Views or experience of Treeless Saddles??

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Booga22

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I have been considering buying a treeless saddle and wondered what the general view was on them?
I have just taken a horse on loan, minus saddle (!), and at present he is lacking in topline - TB with the usual withers, and just had a look at these saddles over an adjustable synthetic -
Your views please??!!
 
I ride around very hilly countryside (Welsh hills) and I found that the lack of sideways stability was really scary! However the saddle in question was a no-name treeless so possibly a more fancy/branded one would be more secure?
 
Treeless generally are not very good for high withered horses unfortunately. I used one for years on my cob and LOVED it but useless for jumping and I tried his old one on my new TB and it didn't fit at all. :(
 
Thanks for your input guys - I wasn't too sure, so think I may persevere with the last minute ebayers and try and win a synthetic!!!

Typical seeing as I told two of mine last year - hindsight is a wonderful thing! :)
 
jsr said:
Treeless generally are not very good for high withered horses unfortunately. I used one for years on my cob and LOVED it but useless for jumping and I tried his old one on my new TB and it didn't fit at all. :(
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It's funny I often hear people say that treeless are good for cobs but not high withers however my experience of them is totally different!!!

I have a nutty ex racer and a welsh pb! My tb was going to be PTS due to her behavioural issues before I took her on 7 years ago! She did come right in a conventional treed saddle however anytime off she had would result in pain memories when ridden which exacerbated her behavioural issues! My friend offered me her treeless to try as I used to ride her bareback alot when restarting her and despite my scepticism she loved it and got back to normal behaviour much quicker than in her treed saddle (it was professionally fitted every 6 months) I consequently bought her the dream team treeless saddle with the high wither pad and it is fantastic!!! She is much happier (still nutty but much happier!) and I find it sooooo comfortable, we do a bit of everything in it including jumping and it doesn't slip one bit! only problem is I end up lending it to everyone on the yard!

Having said all this I tried it on my 4 yr old welshy and HATED it! As there is no twist I felt like I was sitting on a table and it slipped like mad! I have since tried her in the Heather moffett fheonix (sp) and she went really well in it and I was much happier so I will save for one of those for her I think!

I really think it depends on which treeless saddle you go for they are all different some are appalling I tried the easytrek saddle and the freemax both were horrendous so try as many as you can. I also think you have to be a fairly balanced rider as you are so much closer to the horses movement and some people I have noticed struggle!

Hope this helps! Good luck with your new hossy!!

:-)
 
I had used a number of treeless saddles and did endurance on my ex racer with a treeless saddle.
I have found saddle with panels are generally better on high withered horses, and a good treeless pad or those lacking topline.
 
emmaln said:
It's funny I often hear people say that treeless are good for cobs but not high withers however my experience of them is totally different!!!

I have a nutty ex racer and a welsh pb! My tb was going to be PTS due to her behavioural issues before I took her on 7 years ago! She did come right in a conventional treed saddle however anytime off she had would result in pain memories when ridden which exacerbated her behavioural issues! My friend offered me her treeless to try as I used to ride her bareback alot when restarting her and despite my scepticism she loved it and got back to normal behaviour much quicker than in her treed saddle (it was professionally fitted every 6 months) I consequently bought her the dream team treeless saddle with the high wither pad and it is fantastic!!! She is much happier (still nutty but much happier!) and I find it sooooo comfortable, we do a bit of everything in it including jumping and it doesn't slip one bit! only problem is I end up lending it to everyone on the yard!

Having said all this I tried it on my 4 yr old welshy and HATED it! As there is no twist I felt like I was sitting on a table and it slipped like mad! I have since tried her in the Heather moffett fheonix (sp) and she went really well in it and I was much happier so I will save for one of those for her I think!

I really think it depends on which treeless saddle you go for they are all different some are appalling I tried the easytrek saddle and the freemax both were horrendous so try as many as you can. I also think you have to be a fairly balanced rider as you are so much closer to the horses movement and some people I have noticed struggle!

Hope this helps! Good luck with your new hossy!!

