Treeless saddles?

Mavis Cluttergusset

Mavis Cluttergusset

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I was idly browsing through eBay, looking at random tat that I do not need (and in most cases do not even want!) and I came across these saddles

Saddle example

what are treeless saddles like to ride on? Do they really fit any horse comfortably?

I have only ever ridden in (and bought) treed saddles which were fitted by a master saddler, but the pikey in me really is interested in finding out more about treeless dressage saddles because I could buy one right away. The more sensible part of me realises that they are probably awful due to the extremely cheap price tag - but I would like to hear opinions regarding treeless saddles in general (not just the one Ive linked to - just happens to be the one I saw on eBay!) because its an area I know nothing about and feel this should be my new learning experience of the day
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Personally i like them. They do tend to fit anything as there are a few designs. And the more expensive ones are very nice indeed, such as the ansur ones.
I think they are better suited to rounder types.
They are extremely comfortable, but take a bit of getting used to, and they are certainly not everyone's cup of tea, but personally i love them
 
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i was about to say i think they are a little bit ugly... but then i clicked on that link and those ones look like 'normal' saddles... but can't believe they'd be well balanced/good quality for 115quid! can they? buy one!!! then tell me!
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I don't know about that one, but mine is a Mondial, which are £1880 new. It's comfortable to ride in and comfortable for the horse, but doesn't give me a very secure/correct seat for jumping, so I have bought a jumping saddle and might be selling my treeless.

This is mine -

saddle1.jpg


I don't think much of the cheaper ones, although that's just my opinion.
 
I rode on a Heather Moffat treeless saddle recently, 3 hours on a huge warmblood horse, and it was SO comfortable. The stirrup bars were set slightly further back than on a treed saddle, which in turn put your legs in a different position, but crikey, it felt totally right. Going from that to riding my own horse with his treed saddle now feels a bit weird, I know I'd need to win the lottery to buy a good treeless but I would certainly get one if i could afford it.
 
i just clicked on the feedback thing for the seller (who seems to sell mainly those saddles) and the only thing negative i can see is that one person said stirrups slip out of stirrup bars. and someone else commented they come from india (therefore not very nice leather).

but... other than that, i'm shocked at how good the feedback is.
 
I have to agree your example is rather cheap and if i were seriously considering buying one, it would not be anything like that.
My first treeless was over 300 and was very nice indeed
 
They do have their place but do not suit all horses or riders. They also need some fitting as they do have different width pommels on some models.

That is so cheap that I personally would not touch it. My Barefoot was £500 and this is the cheapest of the decent treeless saddles. It is essential that you also have the correct pad designed for the saddle, if you don't you will do serious damage to the horse.

Mine is super for hacking and I bought it for Chancer when he was three to start him off. He is now five and I still hack in it. I also used in on Cairo our old Clyde who really liked it.

Whilst excellent for hacking and general schooling, it is awful for jumping anything more than about 1'6 as I found out when doing 2'6 the other night - two jumps and I had enough. Will stick to my WH saddle for that part of our riding.
 
I have seen one of these stripped down and all I will say on here is do not buy it. I will pm you.

I like Solution treeless saddles and won't put anything else on my horses, and I think the bottom line is that you get what you pay for.

Some of these seemingly inexpensive saddles are that for a reason
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its like those northumbria saddles you see on ebay for like £95 always wondered what wrong with those???? anyone enlighten me??? PM if you prefer
 
I am a huge treeless fan. On saying that though, they do not suit or fit all horses or all riders. I have a Torsion, which is the original treeless, and is well made, but one of the 'odd' looking ones. I completely agree that the cheap ones are generall rather bad, and they do tend to fall apart very quickly and easily.
Some makes will loan you a saddle to try, so might be an idea if you want to try one out before making up your mind. Torsion are (or at least were) one of these companies.
 
I felt very insecure in a treeless saddle on a horse who completely fits the bill as one of those horses it should fit! Put my legs in an appauling position and offered no support, to me seemed to lack knee rolls of a normal saddle, I also don't trust the fit!
 
I have used rather a lot of treeless saddles, and decided you get what you pay for. I LOVE the HM soft-tree saddles, my Fhoenix Vogue is just the best.
Also on my good saddle list, a little bit cheaper is the Goldfinch Freeform - beware of cheap imitations.
The Sensation saddle is great too, if you can get over the wierd stirrup rigging.
 
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