Freeform Saddle Owners.

[Kadi]

Just had a trial of Freeform Classic SB.

Had it for the whole morning so I could give it a good try, had lesson (half of it was on the lunge) then went out for a hack for an hour.

Fitted DP well and was a lot free-er through his shoulders and really put me in a good place.

Before I commit myself to ordering is there anyone out there who has had any problems with them or is there a downside to them.

My one main concern was the girth straps, they are leather on the out side and some kind of plasatic on the back, and I was a little worried that the plastic might crack after wear.

Also what saddle lining to go for and which pad.

Any feed back good or bad would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks.

xxxx

[martini55]

Hiya, I have a Freeform and just love it :) I have had no problems with the girthing and infact the girthing system works very well for my horse who has a forward girth groove. I can sit the saddle where it wants to be and pull the straps forwards. I went for the sympanova lining simply because I wanted something easy to clean and well I don't think I would have liked the wool for that reason. I couldn't afford the extra for the leather lining :o I use mine with a suber pad and it works well for me because my mare has some muscle wastage. I bought one of the packages and so also have a haf pad, which I hope to be able to use with extra shims once she has built up muscle. They are really good pads as you can add extra shims when necessary. If you have any questions then Showjumper on this forum is an agent for the saddle and is the best person to ask :)

[No_Angel]

I have a freeform sb, no bad comments about it, always stays perfectly still when mounting or when horse rears/tanks off/spins/up and down steep hills,its comfy , ive done 13 miles in one go with it and no sore bum, horse has lovely muscled up back and is very happy to be tacked up.
I havent had any problems with the girth straps at all, only thing I would change is to make the kneerolls bigger and further down, but thats just me

[Bebe]

The Freeform was the most stable of all the treeless saddles I've had, I could even mount from the ground without it slipping in a pinch (I usually find something to stand on but can't always manage it).

I sold my Fitform after 2yrs hard use, which has the same style girth billets, and they were like new. I've now got another Fitform which is about 4yrs old and the billets again are like new. I wouldn't worry at all. (I have a Fitform as it suited my mares high withers better than the Freeform but I only use it as a back-up saddle now).

[Showjumper]

I adore my Freeform. It's super comfortable, fits Dolly really well and she goes superbly in it :) And good news No Angel, bigger knee rolls are one of the new options with the new models :D

[MelanieD]

My freeform is pretty old, has been used for endurance and had water thrown at it regularly and the girth straps are still in good condition with no cracking. The only problem I've had is fussy horse not liking the HAF pad, easily fixed with a suberpad and fluffy saddlecloth and will get the sheepskin pad that's meant to go with the saddle eventually. Its my favorite treeless saddle out of all the ones I've tried and even prefer it to my very nice treed saddle for long hacks. You 'need' one ;)

[lor]

Have any of you feeform owners had any problems with where and how the stirrup bar is,i.e. underneath this point. i suppose this would only come into play, if it was going to, after a long distance and lots of weight in stirrups, trotting cantering. i am still thinking of buying a freeform and do distance riding, this was a concern to me. i have tried one and thought it was ok, but my treed saddles very comfy so it was easy to just think i'll stick to that, but now it keeps going forward, down very steep hills and yesterday jumping, i have also started a new thread on cruppers. looked at the limpet pad website and am at my witts end:mad:

[Showjumper]

Not had any trouble and the Freeform is a very popular saddle amongst endurance riders - it certainly wouldn't be if it didn't perform well :)

[No_Angel]

The stirrup bar can be moved on the freeform. Ive done a fair few miles in mine, (walking/trotting/cantering, up and down hills) with no trouble at all:)

[jinglejoys]

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/treelesssaddles/messages
Have you asked here ?

[lor]

Thankyou :)

[cazrider]

I had one for Sennie for a while, and really liked it once I'd got used to the high pommel. The only issue I had with it was that I felt it was a little long for his, typically Section d, short back.