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jo H
Bronze Member
 England
91 Posts |
 Posted - 14 Feb 2010 : 5:16:58 PM
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Hi All
Just been recommended to try a treeless saddle on my Arab. We have been through seven saddles now as she is so flat backed, no withers and extra wide. Can any body recommend one for me to try?
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littlearabians
Gold Member
1323 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2010 : 5:33:54 PM
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i havent tried it but i like the look of Ghost, and is strongly considering buying one for when i start riding endurance again.
there are different models, not sure I'm allowed to link to their page, but just google ghost saddles. |
www.littlearabians.com
Classic Polish Arabians
Worcester based
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Otto
Bronze Member
England
119 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2010 : 6:12:39 PM
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I have a Barefoot Cheyenne for my flat backed xxw polish purebred, it also fits my medium wide mare when used with a different pad. I was initially very sceptical about treeless but I have to say I've been more than pleasantly suprised at how comfortable and stable they are. I'd heard horror stories of them slipping but so far mine has slipped less than all the conventional treed saddles. Barefoot has just brought out a new dressage saddle, the "Lexington", which I'd like to try. Has anyone else tried it yet?
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Mrs DJ
Gold Member
632 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2010 : 6:54:39 PM
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I have a Heather Moffett Fhoenix. I didn't go treeless because of any saddle problems, just really liked the concept.
I love it. I've been using it for nearly two years and never had any issues with it. It's never slipped either, even when she once leapt 6ft sideways (at speed) to avoid being mown down by an over excited companion  |
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Kharidian
Platinum Member
England
4297 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2010 : 7:02:37 PM
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I've tried three on Roger.........he hates all of them with a passion! I can't figure out what he dislikes so intensely - but he is 100% honest so when he said he didn't like them I said OK!
Caryn |
Kharidian (Prince Sadik x Khiri)........ Alkara Cassino (H Tobago x Rose Aboud)
aka "Roger".................................... aka "Chips"
     
The first image is from an original painting by Pat Shorto.
South-East Essex |
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Kelly
Platinum Member
England
1571 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2010 : 7:59:48 PM
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Having tried the Freemax, Sensation bareback pad, Barefoot Cheyenne and Heather Moffat Fhoenix, I'd go for the latter two everytime.
We've owned both and Jack went fine in both, only sold the first, the Cheyenne, to get a Fhoenix with knee rolls and more conventional looking in case I want to do local shows.
Loved them both - Fhoenix currently retailing about £850 new, and Cheyenne around £400 I think?
Advantage of the Cheyenne over other treelesses of a similar price is the stirrup arrangment - spread over a good area as opposed to single strap over the back - check on whichever you choose!
Where in the country are you? Someone locally may have one you could try, or some companies let you trial for a reasonable price.
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Kelly
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loosefur
Gold Member
584 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2010 : 9:35:32 PM
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| I think I've tried most of them, including the Ghost, which was just horrible to sit on and I later found out it doesn't fair well when put on top of a Port Lewis Impression pad. I had a Fhoenix which was lovely but you really have to make sure the girth is very tight. My horse did a massive spook and spin and me and the Fhoenix ended up under his belly. I also know someone whose horse grew grey hairs under the stirrup bars. The Barefoots are lovely but if your mare is very wide you might find them quite uncomfortable as there is no twist as such. The Freemax is a cheapo version of the Freeform - the Freeform is apparently far superior but I've not tried one yet. There is also the Torsion and the Dream Team Saddle - the DT saddle has been getting some great feedback and is on offer at the moment... £100 off the RRP. But as the OP says some horses love treeless and some hate them so trialling as many different sorts before you buy is a good idea. |
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jaybird
Gold Member
France
1192 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2010 : 07:52:08 AM
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Hi
I have a Torsion which I have on a large 16.2 Shire x TB with wide shoulders, I have hacked for miles in it and it's lovely & comfy...the treeless are not for every horse so if you do some research you wll find that alot of companies offer a trial service for about £40.00 which would be money well spent...either that or go for a second hand one and if it does not suit you can always re-sell without losing too much cash, for those that love them they would never go back to tree's but of course one must also consider the horses point of view
With the Torsion I also had the really expensive numnah and girth because there is no point in skimping on the stuff that makes the saddle more comfortbale for the horse, I also swapped to caged stirrups as they have no safety bars on the saddle the company recommend Barnes buckles but I used my old leathers with new stirrups.They were very helpful and considering I'm in France and it's not easy to change stuff they listened and I got a perfect fit first time.
Beryl |
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Kelly
Platinum Member
England
1571 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2010 : 10:29:39 AM
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Oops - Thanks to Loosefur, I've realised that it wasn't the FreeMAX I tried, it was the FreeFORM (I thought I'd got it wrong when I posted, but couldn't remember the other make!)
