Treeless Saddles

[TippyToesKnows]

Good makes, not cheap Indian imports. Does anyone have any first hand experience / thoughts about them?

I swear by Barefoot saddles. I've tried Hesther Moffat too but didn't like them.

Which barefoot models have you tried @Mollyplop ? I like the look of them but can you jump in them? Also does the cushion layer on top make you sit really wide?

Personally, I love the Treefree saddles. The stirrups hang from a proper bar instead of going over their backs and their saddle pads have a gullet. They are very soft and comfortable and the pommel can be changed for different sizes. All our ponies are ridden in the Exmoor, we have a Tor dressage for competitions and are about to buy two Tor GPs. They are expensive and worth every penny. They fit our round native ponies no matter what their weight is so no issues with saddles slipping.

@krustykittens I love the look of the Tor...do you think it would be OK for occasional jumping up to 2ft9 in?

I don't see why not, it's what we plan to do in them! They are designed to be a proper GP saddle. But give them a ring or email them if you have concerns, they are lovely people and will chat all day about their saddles.

I don't think they make you sit wide at all. We do everything in ours including jumping. However I have a friend who rode in mine and hated it. I think they're like Marmite

I have a Ghost that suited my pony, but my mares both have leather-tree saddles. So not treeless, but with a flexible tree. Both are made to look and feel like traditional saddles (one is dressage, one is VSD). The makes are Hidalgo and HT. I love both of them!

I've never met a back person that would consider using them on their horse or recommends them.

I have a Smart Solution Rigidfree saddle.

Not cheap but backed up by proper research and fully competition legal for all disciplines. I think they are the only treeless that you can jump properly in.

I absolutely love mine and have done everything in it for the last 9 years. Haven't jumped anything over 1m but that's because I'm a chicken not because of the saddle.

You can't see that it is treeless and although it feels a bit different it is not a massive difference.

I've been using them for years and had 3 different back people who have all said the ponies in excellent health. Having said that we are mainly happy hackers and if showing we do have a treed saddle.

@typos It's actually my back lady who initially suggested them to us as she knows a few clients who struggle with saddle fit and ride in Barefoots

This isn't a my back persons better than your back person but it's taken me a very long time to find the right professionals as I firmly believe not all "horsey professionals" are created equal.

Providing your person is professionally trained, qualified and insured then I'd 100% go with their advice. It's taken me a long time to find my pro and I trust her 100%.

They need to update themselves. People in the States and Canada do long distance endurance rides, for example the Tevis Cup, in treeless saddles. Of course the better ones - Ghost, Sensation, Freeform...
My favourite treeless saddle, having ridden in many, are Sensation saddles. They cost the earth but are endlessly adjustable using the right pads. They are light and comfortable.
I've been riding treeless for about 15 years and never had back problems with any of my horses and ponies - from Cobs to Arabs, quarter horses and Lusitano. I took the time to educate myself about how to fit them and the best pads to use and have never looked back.

I think we can agree to disagree on this one and in all honesty I'd be scared to tell my Osteopathic Vet that has supported 2 Olympic teams to update himself lol. I also do a different sport I'm a dressage rider so maybe our expectations are different?

I am a dressage rider and I ride in Tor dressage saddle. My back lady is professionally accredited and has treated plenty of top event horses and has no problems with us using treeless. She had not come across many and certainly not the type I prefer so she was happy to update her knowledge. No matter who we are, we can all learn something new.

That works both ways. As I say I'm happy to disagree on this one sounds like it's quite an emotive topic.