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arabic
Platinum Member
 England
4562 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Sep 2008 : 4:09:53 PM
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I have been trying a treeless saddle out for a few weeks now. Fiddling with various types of padding to ensure his back is well cared for.
At first I was very sceptical (the old treed/treeless debate)and altho my NH instructor reckoned the tree in my treed was the wrong shape my saddle fitter said it was fine.
Proof of the pudding - I havent used my treed for a few weeks and have noticed a much more free extended stride particularly in walk when he comes to me in the paddock and walks down to the gate. Downhill was always very short picky strides. The first time the McTimmoney lady saw him (a couple of years ago) she commented on his short stride but found nothing wrong.
I find it hard to believe that there is a visable difference in the way he moves without a saddle since I stopped using the treed.
Of course now I am paranoid that I could be doing a different kind of damage with the treeless. Just wish I could afford one of Judiths or that Freddie could talk - that could be the next move - horse communicator lol!
Sandie
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mogwai
Platinum Member
England
2717 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2008 : 6:02:36 PM
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Oh yes, i think freddie should talk  . Thing is, he can, and you obviously listen, many people don't  .
No idea about the saddle dilema, as neither of mine wear them yet. I have a barefoot treeless that i'm planning to use on Ruby doo, and Chloe has a treed that came with her, but i plan to use my barefoot on her too. I certainly found it very comfortable, and my old mare moved very nicely in it. Long term, who knows. I'm hankering after a heather moffat myself  .
Ros x |
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NUTTER
Platinum Member
England
2452 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2008 : 8:35:42 PM
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Have to say treeless are like marmite you either love them or hate them!!
I am a convert and now love them.. |
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Gemma
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1802 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2008 : 8:39:57 PM
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The specialized saddles are fab!
The answer has to be 'whatever works for you and your horse'. I had a treeless that worked brilliantly at the lower levels of endurance, but didn't give enough support for longer distances. If we weren't doing endurance at longer distances, I'd have kept hold of it. |
 
Photo 2: West End Photography |
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Mrs DJ
Gold Member
632 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2008 : 8:47:16 PM
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I finally bought myself a second hand Heather Moffett several weeks ago.
LOVE IT!!
Don't know if you remember, Arabic, on the thread about balancers? - I was complaining about lack of umph?? Well, I was right in the suspicion that my legs were probably in the wrong position with the Cashel saddle. The Heather Moffett instantly cured the problem . Now when I ask for canter, away we go!!
Haven't ridden in it as much as I would like yet, due to the awful weather, but we've not had any problems (other than finding a suitable girth).
She goes really well in it, best thing I've bought for ages.
What sort of treeless have you been using?? |
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2008 : 10:45:17 PM
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Hi Phillipa,yes I remember.
Never got to the cashel myself but from what I hear they are a brilliant starting block for treeless.
What problems are you having with the girth.
I did try a few HM's but could never afforded them. They flew up his neck or he tried to nip when being girthed so fortunately (price) they werent an option for us.
I stumbled on an Iceline Mergur, very flat but it stays put and gives him plenty of shoulder room. Freddie certainly seems happy with it and it was recommended by a lady who had trialed lots of different makes. At first I found the difference in position very taxing but now its great and like you, I feel as tho I have finally found where I should be. Lets hope this is a new beginning for us both and the wretched weather sorts itself!
Sandie |
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Crystal Fire
Junior Member
England
43 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2008 : 11:05:00 PM
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I got an Equistation Endurance recently from EBay - for less than £150! I thought worth a try and so far I'm rather impressed, I keep waiting for something to go wrong. I got it for Celebrity, who was being ridden in my Freeform, which was a bit low on the wither for him (brought for my ponies). He's striding out in the new saddle, we get nice even wear marks and he's showing no signs of problems.
As well as the Freeform, which fits my Welsh/Arab very well, I have a Sensation. I love the saddle itself, but I need to sort out a pad that works better than theirs, their pad keeps sliding down to push on the withers. Also - the stirrup rigging is a trial. I got an adapter for it from Better Saddles, but the velcro on that seems to have worn out... and so it slips about... which means my stirrups can slip from side to side! Back to the drawing board on that one!