It was hard on my bottom and Jack could only take a 17", which was too small for my bottom (and I'm not large). We now happily have a 17" Fhoenix.
I second the comment about lack of twist in the Cheyenne. And agree about proper pads where necessary.
My Fhoenix has never slipped, in spite of steep hills and good spooks. I use the recommended Professional Choice girth with it, supposed to be the bees knees |
Kelly
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Sam Hunt
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
112 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2010 : 1:31:50 PM
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One of my boys is also flat backed, with no withers and extra wide. I too had lots of problems getting him fitted. It took over a year to find something suitable.
I only ever tried the one treeless on him though and that was the Torsion, which didn't work at all for his shape. With no spine and withers to stabilise the saddle, it rolled from side to side, but also, even just at walk, the saddle moved forward, over the flat withers and right onto the horse's neck.
This is not a condemnation of Torsion saddles at all, but going from your description of your horse, I think a Torsion probably wouldn't do the job unless the girth was so tight that the horse couldn't breathe and that you also had a crupper and breastplate as well.
In the end, I opted for a Reactorpanel (not treeless, I know) which I adore, although even with that, I do need to use a breastplate. (But then again he's that shape of horse that I don't think will ever escape the breastplate, whatever the saddle). |
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Clutha
Bronze Member
155 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2010 : 1:43:08 PM
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| I have a Podium. Fits lovely & never caused a problem, horse has a beautifully muscled back as can move really well in it. Downside is it would never be acceptable for showing, & I wouldn't recommend jumping in it (trust me, have tried it) as there are no knee rolls! |
Pip |
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2010 : 2:02:32 PM
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Hi Jo,
I would suggest you try as many as possible altho thats not always easy and each trial usually costs. I had terrible problems finding a treed saddle that fitted Freddie properly and ended up down the treeless route with much more successs altho it wasnt straight forward. Everything seemed to fly up his neck, even the HM's. I did my research and bought a very flat saddle in the hope of solving it but that didnt work either. My friend bought a 2nd hand Requisite saddle and nagged me to try it. Convinced it would fly up his neck because it was the shape as all the rest that did, I gave it a go and was gobsmacked. It stayed put and he was a v happy bunny. I ordered one from Robinsons and never looked back. I would say tho that the pad you use underneath is a crucial factor. I had a few and can vouch for the suber pad - brilliant and takes up any little gaps to say you having to shim if you arent quite sure how to and the Haf pads are sooo comfy and have brilliant reviews. The requisite pad that comes with their saddle is quite hard but Freddie preferred this to my others and I found it kept the saddle more stable.
Good luck with your search but I would definately say it's worth ordering from Robinsons and giving it a good try. You have 14days and as long as you put a piece of material under the pad to keep it clean it shouldnt be a problem. They are v well made and brilliant value for money. Most importantly for me, Freddie was happy with it.
Also found humane girths the best for stablilty.
Good luck
Sandie |
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jo H
Bronze Member
England
91 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2010 : 9:11:58 PM
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Thanks everybody.
I currently have an Ideal Ramsey, and if on the two point straps and remains in place if the girth is cranked fully up, but my mare can hardly move and it has now afected her shoulder movement. I really need to try something else but the idea of treeless really frightens me; if everything goes up her neck, whats to say the treeless wont. After purchasing seven saddles now, another failed attempt will be a financial burden I can live without. My mare also has a very forward girth groove, so the line from the girth leathers should place the girth five inches behind where it normally ends up. The girth sits in her arm pits by the time I get off and restricts her movement. Has anybody had this problem and has a treeless solved it? |
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Mrs DJ
Gold Member
632 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2010 : 9:30:54 PM
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| Mine has a forward girth groove, too. Probably due to the size of her belly LOL. Never had a problem with the saddle slipping forward though, but I did have job finding a girth that didn't rub! |
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2010 : 9:36:52 PM
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Hi Jo,
That was exactly my problem and I have to say that the Requisite with their pad did the trick. I used a humane girth and bought a Lemieux girth sleeve (a full size one with velcro down the length of it)just to be on the safe side and never looked back. Uncanny but their saddle is very similar to a Torsion and the pad like a Grandeur pad which Torsion recommends. I think it would be well worth a try.
I tried various girths, the torsion curved, atherston and various others but the humane with the sleeve was the best. |
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Clutha
Bronze Member
155 Posts |
Posted - 16 Feb 2010 : 12:16:27 PM
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| I've always used a neoprene girth from podium with the podium saddle, being converted from being a firm believer in natural materials in contact with the skin! Never slips, never rubs (been very well tested over several endurance seasons) & still using original one I bought so very hardwaring. Not cheap (£90), but excellent value for money. Also washes clean in an instant under a tap then drip dries in minutes so very easy to keep squeaky clean. If your not in the show ring why not use a crupper with your saddle to stop it shooting up the neck? |
Pip |
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Topic |
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Which treeless saddle???
