Treeless Saddles

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pottamus

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Does anyone use one on here and if so, how do you find them to ride in? I have heard that some horse do not take to them but I cannot see why not...what are your experiences?
I guess I see the benefit from the horses point of view but are they as secure and stable for the rider as a normal saddle or is it a bit like riding bareback?!!!
 
We have a Torsion saddle and we love it. I am a vey non-confident rider but always feel extremely secure in the Torsion. All the makes vary and there is no guarantee a horse will get on with one,it's amatter of trying some to see. I'd always recommend the Torsion (the orginal treeless) over the others. but that is my personal opinion.
 
I have a Torsion (sitting doing nothing), horse had no objections to it, and in fact moved very freely, but I didn't like the position of the stirrup bars (further back, than on a treed saddle).
 
I just sold my torsion copy on eBay, it was quite comfy, but I just didn't take to it, it came with my horse and I didn't like it tbh, it was too weird for my liking (looks wise I mean) Its a bit different to riding in a saddle but not like riding bareback, its a happy medium
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I have just broken a horse in for a client, she has been one of the easiest sweetest horses i have ever come across, i used one of my saddles and she never put in so much as a little buck. The owners had bought her a treeless saddle which they wanted to ride in, i must confess i had never come across one before. So i put the treeless saddle on and i have to say she didn't seem that happy, i walked her round the yard and then took her in the school,thought it wise to pop her round on the lunge first as it was something new. . .Well goodness me what a different horse,she went loopy,propping, launching,like a real rodeo pony!!! Calmed her down,took saddle off put mine on and sweet little mare was back again!! Havn't used it since and she hasn't bucked since,so i guess she's just one of those horses that doesn't like them!!
 
I rode my coloured in it for about a year, we had a barefoot cheyenne. She was wonderfull in it we'd school, hack and jump upto 3 foot in it. I was good as when I started riding her in it she'd just come back into work from Proximal Suspensory Desmitis (ligament injury) so we did all the walking work then schooling. She muscled up nicely no wastage at all. Then one day as if over night she went sore on her withers and back. I got a saddle company saddler out and boween therapist which found muscle wastage to the right side and a very sore sorry horse. I rode her bareback for 3 weeks whilst I waited for my new saddle company saddle and we haven't looked back since. I think the treeless are good if you're happy hacking but if you want to do more they made my mare sore.
 
I have a barefoot london and am very pleased with it. Cairo goes really well and had no problems with Chancer. Cannot see me changing to anything else at the moment.

Very light and I can use it on both of my two.

Takes a little getting used to, but I ride western and english and it feels like a combination of both plus a feeling of bareback.

Not had any back problems to date. I may at a later date get another saddle for showing, but again may look to a treeless one.

Several people have tried the treeless I have and commented on how comfortable it is.

I did buy the specialist pad for my saddle and am a fairly balanced rider who is happy to ride with no reins and stirrups in the school so the not so stable leg position is no problem for me.
 
I have a barefoot cheyenne and find it very comfortable - my TB seems to prefer it to the saddle he came with (although that was a badly fitting one) - he had 'girth issues' when I first got him, but now he is fine. I have recenlty started using extra padding under mine, not due to any particualr reason though, just thought it would be nicer for him. I have the back lady out regularly and she hasn't found anything wrong with his back. I am a happy hacker, so don't really do much with him other than potter about and some schooling.
 
Very comfortable to ride in, but very unstable and has no weight distribution. I've seen too many horses ruined by treeless saddles beause of too much pressure under the stirrup bars, including some very reputable and expensive makes.
 
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