal world (which clearly doesn't exist) I'd like to ride everything in one by default as bad reactions/pain to horse is rarer and they are simple.
 
My Draft mare has huge shoulders, she was in her teens and obese when I got her. We went through 4 saddles in 5 yrs as she changed shape, she was always very good at telling me when each one no longer fitted.
As soon as we tried on a Solution saddle, she went more freely than ever before. We both find the saddle extremely comfortable, so long as the shims are in exactly the right place. If she has had time off work and has lost muscle unevenly the shims can be built up individually to accommodate/compensate.
We have 2 saddles for 4 horses, because the 2 riders need different sizes.

I have never had the occasion to use a bitless bridle.
 
It would help OP to know exactly what information you are specifically looking for??

I switched to treeless with my current horse. Two professionals have given his back a clean bill of health, and he goes like a dream in it. I've also used this saddle (TreeFree) for my Welsh D mare in the past, now retired.

I've also got a Barefoot Cherokee treeless saddle which I've used on an Exmoor pony I had on loan. This Barefoot does not however suit the horse I ride with the TreeFree saddle! All treeless saddles are different and will suit different horse & rider combinations, you cannot say one rule for all, you need to actually TRY the saddle on the horse and then make a decision based on how things go.

It is vital to give as much attention to the fit and comfort of a treeless saddle as it is a treed saddle to avoid damage to the back. In a treed saddle, the stirrup bar indent area is supported by the whole saddle, specifically the tree. In a treeless saddle, there is no tree to support the stirrup bars and what can happen is that this can then indent directly on to the horse's back. Which is why it is so important that a treeless saddle has the correct padding to protect the back underneath. I was told that you should spend as much money, if not more, on the saddle pad UNDERNEATH, than you do on the actual saddle itself if riding treeless.

If transitioning to treeless, you need to bear in mind that you will need to engage your core muscles in a different way than you would in a treed saddle; you may ache!! You will be riding with a longer stirrup and sitting much deeper, and much more able to feel the movement of the horse. The first time I tried a treeless saddle it was a Heather Moffatt saddle, and I only rode for ten mins round the block with it, and ached for the rest of the week! You really do need to persevere if you are committed to going treeless and try out a few first before buying one as they might not suit either you or your horse.

I have used the two treeless saddles which I have, on various horses ranging from a 12.2hh Exmoor pony, through to a 14.3hh Welsh D mare, and a 15hh traditional cob. It isn't however a case of "one size fits all", it is a case of finding the right solution to the horse and rider combination - and sometimes that might be a treeless saddle, and sometimes a treed saddle will be the best fit and best comfort for both!

There are treeless saddles you can do jumping in, but generally with a treeless saddle you would not be doing jumping other than maybe the odd log out hacking!

Re. bitless bridles: sorry I've never tried one. I do a lot of roadwork and TBH wouldn't feel at all safe in one.
 
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To add; the stirrups bars are independent of each other on the Solution, on some cheaper treeless saddles they are connected by a strap, which puts pressure on the horse's back.
And to echo Mijodhs; the Solution puts the rider in the correct position, it is nearly impossible to slump in the saddle.
 
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