Treeless Saddles.....

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A simple poll to see if Treeless is becoming more popular or if it really is only resigned to Parelli, Endurance or Hackers?

This is by no means to offend, just interested to know.

For me, after speaking to someone in the know it really did open my eyes about these saddles, but personally i wouldnt want one - call me a traditionalist.

So your turn please
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ive ridden in a treeless saddle and it was the most uncomfiest thing i had ever tried to hack in let alone jump in i had to ride in one for 4 months riding my friends horse when she broke her leg i swear i will never ever do it again
 

I have both, but a treeless saddle that looks like a traditional saddle. I think I learnt a lot about how my horse moves from riding in the treeless saddle I now own, and I find it easier to feel when we've got it right in it!

Would always get the treeless guru to help fit it though, I'm not sure I trust the one size fits all theory!
 
I have had both traditional and treeless. I prefer my treeless as it is so much comfier than my traditional. I also prefer it on my youngster. I would not swap back to a traditional saddle
 
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ive ridden in a treeless saddle and it was the most uncomfiest thing i had ever tried to hack in let alone jump in i had to ride in one for 4 months riding my friends horse when she broke her leg i swear i will never ever do it again

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I havent ridden in one, but have sat in one.
Didnt find it particularly comfortable either, but interested in everyones view.

What discipline did your friend do?
 
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I own both treeless and treed saddles so not sure which side of the camp I should be on!
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Why not just use whatever suits the horse and rider?

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I agree Booboos, you do have to go with whatever suits you and your horse.
Out of interested why did you purchase one?
What discipline do you partake in?
 
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I have both, but a treeless saddle that looks like a traditional saddle. I think I learnt a lot about how my horse moves from riding in the treeless saddle I now own, and I find it easier to feel when we've got it right in it!

Would always get the treeless guru to help fit it though, I'm not sure I trust the one size fits all theory!

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Thats good to hear
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I agree about the one size fits all, plus having to have a specific saddle pad and girth system. Although I guess thats no different to a traditional having to have a prolite pad?
What discipline do you ride in?
 
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I have had both traditional and treeless. I prefer my treeless as it is so much comfier than my traditional. I also prefer it on my youngster. I would not swap back to a traditional saddle

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Thats nice to hear
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Did you find your youngers work nicer in this saddle more than the traditional?
 
I own both. I have evented upto BE Novice in it (on a TB) and think it's very comfy indeed!

Mine does throw my leg back a bit though so jumping in it isn't as secure as a treed saddle IMO and I have to admit I now have a treed dressage and treed jumping for eventing and only use the treeless for hacking and the occasional schooling session.

I have a friend who is a Bowen therapist and she said, from all the horses she works with, the ones who wear treeless saddles backs are fantastic.

They're not for everyone but I'm definitely NOT a tree-hugger!
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I tried treeless, but ended up nearly crippled as my hips were spread so wide! Can't say I noticed any difference in my horses way of going either to be honest.
 
Thanks r-p thats really interesting to hear.

Ive heard that about backs too, but I question, is it because the horses arent doing as much in them? by that I mean, you have evented in yours, but many dont. Many as far as Im aware dont even leave the ground.
But this is why I did the poll, because Im curious to see if the TL saddle stigma still lingers around the competition rider.
 
could you amend the poll? it asks if you own on and would you consider one, there is no option for have you owned on in the past which is quite a relevant point I think.
 
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Thanks r-p thats really interesting to hear.

Ive heard that about backs too, but I question, is it because the horses arent doing as much in them? by that I mean, you have evented in yours, but many dont. Many as far as Im aware dont even leave the ground.
But this is why I did the poll, because Im curious to see if the TL saddle stigma still lingers around the competition rider.

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I did get a few strange looks and questions from stewards about it at BE as they hadn't seen many around. I have a Heather Moffat GP which looks fairly normal ish, but not as normal as some types.

Another interesting thing, a friend borrowed mine recently to back her youngster. Started off with a treed saddle and the mare just wouldn't settle, would hump her back up and didn't want to go forward, generally just was unimpressed. She then started with my saddle and the mare couldn't have been happier, no more issues.

