Treeless saddles that look treed?

[GrassChop]

I'm curious to know after seeing an ad for Easytrek saddles... if you can make a saddle without a tree that looks like a traditional saddle, what is the benefit of one with a tree? Equally, what is the benefit without a tree?

 

[Meowy Catkin]

https://www.solutionsaddles.com/

This was the first make of saddle that came to mind while reading your post.

 

[GrassChop]

https://www.solutionsaddles.com/

This was the first make of saddle that came to mind while reading your post.

They sound good on paper but then doesn't a treed saddle with a spring tree for example supposed to essentially do a similar thing other than the widening on it's own with the horse? I can't really understand how that would work either, if it isn't in a fixed width, could that not lead to pinching, tightness, saddle being unlevel etc if it can flex on it's own as there is nothing stopping it just being pushed right down on the front? I need to look into it more as I am just curious!

 

[GinaGeo]

You can change the fit of Solutions with pads and shims.

They do work well on most horses. Especially those that change shape a lot.

I have never found them to pinch, but they do need setting up properly. It’s not a case of plonk on and go.

 

[ycbm]

I'm curious to know after seeing an ad for Easytrek saddles... if you can make a saddle without a tree that looks like a traditional saddle, what is the benefit of one with a tree? Equally, what is the benefit without a tree?

The tree spreads the weight of the rider over a bigger area, reducing the point loading on the stirrup bars and under the seat bones.

I tried a very well regarded make of treeless saddle over a period of about a year. I found it impossible to mount from the ground because they slipped, and one of my horses developed a white patch of hair directly under the stirrup bar.

The chief benefit of treeless to the horse is the freedom though the shoulders, which I now get by using WOW saddles which have a joint in the tree which allows the front arch to rock from side to side with the horse's shoulder movement.

The chief benefit to the owner of treeless and WOW is not having to change saddles every time a horse changes shape. This is worth a fortune to owners of most young horses.

Having used both treeless and WOW and felt the freedom of movement of the horse, I would now be very reluctant ever to put a moving horse's back into a fixed tree.
.

 

[Red-1]

I had an Ansur and then an early Solution, they were great for freedom of movement and my back loosened up.

I don't use them now, I felt that they had disadvantages, I couldn't mount from the floor and it could slip at times of emergency. I found the jump one less secure when team chasing too.

A compromise is a Barrie Swain Semiflex. He doesn't make them any more but they have a flexible tree and look totally mainstream. Many available secondhand, but get one that fits as not many people can alter them. They do fit a wider range of horses though, due to the flexibility.

 

[MuddyMonster]

A Ghost saddle (model depending) can look treed, too.

I'm not convinced treeless saddles provide the same level of stability having a non-withered native myself and tried a few different options of treeles saddle.

My tried saddle is definitely more stable- I can mount from the ground & if doesn't budge!

I love the freedom of treeless saddles & the feeling of closeness to the horse but they don't suit every horse, every rider and in every situation IMHO.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

You can change the fit of Solutions with pads and shims.

They do work well on most horses. Especially those that change shape a lot.

I have never found them to pinch, but they do need setting up properly. It’s not a case of plonk on and go.

As soon as I tried my Solution saddle on my massive-shouldered Westphalian Kaltblut (Draft) mare, I could feel that she was more comfortable in it than in any of the treed saddles that she had worn with me (4 in 5 yrs). I could also pinpoint where she needed extra shimming to make up for some muscle wastage. As time went on her muscles recovered and filled the gap, so we didn't need the extra shim. The cob can also wear the Solution, which is another advantage - it has saved the expense of another saddle and was a real boon when she was growing and changing shape.

ETA, I don't jump and almost always mount (and dismount) from a block since breaking my left ankle years ago.

 

[GinaGeo]

As soon as I tried my Solution saddle on my massive-shouldered Westphalian Kaltblut (Draft) mare, I could feel that she was more comfortable in it than in any of the treed saddles that she had worn with me (4 in 5 yrs). I could also pinpoint where she needed extra shimming to make up for some muscle wastage. As time went on her muscles recovered and filled the gap, so we didn't need the extra shim. The cob can also wear the Solution, which is another advantage - it has saved the expense of another saddle and was a real boon when she was growing and changing shape.

ETA, I don't jump and almost always mount (and dismount) from a block since breaking my left ankle years ago.

I have a selection of three Solution Saddles (a GP, Dressage, Jump) which I am able to use on three different horses without causing issues, by tweaking the shimming.

I also don’t get on from the ground. But I have jumped round BE100 courses and hunted over big country in them.

 

[sbloom]

A tree distributes weight, as already said. It can offer better stability, it offers better choice for fitting different shapes of pelvis/hips, and will avoid the pressure spots that can be found under some treeless saddles from stirrup bars and seat bones. For those who want a treed saddle there are way more choices than your local saddle fitter can offer, many specialist brands have their own fitters, so always worth reading around the subject. Too many people post "tried literally everything" but so often it means they've simply used all the generalist SMS-type fitters within 50 miles of home.

 

[GrassChop]

Thank you everyone! I always liked the sound of a treeless but traditional styled saddle as they seemed very comfortable for the horse but definitely prefer a treed for the other benefits. However, I'm loving the sound of the saddles that flex at the front! Not that I need another...

 

[Regandal]

The Stride Free saddles by Peter Horobin look interesting, my saddle fitter is now doing them. Unfortunately they start at 4K……..

 

[GrassChop]

The Stride Free saddles by Peter Horobin look interesting, my saddle fitter is now doing them. Unfortunately they start at 4K……..

They do look nice! That price is eye watering though!