Treeless Saddle fitters?

[*Sez*]

Does anyone know of a good treeless saddle fitter in the North or North east? The one who came out originally just said "try it and see" and now the horse in question is very sore along his back. :eek:
Thankees.

[Iron Maiden]

Have you approached whoever made the saddle & asked them for advice? The different manufacturers seem to have different approaches to padding & recommend different things, my old treeless saddle was an Ansur & if you look on their website they have a very detailed fitting guide specific to their products. You could also post on here or EE forum with specific details of the issues you're having & I'm sure people will be as helpful as they can be. I think the trouble with padding for treeless is that what works on one horse doesn't necessarily work for another, even when in theory it ought to. Hope you get it sorted anyway!

[Showjumper]

What saddle is it, what type of horse is it used on, with what padding and for what activities?

[*Sez*]

The saddle (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Brown-Cow-Hide-Leather-Treeless-Saddle-17-with-numnah_W0QQitemZ130084609408QQihZ003QQcategoryZ3170QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)was bought on eBay, so I'm not sure who the manufacturer is. A local saddle fitter came out when it arrived, had a look and basically said "see how you go". I actually asked this particular saddle fitter about treeless when Salsa's back was bad last year, and was told that he didn't normally deal with them, and didn't know anyone who did, although he has recently started getting them in. It's used with a thick, furry numnah and the horse is mostly used for hacking out.

I rode the horse in this saddle for the first time last night (heavy weight cob - very broad across his back) and while we were out, had a really good go at getting me out of the saddle - proper "get off!" bucks, rather than excited or playful bucks. I had a gentle feel along his back and his muscles are very tense and he pulled away from the touch and was very twitchy, which I have never known him to be normally. I was told when I phoned his owners to tell them how he'd been that he has been ridden bareback a lot recently and has been bucking. Given the issues I've had with Salsa, I can talk about saddles and pressure points until the cows come home, but I have had no real experience of treeless saddles and didn't know what to suggest beyond getting out someone who knows about treeless saddles to have a look.

Tasha - thanks for your PM. I've had a look at your site and the linked treefree website, and I think it is possible that the fit of the saddle across the front is maybe just not wide enough... possibly :confused: . Not sure where you are in the country, but if you are quite a distance from us, is there anyone you would recommend to come and have a poke?

[Giveitago]

Sez,

Sounds like a case of, one size does not fit all.

Have you had any luck in finding anyone local? Have you tried the HM/EE site, I think some of their fitters sometimes do other brands too.

[H & Bailey]

have you tried posting on the ee website, i know there are a few local( to you) riders with treeless saddles that post on there ,1 has a highland that is barrel shaped and she hasnt had any problems- they may have pointers and tips or know of fitters.mayb e the padding needs adjusting or it doesnt have the right numnah under it?

[Showjumper]

Hate to say it but the cheaper treeless saddles do tend to be substandard quality, with poor pressure dispersion. You would have been better off going for a Barefoot Cheyenne...

However you have the saddle now so the best thing you can do is get suitable padding and advice. A thick fleece pad is NOT suitable, especially if it has a raised centre seam (most non-treeless-specific pads do), and your horse has visible withers and spine.

This is the link (http://www.goldfinch-endurance.co.uk/distributors.html) for the Freeform saddle agents. I don't know if any of them are in your area but if they are, please contact them and get them out to have a look - if I was closer I'd be happy to come and advise in person but sadly I'm based in the South West.

You're almost certainly going to need a different pad and they'll be able to tell you that. They'll also be able to have a look at the saddle and see how it's rigged and set up.

Have a look at my website (link in my signature). I have a page on fitting treeless saddles.

Hope this helps!

[Shadowlark]

Ok hang on I am confused.. you rode the horse in it for the first time and he reacted this way.. and his back is already twitchy.. Or have they been ridding him in it for longer?

How long has this horse actually been having issues?

[*Sez*]

It's not my horse or my saddle, so I'm not really 100%. He has had this saddle for about a month now, and his owner hacks out in it at least twice weekly for a couple of hours and occasionally schools in it, but more often rides bareback around the school (nearly daily).

I haven't ridden this horse for a while, and this was the first time I have tried this saddle. The last time I looked after him, he wasn't twitchy in his back at all, and wasn't before I tacked up (otherwise I wouldn't have ridden had I thought he was sore), but afterwards was very twitchy and tense and pulled away from any pressure from my fingers. I only rode for about 25 minutes, mostly walking with a bit of uphill trotting and one short canter when my friend's horse trotted faster than us and he worried that we were being left behind!). His owners say that he has been a bit twitchy for a while, and has bucked quite a bit recently, but were under the impression that this saddle would fit "any horse perfectly" (that old chestnut :rolleyes: ). I have said that really they need a good treeless saddle fitter to come out, but they don't know the first place to look, hence why I am asking around. The bucking and twitching has probably been going on for a couple of weeks, although nothing was mentioned to me until after I told THEM about how he reacted during and after his ride.