I really feel as with everything it's horses for courses but they really do have a place in the market IMO and I'll keep mine as they are so good for trying on new horses if you don't have a treed saddle to fit.

As I said before, I think they do tip you forward a bit and put your leg back but they take getting used to, like all saddles.

The thing is with mine is when you first sit on it, it feels quite hard but it softens when you've been on it a while and moulds to your bum, making it really comfy for hacking especially!
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If your horse has had back troubles, I wouldn't hesitate in recommending one...
 
I have a treeless dressage saddle that I bought this summer. I bought a brand recommended by my Mctimoney guy, and wasn't one of the more expensive ones. I needed a dressage saddle anyway and was having a nightmare trying to find a MW secondhand one that fitted as couldn't afford new. Didn't want a synthetic as although the front of them may be a MW, the gullet narrows at the back still.

I do like my treeless, its s different feeling the first time you sit on it but not terrible ime. I find mine very comfy for hacking, and when schooling like being able to have a better feel on my horse. I have a Physio type pad under the saddle to make it more comfy for both of us.

Before my hacking/dressage/eventing saddle was an albion K2 jumping one, which was not particularly helpful for the dressage! I also found I got a sore back when hacking (esp in walk) and constantly thought I was riding/sitting wrong/badly. I have no sore back (and neither does my horse!) with the treeless. If my horse does get a sore back, the mctimoney guy can sort it
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I only do unaff eventing (BE prohibitively expensive) RC, and BSJA up to Disc - will be more though!

My friends boss, who events up to Intermediate has all her horses in TSS treeless saddles and seems to do ok for herself
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I've used a Torsion and I really liked it, the horse I used it on really seemed to move much better as well, that was years ago, I just thought it was a lot of money to pay for an ugly looking saddle, ok I know its not about looks but at the time I did a lot of showing so its not something I could of used and wasn't prepared to spend that sort of money, along with the pads etc just for hacking when I wanted a saddle to use for many different disciplines.

I was impressed though and I certainly wouldn't knock them, I bought one last year, ordered it from the internet, can't remember the make, it was around £500 and I didn't even bother taking it down the yard to try, looked at it and put it straight back in the box and send it back, cheap nasty horrible thing that wouldn't of offered any protection the back and wouldn't not of been suitable for my horse, so if your going treeless I'd invest in the best you can afford.

Also tried the Saddle Solutions one, jumped in that on another horse and was pleasantly surprised and also tried it on Mackenzie for flat work, again I was very impressed, I would certainly buy one if I could afford one.
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I've ridden in one and i found it odd at first but i quite like them!
My instructor events in hers (she has one where you can change flaps etc depending on what your doing).

I'm leaning towards gettin one for archie when he's eventually backed
 
I have owned a few, only reason I do not have one right now is the money aspect, I love them.
It was weird at first, a totally different style, but I love the fact you can feel the horses movement underneath you, I hope to get another one soon
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Okay

I have had treeless saddles and treed for my pony, they were as follows:

1st saddle treed came with him and was outgron,
second saddle treed dressage outgrown
3rd ray simmonds fitted (badly) by fitter and caused major back injury. resulted in large odeama on back and inability to carry a treed saddle for a year
4th bob marshall treeless sports saddle one of the first imported into the UK , at the time it cost £1250 this was 1998! Couldnt bear hwo wide the twist was and it rolled under the belly of pony at gallop with me still in it. Kept him on the road though.
5th wintec gp dreadful
6th free and easy saddle - couldnt fault it for fit and comfort, sold when we stopped long distance after a car accident
7th derby house Wh - outgrew at 12 years old!
8th albion selecta - otgrew this as well, was the best saddle I ever sat on
9th another treeless this time a trekker saddle. Killed my hips, created chair seat, gave pony a back injury under my seat bones
10th another derby house wh - outgrew that at 15 as in 'show condition'!
11th barefoot arizona treeless western - dreadful put me in a chair seat, injured his shoulders adn withers , he hated the cinch as it removed his hair, saddle rotated at a trot resulting in several bolts up roads
12th another farrington - sold as going into dressage
13th HM treed saddle company saddle - not wide enough and couldnt be widedned further according to saddle company
14th HM fhoenix on laon , killed my back but put me in a good postion, pony very hollow in it was sent back
15th Silohutte WH which fits (so far) pony is 19 now!

