Your opinions please

[whinney]

I have an 18" Freemax GP synthetic treeless saddle that I bought for my 4yr. old TB. I find that the Freemax is really comfortable in the seat, great for schooling, but out hacking, with shorter stirrups, my knees rest ON the kneeblocks (which are quite hard) and it bruises them after a few miles. For me (5' 7") the flaps should be a bit more forward cut. Another problem I had was that my horse has a forward girthline and the Freemax girth position constantly pulled the saddle forwards. The horse also has low withers and the metal gullet plate does not stay 'velcroed' to the saddle base. It is pushed up after a few minutes and the saddle base is then on her withers. This suggests to me that the plate does produce pressure or it would not be pushed up by her wider frame? I tried a wider plate, but then I was tipped 'downhill' in the saddle. I stopped using the plate altogether, use a shimmed saddle pad to lift it off her withers and fixed this particular problem. A curved girth solves the forward girthline pretty much.
I would say that the Freemax (without my adaptions) would be ideal for someone with shortish thighs, or that likes to ride 'long' or dressage and whose horse has normalish withers and a normal girthline, as it is very comfortable, secure and good quality.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

The horse bead website is so funny.

Blue is associated with tranquillity, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, and confidence. Perfect for grey horses

I don't think that my grey (nickname : Miss Pushy-Pants) needs anymore confidence, even if blue does suit her!

Red is associated with excitement, energy, speed, strength and power, beautiful on dark horses

Green is associated with nature, health, good luck, renewal and vigour. It also symbolises learning, growth and harmony

Purple is seen as a royal colour and is associated with spirituality, creativity and peace of mind

Wonderful stuff.

I don't think that I'll be buying any for my riding horse though, they wont go with her diamonte browband.

 

[CHH]

Have you looked at opinions on the net at all?

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/treelesssaddles/message/28066

I found this when I was searching into these too, for young PRE who was odd shaped.

In the end I didn't buy, thankfully after this article I was fortunate enough to get my hands on one to have a look, sorry not impressed.

However I did ride him in a treeless until grown and I do understand your predicament.

I suggest go on ebay and if you must - find a good make second hand, they will not lose that much value either when you come to resell.

I moved from the one I got back to Albion - after about a year.

I did like it for hacking out - found the tressless great, but prefer the tree'd for dressage work.

 

[soltydog]

Yes they do - a friend of mine bought a set for her very steady native, they were meant to make him walk out more now if she'd wrapped them round his tail it MIGHT have worked

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?

At last someone who has had a pro endurance. Thinking of getting one of these for my youngster next year, I used to have a trekker talent but found it felt too wide and it gave me back ache. What does the pro endurance feel like? does it have a twist? I ride my fjord in a sensation which are good and feel narrow, but very hard to find second hand.

 

[NOISYGIRL]

Not a fan, but the 2nd one is better looking than the others, if you must

 

[Kenzo]

I've decided against getting a Freemax after all that changed my mind after mulling over it a bit more.

I'd rather test a treeless first (one of the better makes/designs) so I'm going to trial a Freeform, least that way I can see what they are like before thinking about going treeless.

 

[RubysGold]

Hmmm they look a bit odd, but the second one is nicer then the others
If you get one, can I come try it out Ive always wondered how different treeless feels lol

 

[cbmcts]

At last someone who has had a pro endurance. Thinking of getting one of these for my youngster next year, I used to have a trekker talent but found it felt too wide and it gave me back ache. What does the pro endurance feel like? does it have a twist? I ride my fjord in a sensation which are good and feel narrow, but very hard to find second hand.

I'd recommend these to anyone. Yes they do have a twist, you still feel your hips IYSWIM but no more than if you were on any XXW saddle.

They are so adjustable, will fit anything from a knife edge wither TB to an XXXW, big shouldered native type and anything in between. The front 'handle' is removable and you really don't want to get thrown onto it as it bloody hurts when that happens. You can jump in them but there not really designed for it! They don't seem to slide sideways as much as the others (or maybe my balance finally improved) but you do have to be fairly agile to mount from the ground or girth up on board!

I don't work for Trekker but I should ask them for commision I know of 3 people who bought their own pro endurance after trying mine and none of them were treeless fans previously...