tell me about treeless

P

polly101

Member
Sep 25, 2009
371
2
18
Shropshire
Well my lad is changing shape as he normally does around this time of year, after not riding much over winter and now putting a little bit of weight on. I thought it may be an idea to get his saddle (tree'd) checked for fit.

This got me thinking about getting a treeless, I really like the look of them and after reading a bit I am swaying toward getting one, I have seen a nice Libra one for sale.

could I possibly have some opinions?

It is important that I feel secure in the saddle, do you think they make you more secure, they look like they would to me and look really comfy but I dont know anyone that has one for me to try.

my lad is 14.3 gypsy cob. I am 5.3 and 8st 9lb, if that makes any difference lol.

Thanks in advance!
 
I have a 15" one for madam - love it. It does take a bit of adjusting for the rider but I think I am much more balanced as a rider because of the saddle.

The biggest complaint is the instability, but other than mounting, if you work on your balance on board it's not an issue - it helps to ride long in te stirrups.

Comfort wise I liken it to an old pair of slippers now it has moulded to me and said pony! So much so that we have bought a new cashel soft saddle and I can't bring myself to throw my bruised and battered libra away!!! It was te saddle to solve all our tack issues - so holds sentimental value!!! Haha.
 
You want to hear from Newforest, she knows loads about treeless saddles.

I wanted treeless for Ziggy when I got him, but he is short backed and we couldn't find a saddle that fitted his back and fitted my a*se, which at that time was not inconsiderable.

These days my a*se is smaller but we have stuck with our Kent&Masters saddle, which he likes and I love. I still fancy treeless because of their lightness and the closeness to the horse, but I have 2 friends who are treeless and they do tend to slip a bit.
 
Depends on the treeless, the pad under it and the horse of course but I have a sensation with the skito pad under it and both Belle and myself love it, I can't say they make me feel more secure than a treed saddle I have just got so used to them now I find it really uncomfy to ride in a treed.
Prior to the sensation I had a heather moffet phoenix saddle which I loved but that was really unstable on Belle (fat haflinger with massive shoulders) no matter what pad was under it.
Never tried a Libra so can't comment but I love the lightness and the close contact of treeless.
 
Hi

Have a look on link below my post that shows you reviews from the public etc etc.

I have had the Libra-(pre pressure panels and two stirrup settings). I used to have a wide NF back then and it was great for hacking and having fun. If he knocked it on the floor it just wiped clean and wet weather riding was good as I didn't worry about ruining it.
You would want a good pad and a good girth, I had the haf and later equitex but for the girth it was the dream team c as he had a forward girth.
For jumping its only really ideal under 2ft and you do tend to ride longer and as I was doing more western the canter is brilliant as you go with them, you don't have to do a two point.
I had the 17" which I think is 21" base.

Currently got a Freeform and I have sat many a youngsters tantrum and it hasn't slipped. In fact the day I tried it we had a 180 spin and I thought, I so want this saddle!
 
uploadfromtaptalk1398037467360.jpg

This is us xc in the Freeform so you can still do all sorts and feel secure. This photo makes me laugh though because I jumped up the bank and the fuss I made about the jump down :rolleyes:
 
Thank you so much for your replies and picures, Newforest your website is very useful.

I have been struggling with internet connection so not been able to log on here much.

I have had saddle checked and still fits just fine :-)

I still like the idea of a treeless but things have changed for me at my field and i am moving in a couple of weeks (another story!) so have had to put the idea on hold for a bit.

x
 
Not all horses like them, when we tried some Haakon made it quite plain that if we did not remove the ghastly gubbins off his back he'd have an opinion about it. Put on a treed again and he was happy.

You need to be careful, it's not a case of one size fits all and that, as some claim, it will be the answer to your dreams.
 
My previous pony had the same view with treed. I tried six saddles, how many treeless did you look into before deciding.
My other lass took to sidesaddle, wouldnt know about this one. But its a maybe one day.
 
The way we looked at it, we had no reason to change his saddle I got one and thought we'd see if any of them went any better in in. In actual fact nobody did actually go any better in it and I sold it. If it ain't broke don't mend it.
 
I would agree if it ain't broke don't fix it.

But treed saddles can also be a nightmare. I had a Black Country saddle which Tobes should have found nothing to complain about, it was fitted and flocked every six months.

He then got to moving around and not standing when I put it on him, so I had a re-think and bought another saddle just 10 days ago. Pretty much the same width, but wider panels, and he stood stock still tonight when I tacked him up.

I have tried treeless, and can't say it was the magic bullet that I thought it would be, and I tried three.

However, in friends cobs case, the only treed saddle which fitted her was a Wintec 17" because she was short backed and wide. Saddle did not fit friend who was far too big for a 17" saddle and poor horse suffered.

I pointed her in the direction of a Barefoot saddle and horse was much happier.

Another friend had a horse who was croup high, in spite of not being a young horse, and nothing treed fitted him properly. Treeless was the best way for her to go.

So I think it is really a question of try it and see if you have an issue with your current saddle. But if you can borrow first, it would be better.

And you also have to bear in mind that shimming which you have to do with treeless can be just as tricky as getting the correct shaped tree in a treed saddle.
 
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