Your opinions please

Kenzo

Kenzo

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Right, I’m just going to give one of these Freemax treeless saddles a whirl and order one, you don’t know unless you try and if I umm and arrr over it anymore I’ll never get anywhere, so end of the day I can’t afford a HM or a solutions saddle at the moment, besides if it’s the wrong size or doesn’t fit correctly (with the right pad) I presume I can send it back (hopefully), or if it does fit but for some reason we don’t get on with it after a few weeks I can bob in on ebay…happy days. :)

I’ve decided not to go for the Jump GP model as prefer the look of Endurance models and the Endurance/GP’s.

Can’t decide which to go for though so I need your opinions or further feed back. Just to point out I don’t do brown tack as it doesn’t my lad.

Which style and colour?

So there is this one in black
http://www.hold-your-horses.com/epa...T2666/Products/160109/SubProducts/160109-0001

This one in black but not the same material (I’m thinking it won’t be slippy like a leather one so better for sticking on maybe )

http://www.hold-your-horses.com/epa...T2666/Products/100809/SubProducts/100809-0007

Or this one, where you can get different colours, I wouldn’t want the red or blue but the grey and black I think would look quite nice due to his colour but then I have to consider that if we get along with it and when I want to take him to some dressage, will I look a complete twit (I know will say that anyway because of the saddle) but you get my drift?

http://www.hold-your-horses.com/epa...T2666/Products/110709/SubProducts/110709-0001

Do I just go for it and order one or am I insane? :confused:

Thanks
 
personally im not keen on synthetic saddles but i was quite pleasantly surprised when i saw them :) the second one is my favourite :) have you rode treeless before? i have ridden in solution.. and hated it! could you trial one first? :)
 
MrVelvet said:
personally im not keen on synthetic saddles but i was quite pleasantly surprised when i saw them :) the second one is my favourite :) have you rode treeless before? i have ridden in solution.. and hated it! could you trial one first? :)
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Yes I’ve ridden treeless before, both in the Torsion (when they first came out as I had one on a weeks trial form a local tack shop) and I was very impressed with it and the difference in how he moved, but that was on a cob that I used to have, but at the time for the price and considering I did did showing and jumping, I wanted something more traditional looking.

I’ve also ridden in the solution saddle on the horse own now, (but only for 10 minutes), so I know what to expect when riding in a treeless, just optimistic on how well it will fit/suit my horse but all we can do is try. :)

Second one would be your choice, yes that's the one I'm swaying for.

Thanks :)
 
personally do not like the look of the actual saddle at all- but that is probably just because it is "different"
The synthetic black one out of the three tho.
 
lexiedhb said:
personally do not like the look of the actual saddle at all- but that is probably just because it is "different"
The synthetic black one out of the three tho.
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Yeah, I know what you mean, I doubt it will go down too well with the other liveries but then again nor would the other more expensive makes neither come to think of it, but I can live with that :D

Cool, so another vote for the second one, looks like folks are favouring the one I prefer too.

Cheers Lexie :)
 
MICHAELA8228 said:
Another vote for the second one...... to be fair, they all look bloody comfy!!!

If you do get one, let us know how you get on :-)
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Yes of course I will, don't worry I'll bore you all with the details and my thoughts and no doubt quiz some of the regular treeless users/experts to make sure about a few things. :)

They do look comfortable, I just wan't to make sure it's as equally as comfortable for my horse too, so I need to ensure I use it with really good treeless pad (may take a few trys with different ones) and even then I may not be convinced but we'll give it a go.

Another vote for the second one. :D
 
Winklepoker said:
I HATE ALL OF THEM ;) why would you not have a regular saddle? :D
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I would have a regular saddle and will have one when I find one that fits him correctly, the problem is many of the makes and models (in the various fittings) don't fit him at the moment and I need something to enable me to continue with his flat work.

