Treeless saddles - good or bad for roly poly cob?

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Loulabelle007

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Hi all,

I'm new to this forum, so hello to you good people, hopefully you can help!

I have a rather rotund cob mare, and she currently has a Wintec wide saddle. It slips quite badly when working in the school, although stays in place, with the help of a non-slip pad, when out on a hack.

I have got a long wait for a saddler to come out to look, (I have been told twice already that the saddle is fine by a 'master saddler' but it clearly isn't) but have been browsing the internet and there are suggestions that treeless saddles work well for this shape of horse.

So what are the opinions out there on treeless saddles? I have found suppliers that offer free (ish) trials, is it worth pursuing this or are they a no-no?

Thanks,

Lou x
 
I have a treeless saddle and even on my fairly high withered mare it slips if I try and get on off the ground or, sometimes, when cantering on a circle if the girth is not really tight. I used the treeless on my Hafflinger mare - once - and it was hopeless. She shied at a bunch of cows and I found myself hanging off her side :) Having said that, even with my wide Stubben saddle it is mostly a balancing act to keep an upright position and I keep meaning to get a sticky pad which will probably make it al lot easier.

So, in my opinion / experience I do not think treeless is a good solution for the rounder type of horse.

Good luck with your search.
 
Try before you buy if you can. takes a good bit of gettin used to stirrup bars feel quite far back. I owned a horse (about 7 breeds rolled into one) and I could never get any saddle to fit her she was such a funny shape. wide backed straight sides. I rode her in treeless saddle for everything and she was fab.
 
I really wanted a Heather Moffett for my horse but I'm too old and too fat to reach down to tighten the girth straps! LOL :D
 
having chewed this over for 6 months, I would recommend you do searches of back posts on here and other forums, as EVERYONE will have a different opinion on this ;)

If you see a saddle you like on ebay, put the details in the search engine, and you should find lots of reviews come up, but they will confuse you even more, lol. I have a treeless saddle on order, and will report back, good or bad. I have already had to send one back because it fitted the horse but not me *sigh* - was designed for a bum 10-16, but gave me real bruises, and I'm now a size 12.

You really do have to do the research, and factor in the cost of the saddle pad, a girth, safety stirrups and special leathers. Tbh, I'll just be glad when the whole thing is over, and I have got my new saddle :)

Avoid ANYTHING made in India - and you will be surprised which named makes do actually come from there.
 
i bought a very cheap but new libra saddle and pad for my ever changing shape cob when his previous saddle was stolen - i lov eit, would never ever got to treed again.
Ive used it a year now with 2 differnet instructors who have said its fab for him - he has had his back checked - perfect.
I am now looking to buy a more expensive leather one - for ever changing cobs i say treeless all the way!
 
Yes, treeless works really well for round cobs.

But like other have said you really need to try a few to get an idea of what you and your horse likes. There are 3 main different styles: the Barefoot style (basically a pad with a pomel stuff front and back), the freeform style (stiff base with a velcro seat stuck on top) and the 'traditional' style with panels. Some suit certain horses better than others.

I personally like the Freeform style. Hate the Barefoot style with a passion and not yet found a 'traditional' style I like (plus they're horribly expensive)
 
shysmum said:
having chewed this over for 6 months, I would recommend you do searches of back posts on here and other forums, as EVERYONE will have a different opinion on this ;)

If you see a saddle you like on ebay, put the details in the search engine, and you should find lots of reviews come up, but they will confuse you even more, lol. I have a treeless saddle on order, and will report back, good or bad. I have already had to send one back because it fitted the horse but not me *sigh* - was designed for a bum 10-16, but gave me real bruises, and I'm now a size 12.

You really do have to do the research, and factor in the cost of the saddle pad, a girth, safety stirrups and special leathers. Tbh, I'll just be glad when the whole thing is over, and I have got my new saddle :)

Avoid ANYTHING made in India - and you will be surprised which named makes do actually come from there.
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I had the exact same ! So many conflicting reviews so in the end bit the bullet and went with one that my instinct told me. (and budget complied with, otherwise we would all have Heather Moffats, right?) :D
Re the size I think you need a seat size bigger in treeless, im a size 6 and got a 17", its a tiny bit roomy but no way as big as it would be for me in a treed.

Good luck, I hope your new one works out ! :)

To OP i would also consider your horses length, short backed horses tend to not be suitable for some styles of treeless
 
Thank you all! Very good advice!

I am a size 10, 9 1/2 stone, 5' 10'' and my horse takes a 17'' saddle.

I am intrigued with the treeless saddles, so many good reviews, counteracted with quite a few bad!!!

So apart from Dream Team, any suggestions on good brands?

Thanks xx
 
Loulabelle007 said:
Thank you all! Very good advice!

I am a size 10, 9 1/2 stone, 5' 10'' and my horse takes a 17'' saddle.

I am intrigued with the treeless saddles, so many good reviews, counteracted with quite a few bad!!!

So apart from Dream Team, any suggestions on good brands?

Thanks xx
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I would suggest you go for a seat size bigger and use a specialist treeless pad underneath.
Urm well depends on your budget really? as always, pay more get better, but there are quite a few good budget options too, especially if your willing to get 2nd hand.
I have a Libra.
Do you want one that looks 'normal' or willing to have a more different looking one? If you want quality and normal treed look be prepared to pay more.
Charl
 
I would also advice some bareback riding before changing to treeless, it sits you wider so you will need to get used to that and they also require a good level of self balance. Hence why you cant get on from the ground, there is nothing to hold it there ! :D

and before you buy check what stirrup leathers can be used with them and if it requires a dressage girth
 
Budget is, to a degree, whatever it takes to get Madam a saddle that fits and I don't feel like I am going to go out the side door! I can go up to £1000 if absolutely necessary but would really rather not. Comfortable budget c. £500. I am just so frustrated at the mo and paranoid that her current saddle may be hurting her.