So really I have swung both ways as it were! In my expereince if you are small like me some treeless are too wide for the hips esp on a wide pony like mine. Also whilst I like the idea of treeless and feeling the ponys back i dont think pony reciprecates re feeling my pointy bum bones on his back!

The best saddle I have had for fit was the free and easy but as I went into showing it wasnt right for me. The most versatile and best made was the albion selecta. He moves the best udner hsi current standard WH saddle.

I think overall that it would have been cheaper to buy a new pony each year!
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I have 3 Solution saddles, dressage, jumping and a GP for my son. I wouldn't ride in anything else, and wouldn't put anything else on my horses knowing what I know now
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As to the "one size fits all" thing, that is a common misconception usually among people who don't like treeless!
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The reality with Solution saddles (which are the ones I know about) is that one saddle can be fitted to all shapes and sizes, provided you know what you are doing (it's fairly straightforward with a bit of training and practice)
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I own both treeless and treed saddles so not sure which side of the camp I should be on!
smile.gif
Why not just use whatever suits the horse and rider?

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I agree Booboos, you do have to go with whatever suits you and your horse.
Out of interested why did you purchase one?
What discipline do you partake in?

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Sorry, only just saw your question.

R developed back problems, very difficult to get him to move forwards, not tracking up, generally unhappy. Various tests did not reveal anything, but we did notice a difference with different saddles, esp size of gullet, so the speculation is that the middle part of the gullet was pinching his spine. Tried various treed including made to measure, with no success, tried a Total Saddle Solutions in desperation and he loved it from the word go! Has been ridden in it for 18 months with no signs of back problems. I do dressage (elem/medium) and hack. R can be a sharp ride, but I have never felt unsafe in the treeless, as a rider I prefer it to the treed as it is good for my back.
 
I own both too.

Treed on the oldie - he's very high withered with no real top line now (well, he is 34!) so treeless just didn't work for him.

Treeless on the cob for dressage, hacking, jumping logs etc cos couldn't find atreed to suit him.

Treeless on the mare; have done everything in it but not competed at any higher level. We have been round Tweseldown on a training day, done affiliated dressage, hacking etc in it. She goes well in either but my treeless ones (I have a dressage and a gp) are soooooo much more comfortable on my aged bottom!
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My treeless are Heather Moffat; GPs are SBS and the dressage is a Fhoenix.


*edited for extra info*
 
I have both. I bought a Barefoot London to start off with Chancer as he was three and going to grow so much. He went very well in it. I then put in on old Cairo Clydesdale who never went so well as he did in the Barefoot - he loved it.

I still use it for hacking and general schooling, but anything over 2' jumping and I am not secure enough - my poor balance probably not helping.

I use it on Farra and again she goes well in it and I do know that if they change shape, this saddle should fit them still (maybe with a different pommel if necessary).

It is very comfortable for hacking and my saddle of choice for this - fine at a gallop etc and does not move. You can ride for hours and not be sore.

I did at the start of the year purchase a WH treed saddle for showing, dressage and jumping as it is smarter looking and keeps me more secure in the saddle.

I would not buy a cheap one and made sure I bought the correct pad for the model of Barefoot I had. Nearly everyone who has tried my treeless has found it comfortable and got on with it. However, there are two people who hate it and would rather not ride than sit on it.

Finally I do have my horses backs checked and so far they have had no sore points. They are also happy to have the treed saddle one day and the treeless the next.
 
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Finally I do have my horses backs checked and so far they have had no sore points. They are also happy to have the treed saddle one day and the treeless the next.

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I don't think my horse minds which saddle he has on either really, apart from slight rolling of the eye when I bring the treeless dressage one out, he knows he's going to be made to work then, and not have fun jumping
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Been there- done it- NEVER AGAIN!! Tried all the major brands.
Not for the competition horse. No way. Might be amazing for the horse at first, but after time, soreness developes everywhere.
 
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