I love Judith's saddles, Gemma with Marygold brought one along to one of my clincs recently for us to see. Just need to save up for about a year!
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madmare
Platinum Member
England
2129 Posts |
Posted - 07 Sep 2008 : 01:31:08 AM
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I had a Barefoot Cheyenne, but sadly had to get rid when I was told I wasn't allowed to show in it!!! BUT...I will be getting a traditional looking treeless saddle and that will be my show saddle, I must admit I loved my Cheyenne!
Emma xx |
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jennypierson
Bronze Member
195 Posts |
Posted - 07 Sep 2008 : 08:29:09 AM
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Have to agree with Madmare, I have a Barefoot Cheyenne and liked it so much I have bought another one, you either love them or hate them
Ali goes really well in his and since buying it have`nt had any problems with his back, which we did have with a treed saddle.
We have done 80k and 2 day rides with it, horse and OAP rider both happy
JP |
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Mrs DJ
Gold Member
632 Posts |
Posted - 07 Sep 2008 : 8:37:40 PM
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Hi, Sandie
I bought a Wintec girth (shaped & elasticated) which I was using with a sheepskin cover.
The girth itself didn't rub, and the buckles were well above the elbow, but because of her shape, I think it was too wide. She ended up with a couple of patches on the points of her elbows, in spite of the sheepskin - I think because of the width and the fact that the girth has quite a hard edge to it, her elbows were catching as they came back. Pity 'cause it's a nice girth, but hey-ho.
A friend has lent me a Cottage Craft girth which (so far) seems ok with the sheepskin cover, but now I'm saving for one of those super duper Mattes shaped sheepskin girths which will hopefully solve all my girth issues.
As you say, all we need now is some half decent weather! |
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pam
Bronze Member
England
176 Posts |
Posted - 07 Sep 2008 : 10:44:39 PM
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A friend of mine has just had a horrible time with a treeless saddle. Maybe she was just unlucky but it certainly didnt suit her high withered warmblood who is probably only a medium or narrow fit in a treed saddle. After 2 months regular use it still hadnt moulded to fit him properly and his schooling started getting worse and worse. The poor boy ended up with a very sore back. We then tried him in a conventional dressage saddle and he was instantly much better. Also during that 2 months he was ridden by 3 riders - his owner and 2 instructors (for 'second oppinions') and no one could stay in balance on him.
The saddle was profesionally fitted and they were contacted for help after. They cancelled 2 appointments to come and assess it and have suggested it could be a manufacturing fault. My friend is now faced with taking them to the small claims court to try to get some money back. She accepts that the saddle is now technically 2nd hand and therefore less value but as it cost her £1300 new she cant afford to walk away and say never mind!! Who could at that price?!
And yes this is a very well known make that has already been mentioned in this thread!
I have to say I'm not against treeless saddles, in principle they are a fantastic idea but it clearly did more harm than good in her case which I guess proves that different things suit different horses and any saddle still needs to be fitted correctly.
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shah
Gold Member
England
1356 Posts |
Posted - 08 Sep 2008 : 07:51:19 AM
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During an endurance ride earlier this season we saw a lady on an arab in a treeless on a very uncomfortable horse. You could easily see that the treeless saddle (and bad balance of rider) was hurting the poor horse who was playing up because of it. The rider paid no attention to the saddle but was angry at the horse's behaviour 
Sandie, as for the short strides downhill I know exactly what you mean as shah does the same! Or at least used to. Shah has had bad fitting saddles in the past that have jagged him behind the shoulder when moving downhill so he thinks going downhill will hurt. He's also extremely weary on his feet and scared of slipping so will somtimes tip toe because of that. But with chiro work and massage / muscle realignment, a well fitting saddle and some endurance work to build him up he's loosened up no end and can now stride out properly. It's taken a long time for him to realise that nothing hurts and have confidence in himself to stride out. |
West Sussex |
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Fleas
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
142 Posts |
Posted - 08 Sep 2008 : 09:00:08 AM
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| I use a barefoot too on my boy, although he is not an arab its perfect for his constantly changing weight... I dont like the appearance of it but it works, however if I was going to spend a lot of money on a saddle I would always go for a treed traditional :) |
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