What saddle is most like bareback?

[TippyToesKnows]

My horse goes so much better bareback than in a saddle. But I don't want to hurt her back and need something safe for jumping and hacking on a very busy road. What type of saddle would be the closest thing to bareback without literally riding in a bareback pad? Needs to be dressage legal preferably.

You could look at these: total-contact-equine-solutions.myshopify.com/ but I don't think they're dressage legal. I've used a few treeless saddles, horses seemed to like them. But the TC is the most like bareback and it has stirrups so you're a bit safer i.e. in traffic and is lovely to use! Personally I would get a TC for general use and try a few treeless to find one for competition. I assume you've looked into why your horse might be better without a tree (checked her back, etc!)?

I’d say a pony pad, but I can’t imagine it being better for the horses back than bare back, and unless you and your horse are in the same proportions to each other as a small child on a native I wouldn’t have thought it would be particularly pleasant for the horse to jump in.
Depends on why she goes better. Because the saddle isn’t a good fit, or it puts you in an incorrect position, you can just use your core better to communicate bare back etc will all have different answers. Eg you tend to ride short, the solution would be dropping your stirrups or riding without them.

I'm really not sure why she goes better - spent a fortune on saddle fitting and back checks for her! She just loves bareback, and I find it much more comfortable too

Have a look at Barefoot saddles - very light and comfortable for both horse and rider. Don't know if they are dressage legal though.

I love the look of the barefoot cherokee...gorgeous! Can't seem to get a definite answer anywhere if they're BD legal though. We only do prelim level so not like I'd be trying to do psg in it but was hoping to find examples of people who do dressage in these successfully.

I swear by Barefoot saddles and they do make dressage saddles. There was a gorgeous one on Preloved last week. I have 2 Cheyenne saddles. I've ridden in them for about 10 years and have a physio to the ponies each year. None of them have any issues

Don't suppose you know if it's possible to trial them do you @Mollyplop999 ?

I'm not sure if it is as they generally aren't stocked by saddlers but bought online. They are a bit like Marmite , you either love them or hate them. What area are you in ?