Freeform Liberty

[QHLUV]

Hi,

Has anyone been able to sit in the Liberty? I have just ordered one, and was wondering if anyone has been able to actually see one. I am looking for comfort, for both horse and rider, and lateral stability.

I have tried several treeless saddles some worked well for him, and not for me, and vice versa. Mainly I am looking for wither clearance. I have an appendix QH who is built slightly downhill, huge shoulders, and a long A framed back. His spine is slightly above the muscle. He is a treed saddle nightmare. Which is why I am searching for the "right treeless"

I have the new BF Cheyenne, and love it, but more for a trail saddle, I am looking for a show saddle. I am hoping that the Liberty will be the one for us..


Also I will be using this saddle for dressage workand showing, and am wanting a more "normal" looking treeless pad to go with it. Anyone have any suggestions to a white square pad that is sensitive horse friendly?

Thanks,
Megan

[Showjumper]

I've not sat on it on a horse but have done on a saddle horse and it's fabulous!! Really comfortable and the extra padding around the knee roll is lovely. It's a very smart, beautiful, well made saddle and I'm sure you'll love it! :)

[QHLUV]

Oh thanks,
What about the Pad? They recommended the HAF, in the Areogel. What kind of material is on the horse side?;)

I can't wait to get it..

Oh and I hear that there is a soft base option, what is that?

Sorry for so many ?? but I am just trying to do right by me horsey!!:p

Megan

[Showjumper]

The Haf aerogel pad is made out of microfibre lined with aerogel. Very nice pad but I'm totally sold on my Haf Airnet :)

The soft base option is literally that - a softer, more flexible base.

[lor]

I think the liberty looks absolutly yummy, I ordered a freeform SB about two weeks ago (not that i'm anxiously waiting:rolleyes:) I was V tempted by the liberty. I think it looks nicer than the SB as shows off the shoulder more, so if you are using it for showing its a brill choice :D however, because i'm long in the leg and po is 13.1 i thought i'd be better off with the SB being slightly more forward cut to take my leg.

I would really have loved to have tried the liberty tho, as i am buying the SB without trying the other option.:(

[Jaimee]

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[QHLUV]

Showjumper:
Ok so what material is the underside of the airnet? My horse is a chestnut, part TB and he rubs really easy.. One of those sensitive sorts!! Can you put a regular cotton pad under the treeless pad? Or do you have to use the treeless pad for the base?

Lor:
I have the BF CHeyenne(with the new molded panels), which is why I wanted something with a straighter more classical leg. Bob( my horse ) is 16.1 and HUGE!! He is like a tank.. I have tried the Fhoenix, Sensation, London, and now I am PRAYING that the Liberty works. Because I think I am at my end of treeless/treed saddles. HEHE:p

He is a "Prince in the Pea" Type horse. So far I have 3 saddles that work for him. But am looking for a dressage saddle. I may have a tack addiction problem, but at least I have kept the same horsey!!:D Some people have changed horses yearly, or even bi yearly that I know... ME I JUST CHANGE SADDLES!! hehe:eek:

But on a positive note, His back is looking AWESOME.. so I must be doing something right. We went from a hard as a board back muscle to nice and pretty muscles.. So So the search continues.. If this one doesn't work I GIVE UP!!:o

Megan

[Showjumper]

The airnet pad has wool underside. Nice and cushy and absorbant :) You need to use the correct padding as this works with the saddle to provide spine and wither clearance.

[lor]

Megan:, well i hope it works for you, no reason why not. Will look forward to hearing and seeing photo of it on your boy!, prob same wait as any other freeform i suppose. :D

Showjumper, do you have a photo of the newer style SB, i think Helen said its slightly modified, dont think she has a photo, so poss you wont, but thought i'd ask.

Also, do you know if its poss to get a cream/white coloured airnet HAF pad?, i'm getting a black one from goldfinch, but cream really brings out Honeys mealy markings:D

[Dales_Lover]

Cooo it does look lovely - how comfy are they???

[Showjumper]

Sorry no new pics :( I think the Haf Airnet only comes in black - I certainly haven't spotted it in any other colours...plus black hides the dirt ;)

Very comfy ;)

[martini55]

Just out of curiosity what's the difference in the new SB?

[Showjumper]

I don't think there is a difference in the actual base (except for the introduction of the soft base option which I think is just in the USA at the moment) but there are new seats and knee roll options :)

[QHLUV]

Here is a pic that Chris sent me of the saddle with the HAF pad. Looks really nice!!

Do you think there is too much material at the back of the saddle base? Or can you move the seat back to take some of that space up?

Thanks,
Megan

[Showjumper]

The seat can be moved further back on the base :) It does look really nice! :D

[sammyantha]

Gutted! Every other treeless out there is price around £300 but this one is £800+:eek::mad::rolleyes: No fair, I want a treeless that's pretty!

[Showjumper]

Actually the Freeform is mid-range...you get Barefoots and Trekkers and cheap copies at about £300 plus pad, then Sensations and Freeforms from £600-£900, then you're into the realms of the Solution, Fhoenix, Kay Humphries etc which can run into £2000.

[QHLUV]

I have the newest BF Cheyenne, love it, and it was pretty moderate in price. But it doesn't look as conventional as I would like. Great for trails, especially with the Lady Godiva sheepskin cover for it.. Makes it extra cushy!!

I tried the Sensation, but my horses withers were to pronounced for it, He is a little more A framed, with a long, low wither, but it created too much pressure on and beside his withers. Too bad because that thing was so comfy even with out sheepskin. But posting was an issue for me, the insides of my thighs rubbed on either side of the pommel. If that didn't happen I probably would have done the creative padding that was suggested to me, and stuck with it.

I tried the Fhoenix, and actually ended up ordering one. I loved the demo, it was supper squish, and very comfy. But after getting the new one it didn't ride like the demo. It chaffed the insides of my thigh on the down post. