Treeless saddles?

[wobblecob2017]

I have been researching treeless saddles and I haven't concluded whether to get my horse one or not. I want to know everyone's experiences and opinions on them. Also, whether they are suitable to jump in, especially at heights 80+. I have seen some on ebay which are ridiculously cheap, but no one's reviewed on them so I don't know how good they are. I think they're called freemax? Also, if anyone could recommend a brand of treeless saddle that won't break the bank it would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[J&S]

I rode my little horse in a Heather Moffatt Phoenix for a few years. It was very comfortable once warmed up and I did long distance and trec with it. Dressage was fine too but jumping courses over 70cms was not successful. Heather told me that she had sold these saddles to people who hunt and jump too but I am sceptical. They are not cheap, made from nice leather by Nursey's in Cambridge. Beware cheap foreign imports and only use the recommended pads and specialist girths.

 

[wobblecob2017]

I rode my little horse in a Heather Moffatt Phoenix for a few years. It was very comfortable once warmed up and I did long distance and trec with it. Dressage was fine too but jumping courses over 70cms was not successful. Heather told me that she had sold these saddles to people who hunt and jump too but I am sceptical. They are not cheap, made from nice leather by Nursey's in Cambridge. Beware cheap foreign imports and only use the recommended pads and specialist girths.

Thank you!

 

[Nudibranch]

Definitely avoid the cheap ones like the plague. I have been treeless for about 10 years and it very much depends on the horse, much like treed saddles. I have found HM Flexees (leather treed) work well with normal shapes, but I wouldn't trust one on my table topped Fell. Conversely the truly treeless don't work so well on shark fin withers - I have never got one to sit right on any of my TBs. I have used Torsion and Libra. Barefoot are more commonly found these days but I'm not sure any of them would be ideal for jumping more than popping a few logs (for which I always use breastplate!). Flexee ride much more traditionally but I don't do a lot of jumping so can't say how well suited they are. Some people also find treeless uncomfortable. I never have, so again you need to try a range really. As mentioned never use them without a proper treeless pad (apart from the Flexee).These are as important as the saddle to ensure spinal clearance.

 

[Wheels]

Avoid cheap! You're better off buying an older good quality 2nd hand one. What is your budget?

I use a solution saddles jump saddle - have jumped 1.10 - 1.15 in training and competed in 1m classes SJ and WH and also gone XC many times. It feels very secure, is comfortable for me and the horse.

I am just about to start a trial of a solutions dressage saddle as I love the jump so much

 

[Rosie Round The Hills]

I own a Sensation Treeless which I bought last year when I was living in Canada. It is fabulous, it’s comfortable for me, comfortable for the horse, and it fits any damn beast I put it on. Honestly. When I got mine, I consulted with friends of mine over there who work as trainers and they all said the same. I can’t recommend that brand highly enough. They make the saddles individually to order, and the process to purchase is very thorough. They are based on Vancouver Island I think - but maybe mainland BC. Anyway... when I need a replacement if mine ever wears out... I’d get another from them even though I now live in the UK.

Oh, I don’t jump, but my friends do. And yes, they still gave rave reviews.

 

[ycbm]

I had two different types of Heather Moffatt treeless. Both of them tipped me forward. the girth straps under the flap marked one horse and the stirrup bars marked the other. I spent hours making and fitting shims. It was impossible to mount from the floor unless you strangled the horse with a tight girth, and I would never have jumped in one.

I gave up treeless and went for wow instead, which gives the same shoulder freedom.

.

 

[webble]

I had a solution for a while, it was uncomfortable and put me in a chair seat.

I had a flexee which was comfy but tipped me forward a bit. I now have a vogue which I love

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I ride my two in treeless; suits us both.

IME it is ESSENTIAL to try before you commit yourself to buying. If you go onto the Better Saddles website (think that's the one) there are some firms there that do a try-before-you-buy.

One of these is TreeFree who make the Exmoor & Dartmoor saddles, and their newer Tor saddle. This is what I've got and I would heartily recommend this saddle as an older rider as it has a much narrower twist than a lot of other treeless saddles. They are handmade in Devon, UK, and as I live in Devon I am able to deal personally with the proprietor who took a lot of care to get the right fit for my youngster after the sale.

You are right to be cagey about the cheap-and-horrible things you'll see on e-bay! They are manufactured in bulk in the Far East and wouldn't do your horse any good and you would do well to not be tempted.

If you want bargain basement: Libra and Freeform/Freemax are "cheap and cheerful" makes of treeless saddle which are reasonably well known; and might be good as a starter-saddle, but having ridden in both I found they didn't offer me the level of support I needed - the Freeform in particular was fine, very comfy to start with, until about an hour in the saddle and then I began to get lower back pain. The Libra didn't support me at all adequately and had a lot of movement on the horse's back and I would say that really these are only suitable for perhaps backing or as a child's pup-saddle TBH.

Personally I am not a fan of Heather Moffat saddles either: have tried the FlexEE, Phoenix and Vogue - but they weren't right for me or my horses. But some people swear by them! They always reach a good price when they appear second-hand on e-bay tho' so obviously have their following.

You could go on e-bay and buy a good used make like Barefoot, Torsion, Heather Moffat, or Ghost, etc. If you are on any local horsey FB groups it might be worth having an ask around your area if anyone has a treeless saddle you could perhaps try. There are also Treeless saddle groups on FB but they tend not to be so local.

Bear in mind that if your horse is a tubby cob, then you may find the Barefoot range puts you uncomfortably wide; I actually like Barefoots but they're not a viable fit for either of my two horses, tho' my old gal (Welsh D) I rode for miles in one very comfortably. Torsion is another well-known brand which you may find suits you.

Also bear in mind that it is essential to have the saddle pad for that particular saddle; these tend to be costly, but are very necessary to protect your horse's back. Where the stirrup bars sit will be the danger point, and a pressure point you will need to watch out for as with a treed saddle the pressure of this would be disseminated throughout the tree, but with treeless you can get a pressure point and soreness develop. If you do go treeless, I would strongly recommend that you get a professional to look regularly at your horse's back and way of going regularly during the transition period to check all is well.

I don't do jumping so can't say what would be a good treeless saddle for this; no doubt there are others on here who could recommend something. But generally, my feeling is that if you wanted to do some serious jumping then a treeless saddle might not be the right choice for you.........

Hope this helps.

 

[Reacher]

I tried a couple of Solution saddles (I think a jump and an event) owned by my saddle fitter (who is a conventional treed saddle fitter) . She events one of her horses in one. Although I liked the idea of them I didn’t buy one - horse didn’t feel any freer than in his treed saddle plus my lower leg felt very unstable.

One interesting thing she said is the recent solution saddles are they are only treeless saddles she would touch, due to the fact that they distribute the weight evenly - she wouldn’t touch either the older solution saddles or any other make.

 

[sbloom]

And as I often say, especially for very wide horses people think treeless may be the only option, I've not met a horse yet that is too wide for a treed saddle, you just need the right brand. That may not be your reason for looking, but stability on wider or flatter backs is entirely possible with the right treed saddle, and you can get instability from treeless anyway.