:-)
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You are right I think. I had for years a Randols from Germany which was perfect for my cob..didn't fit anything else I tried it on though!! Then bought a Barefoot Cheyenne which I hated..hated..hated!!! Not much difference cosmetically to the Randols but it didn't fit him at all and rubbed his back to pieces (or would have done if I'd carried on using it), then tried Libra..again terrible!! Just recently I tried a DreamTeam jumping saddle and thought I'd found my perfect treeless....it was WAY too long for his back so again no good!!! :rolleyes:

I cannot afford to keep trying saddles to see so have given up and will stick to my old faithful Thorowgood cob. Not what I want to ride him in but as it's the only thing that fits it will have to do.

Unfortunately I cannot afford to buy the DreamTeam for my TB as she's going on loan (hopefully this weekend..fingers crossed!!!) otherwise I would have tried that on her, I think they've come on abit since I bought mine and are my sympathetic for horses with withers.
 
i ride both my arabs in treeless saddles and love them :D

i've not had problems with stability, but i know a few people have felt less stable in them. my horses have never felt free-er in their movement or IMHO been happier under saddle - my 'hot' mare seems far less tense and no longer fidgets when asked to stand or when mounting up and she no longer puts her ears back when saddling & girthing up. equally, my somewhat lazier gelding has far more forward going and expressive paces since being ridden in a treeless saddle.

personally, i went for a more expensive versions which a bit more like a traditional treed saddle, as i would like to possibly compete in some low level dressage as well as sponsored rides and hopefully some endurance rides this year. i also wonder if this adds to the stability and i had my two saddles professionally fitted . i also jump occassionally in mine and have no problems (well, not with the saddles ;) )
 
I have a Total Saddles Solution on a horse with very prominent withers with no problems, in fact it's the only saddle he will tolerate. Having said that not all treeless saddles are the same and often you get what you pay for and you may not want to spend a huge amount of money on a saddle for an unfit loan horse.
 
I ride in (and now sell) treeless saddles. I would never go back to a tree'd saddle again, I have no problems with stability and I ride my big fat shire x cob and all our quarter horses in treeless, and our little new forest will go treeless when he is broken too.

As long as the saddle is a quality make then you should have no problems. :)
 
Booboos said:
I have a Total Saddles Solution on a horse with very prominent withers with no problems, in fact it's the only saddle he will tolerate. Having said that not all treeless saddles are the same and often you get what you pay for and you may not want to spend a huge amount of money on a saddle for an unfit loan horse.
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This ^ but I would add that if you buy a good make like Solution then it can be fitted to any future horse that you buy/borrow/ride so it can be a lifetime investment. I ride all mine, all the schoolers and backers, and any random livery that I have to exercise, in Solution saddles :)
 
I wouldn't personally want a treeless, but that's because I had a nasty experience in one a few years ago. The horse I was riding shied sideways and I was chucked right over - in a normal saddle I'd have been able to pull myself back into position but the treeless went with me and ended up under the horse!

I don't feel so secure in them, but like I say this was a few years ago and I'm told they've improved a lot. Although you do get pretty stiff from riding in one - feels like riding bareback!!
 
I have ridden treeless for 3 years now, and I would only ride in treed again if I absolutely had to! I had a barefoot cheyenne, but sold this with my last horse. Currently have a Ghost, which is great - very stable, doesn't slip, and I feel safe in it. I can jump in it as well, although I don't jump high. I would say that as long as you have either the correct padding, or a treeless with a gullet, it will be fine for your TB. Perhaps get some to try out?
 
I have had one in the past and loved it. I have to say, it was not love at first ride! I had to get used to it for sure, but loved it there after. I bought a £400 one so not cheap tat either, as some of them may not be so good, suppose it depends on the maker
I agree I think they are not as suitable for very high withered horses.
Could be worth a try...
 
I just got a Solutions Smart saddle in the new year and I absolutely love it - it's the best investment for my horse I could have made. We're still building up to full fitness but she's going so much better in it - she's got high withers but we just use a nuumed high wither numnah with front and rear shims, more so for my friend who also rides and is a little heavier than I am. Solutions let you have a trial ride, and they also do a rental (which you get the first 2 weeks free if you decide to buy), so yes, I would recommend them.
 
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