I'm having a lady out to come see him to go through what other saddles may fit him and talk about what options we have.
 
poppymoo said:
:D Well.....I was looking for a way of saying this ....but that'll do:D

Needs must mate- its what the boy needs - and I did consider it myself for the deranged one ......BUT can anyone explain why treeless saddles all look like hi-tech cornish pasties?


PS...if you put a gun to my head- probably the second one.
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HA! Pasty indeed.. I cannot work out why they have made them to look so bloody hideous, beat me with a stick if you like but they are surely only for the endurance odd bods and people who are blind in one/both eyes?
 
I think the second synthetic one looks more "sticky", but am confused as to why the "Soft Italian Calf Leather" of the first one warrents the same price as the "Soft Italian Microsuede". Surely the synthetic should be cheaper:confused:

I did umm and arr over one for my roly-poly cob, but worried they might not be stable enough, as heard reports they are excellent for hacking but useless for going round corners with.

But other than that, I say go for it, you never know until you try. Good luck and keep us up to date.
 
chickeninabun said:
I think the second synthetic one looks more "sticky", but am confused as to why the "Soft Italian Calf Leather" of the first one warrents the same price as the "Soft Italian Microsuede". Surely the synthetic should be cheaper:confused:

I did umm and arr over one for my roly-poly cob, but worried they might not be stable enough, as heard reports they are excellent for hacking but useless for going round corners with.

But other than that, I say go for it, you never know until you try. Good luck and keep us up to date.
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Yes that is my concern, I don't want the saddle slipping but I suppose you have options there to stop it from slipping if its just a wee bit, but if the saddle is not stable without over tightening the girth, then that's no good either.

Yeah I did wonder that but I've since spoken to DreamTeam who sell the Freeform saddles, apparently very good saddles but more money (retail at around £1,200) and they do the suede ones as well which I didn't realise, she said the leather ones are only covered on a sythetic, so I don't think they are leather all the way through if you see what I mean, it's just how you want them covering, so I can only presume it's the same with the Freemax, but don't quote me on it, so maybe they don't much more to produce, therefore perhaps sell for the same price:confused:

DreamTeam have suggested I trial a Freeform which makes sense however they are more expensive, I was straight up with them and said there was no point me trialing as I couldn't afford one and if I did really like it and suited my lad then I'd be even more gutted because I wouldn't be able to afford it but they have dropped their price (still more than the freemax) but certainly better than £1,200!! she also answered a few questions I had too, she was very helpful, said she's send the full package for me to trial.

Question is if they can afford to drop the price quite a bit, are you just paying more for the freeform or is it because the freeform is better than the freemax....my mind boggles, obviously I want the better quality saddle but if there both idential I'd rather go for the cheaper one!

So do I trial the Freeform? decisions decisions
 
Winklepoker said:
HA! Pasty indeed.. I cannot work out why they have made them to look so bloody hideous, beat me with a stick if you like but they are surely only for the endurance odd bods and people who are blind in one/both eyes?
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Indeed....see, I would possibly go for the treeless option if they didn't look so well, yep- hideous is the right word:D

If they looked more traditional I would possibly give one a whirl.......

My horses are all unshod now- my mate calls them barefoot warriers- she is VV worried that one day we are going to meet up for a hack and my oss will be bitless and wearing a tree-less saddle. I have been told that under no circumstances would she ride with me- I would have to follow along 1/4 mile behind her:D
 
poppymoo said:
My horses are all unshod now- my mate calls them barefoot warriers- she is VV worried that one day we are going to meet up for a hack and my oss will be bitless and wearing a tree-less saddle. I have been told that under no circumstances would she ride with me- I would have to follow along 1/4 mile behind her:D
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lol, you forgot one to add to your list....a carrot stick ;):D
 
Kenzo said:
lol, you forgot one to add to your list....a carrot stick ;):D
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And rope reins!! They always look hippy-like to me!!:D

