Treeless saddles

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angelat

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I wondered if anyone had any experience of treeless saddles - what are they like to ride in every day? Can you do flatwork and jump and cross country in them or are they more for hacking, endurance etc? Do they tend to fit most horses - mine is high withered and not an easy horse to fit and his shape will continue to change over the next 3-4 mths as he develops? Thanks
 
Have a look at www.totalsaddlesolutions.com and you will find the answers, or pm me if you like
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I've got a treeless saddle on trial (from Total Saddle Solutions, for £50 a week you can try one out for as long as you like) and have been ridding in it for the last week (two different horses). It is a bit weird to ride in, the best way I can describe it is that you need to have quite a strong upper body position and at the same time everything you do affects the horse more directly (I am finding some lateral work easier because I think the horse can feel my weight shift more). It is a bit odd to put on and you have to use various bits and pieces to get it to fit different horses (all of which you have to buy as extras, so the cost does mount up), but you soon get used to it. I don't jump, but had no problem cantering in the jumping position.
Hope this helps and I think the easiest thing is to try one out (they are horrifically expenssive to buy though).
 
Some people swear by them, I on the other hand had problems and it turned out to be a very expensive experiment
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PM me if you'd like to know more.
 
Hi, I have just received my Barefoot treeless and rode in it today for the first time. Much like riding bareback but obviously a lot safer. I think it will take a while to get used to the stirrup leathers being further back than normal as my upper thighs did begin to ache a bit after a while. I found it really comfy though and I only do hacking anyway so don't need it for jumping etc. It's also the only saddle that fits my wide backed cob without slipping from side to side. The saddle only cost £320 and the special pad was £70.
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Some people swear by them, I on the other hand had problems and it turned out to be a very expensive experiment
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PM me if you'd like to know more.

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Not dear over here. Get one for £200
 
Some love them some hate them.

I have a Barefoot London dressage model. Chancer is a gypsy cob and is growing every time I look at him. I bought the Barefoot to start him in and to give him time to grow. I also use it on Cairo, our old clydie. He goes wonderfully in it and I have never used a treed saddle again on him apart from his western.

I find it very comfortable to ride him - I am happy to walk, trot, canter and do small jumps - on the rare occasion Chancer has put in a spin or leap am very secure. My instructor says my position is good.

I have had a couple of people ride on it - everyone said how comfortable it was apart from one person who did not like the fact that she could feel so much movement. Something I personally like.

Long term I may get a treed show saddle but it all depends on how Chancer grows. I will certainly stick to the Barefoot for hacking and day to day schooling and local dressage competitions.

It is essential that you do get the correct pad for the saddle. My Barefoot package (saddle, saddle cover, dressage girth and stirrups) and pad came to £550 with postage. Horse & Harmony do a return policy if you don't like the saddle.
 
I have a Torsion, and it is the best saddle I have ever ridden in and suits our lad perfectly. Torsion are the best made, but others are OK, just beaware that you DO get what you pay for. They will not fit all horses and not all riders like them, but they are worth a try. Torsion also do a trial service.
 
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Not dear over here. Get one for £200

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Well, unfortunately I bought mine in the UK
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And I suppose, as with treed, it really depends on which make/model you go for e.g. an Albion SLK costs more than a Thorowgood Maxam! I was referring to my personal situation.

ETA: The expense wasn't just the saddle and not all monetary...
 
I have a barefoot cheyenne and really rate it - very comfortable and secure, when my TB throws in a complete 360 i feel very safe!
 
I'm glad I found this thread, I have been looking into purchasing a treeless...
does anyone know the names of the manufacturers who are making the more traditional style of treeless saddle as opposed to the endurance/western style?
I have seen them on ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/L-K-FANTASTIC-TREELESS-18-BLACK-LEATHER-GP-SADDLE
Anyone bought one of these?

Many thanks in advance!
 
I have a traditional GP style saddle which is treeless. The workmanship left something to be desired so be careful where you buy it from as mine has already had to be repaired once.

It is very comfortable to ride in although four months on I still find it harder to sit into in canter. I have jumped up to about 2ft 6 in it but plan to go higher this summer. I took D hunting, was out for about 6 hours with lots of galloping and several jumps, we had no problem at all.

We had a saddle fitter on the yard tonight so I got him to cast his eye over it and check it wasn't uncomfortable for D. He was suprised that I liked riding in it was wasn't bouncing about because it isn't rigid like a normal saddle but was happy that it wasn't uncomfortable for her at all.
 
thanks... sounds promising!
Can I ask what make it is? The only traditional style I have found is called 'EasyTrek', when I search for the manufacturer I only seem to find links back to ebay items!

Oh, also how does the sizing work... I have found one site states that with an 18" saddle for example the measurement is from the cantle to pommel and another states it's the length of your bum to knee... anyone know?!
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Sorry, if i've hijacked this thread..
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Be VERY careful what model you go for... I fully agree that Torsion are probably the best and you certainly do get what you pay for. I tried one out on my high withered tb, I really wanted to like it and found it very comfy and easy to ride in, if you've done any bareback and like a good length of stirrup you should find them a good option. So long as you have a secure seat there shouldn't be any problems doing most things in them - I found it easy to sit even spooks and shies. However, treeless didn't suit my mare and (long story) basically pinched her vagus nerve somewhere along the way, triggering narcolepsy. I'd say, you should still get it fitted, and don't even think about buying the cheaper brands if you value your horse's welfare!
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Definitely agree that The Solution saddle range of models are the best. You also get a lot of expert help and advice from their sales office and the website is very extensive - loads of educational articles, testimonials and veterinary case studies.
 
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