Don't want anything that looks too crazy but happy to be different, to a point!! We don't do shows etc. so no consideration of that required.

Thank you all so much for your advice!
 
oooh, if you can't get on from the ground, how do you get on if you fall off on a hack (it has been known! :o) Just find the nearest fence, person etc to get a leg up? Hadn't given it any thought that I wouldn't be able to haul myself up as usual....!
 
Loulabelle007 said:
Budget is, to a degree, whatever it takes to get Madam a saddle that fits and I don't feel like I am going to go out the side door! I can go up to £1000 if absolutely necessary but would really rather not. Comfortable budget c. £500. I am just so frustrated at the mo and paranoid that her current saddle may be hurting her.

Don't want anything that looks too crazy but happy to be different, to a point!! We don't do shows etc. so no consideration of that required.

Thank you all so much for your advice!
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Hmm well then prehaps have a trial on a Dream Team, I really wanted one of them but as I was only getting it on a whim I couldnt justify the price.

As per getting on from the ground I think I could be okay jumping on from ground if totally needed to on a hack, but then honestly Im 5'2", very light and fit enough I can hop on a 16hander easily from the ground without much weight in the stirrups.

http://www.dreamteamproducts.com/torsion-products-treeless_saddles-DreamSaddle.php

If youve got money enough its worth trialing a few. I find them very secure to ride treeless personally and I know people who have jumped 2'6" in barefoot cheyennes and my Libra has done 2ft, but consider the cut relavent to if you want to do some jumping in it
Charl
 
whatever it takes to get Madam a saddle that fits and I don't feel like I am going to go out the side door!
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I would suggest that you trial a treeless before you buy one. I didn't feel secure at all in the one I rode in. If my weight wasn't completely central at all times, the saddle would slip to the side and the girth was tight. I really felt that if the horse had spooked or napped and I'd put alot of pressure on one stirrup, I'd have ended up underneath him! It certainly was quite a scary ride over some steep hills.

Having said that, it wasn't a quality saddle.
 
I am old and inflexible and can't do the dressage girth straps up whilst on board. I manage to do them up before I get on. Never had a problem with it once I got the hang of it.

I have a HM Phoenix.

I have had a Phoenix for about 4 years.

Had a trekker before that but it started to rub my mares back when we started doing more.

It has never slipped......well only when I forgot to do up the girth, very embarrassing. Of course the yard was busy on that day when normally it was empty.

I can get on from the ground if I absolutely have to and it not slip. Not a pretty sight I might add and not something I would do unless there really was nothing around to stand on.

I have a round native.

Two friends with similar shaped horses both bought the same treeless saddle. A Torsion. One had problems with it rubbing..in the same was as I did with my trekker. The other is still using her Torsion 5+ years on without a single issue.

My advice would be to try as many different ones as you can before you buy. Beg borrow or steal them if you have to :D

NOT ALL TREELESS SADDLES ARE THE SAME!. I get a bit miffed when someone tries ONE treeless saddle, doesn't like it for whatever reason and then declares ALL treeless saddles are rubbish.
 
I agree - there are huge differences in treeless saddle brands.
I've used Solution rigid free for a couple of years now, very happily. before that I had an Energist. I think it's essential with whatever you choose have it fitted to both you and your cob as the fitting is different from treed saddles.
I've never had a problem with slipping or backs so I think the initial expense is worth it.
 
I am a treeless fan and own a Darby for my chunky monkey cob. You really do need to try them before you buy. The Rolls Royce of treeless saddles in the Solution (previously Ansur) I purchased the Ansur Energist second hand without consultantion but unfortunately is too big for me and my cob! (please note as these saddles are nearly £2,000) You can get a fitting and trial of the Solution from their registered saddle fitters.

In case anyone is interested in my Ansur treeless is is a Size 7 (I am told) I am a size 5! it is Havana in colour with a suede seat. It is not sold with leathers stirrups or girth, shims, pads etc. Just the saddle. I want £650. Thanks.

Treeless is best. Try walking with a stone in your shoe! this I am told is how a tree feels on your horse. Cause so much muscle damage. My opinion only.
 
Try walking with a stone in your shoe! this I am told is how a tree feels on your horse.
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No, I don't like that analogy. It doesn't work.

I agree that a badly fitting treed saddle is painful and will damage muscles. When you look at the pressure tests that are done for all kinds of saddles, a properly fitted treed saddle distributes the weight of the rider and the pressure on the horse's back very effectively.

The mistake that some people make, is that they think that any treeless will fit any horse. This is not true. As it has been stated on this thread, there is a gulf between a quility treeless that is properly fitted and a cheap one that is just 'bunged' on.
 
You are absolutely correct Faracat about treeless not fitting every horse/pony and there is some incorrect information surrounding them. My friend uses her Ansur Energist on all of her horses with the correct shims for each horse etc. She is a Solution saddle fitter and knows what she is doing.

Love your cat.
 
I have a Solution saddle.

When I decided to go down the treeless route I bought a cheaper make, then slightly more expensive, then a HM SBS, then onto my Solution.

Each saddle I tried had a problem, stability, width, or comfort for my horse.

I try not to mount from the ground, to save my horses back and because I'm not as supple as I used to be, but I can do it if needed.

I use a p-lain thin numnah with my saddle.

Def worth the extra money, although I got mine for a bargain via ebay :).
 
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