It's a very confusing situation. It sometimes pees me off when company's suddenly drop there price because you refuse to buy, why couldn't they offer it at that price to begin with!! Barstools!
The only good thing with the Freeform is that you are getting a trial, so can send it back, but if it's still going to be too expensive then that's no good.
Any chance you can ring the manufacturers/retailers of the Freemax and ask for a trial??
 
chickeninabun said:
And rope reins!! They always look hippy-like to me!!:D

It's a very confusing situation. It sometimes pees me off when company's suddenly drop there price because you refuse to buy, why couldn't they offer it at that price to begin with!! Barstools!
The only good thing with the Freeform is that you are getting a trial, so can send it back, but if it's still going to be too expensive then that's no good.
Any chance you can ring the manufacturers/retailers of the Freemax and ask for a trial??
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Yeah that's what I was thinking.

I'm sure Freemax would let me have on on trial (I'm thinking) but the thing is I'd rather pay to trial the better of the two, hence I'm more swayed into trialing the Freeform, I really can't decide, I've got two voices in my head pulling me each way, one saying try it and see if it doesn't fit then fair does, if it does I'll want to buy it, another saying just spend the money on a well fitting traditional saddle if you find one, which I would but could take a while but I think my lad would benefit from he flexibility of a treeless you see.....

arhhh *bashes head on keyboard*:(
 
My opinion is that if you have never ridden in one of those saddles on your horse then dont buy it unless you can send it back. Seriously I tried 5 different saddles on my horse from the saddlefitter to find one that suitable me and my horse they said if you dont like it let us know, as its not just the fit for the horse its the fit for you. So yes if you can try one first.
 
Right...just to totally naff my mate off I'm going bitless, borrowing Kenzo's treeless- ordering a carrot stick, rope reins and a jangly necklace thing.

Hack anyone?:D

PS...my horse is an arab- I believe all these things are in actual fact essential for him? Must be wehere I've been going wrong......:rolleyes:
 
Stacey6897 said:
Seriously? Nooooo...

Wow, first thought is, that's an elaborate, pointless form of trolling, or do people actually buy these? Put them on horses? Really? Does it stop your horse from catching birds or mice? What? Why? I don't get it...
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Yes they do - a friend of mine bought a set for her very steady native, they were meant to make him walk out more :confused: now if she'd wrapped them round his tail it MIGHT have worked:p

OP

I've been riding treeless for over 10 years because of an impossible to fit youngster and my knackered back.

IME the best of the cheapie 'high tech cornish pastie types' are the barefoot cheyenne, fitforms and old trekker talents and of course the torsion (but they're not cheap)

Sorry but I hated the freemax, wasn't over fond of the freeform - found that they tended to rub at the back in bum high youngsters and I didn't find them comfortable for me.

I loved my Trekker Pro Endurance (just sold mine as don't have a horse to put it on!) and while I have no personal experience of these I'm hearing good things about the Dream Team saddles. The other (more) affordable option might be a 2nd hand Heather Moffat - they sometimes come up on Ebay?
 
Yes the sensible thing is to trial one, so that's my next plan of attack, I'm going to trial the Freeform after talking about the fit and type he'll need and going over the concerns, they will be sending the whole package along with the correct pad, I know it's only for 4 days but at least it gives me a chance to rig it up right, they have offered to send any extra bits and bobs that I need to make sure I get the trial saddle right, the lady was very helpful from DreamTeam, could be that it's not for us at all but least I'll know.

I having his back checked tomorrow for his usual MOT and I'm going to have a chat with my back person too about it to see what she thinks, the lady at DreamTeam did say they will work along side your vets and physios in order to make sure they can provide the the right saddle for the right reasons or specific problems.

My other option is a saddle company saddle which I'm also considering.

I know a lot of the treeless saddles are not easy on the eye but personally that doesn't bother me, it's not like we do any showing or anything like that.

Many thanks for everyone's input.
 
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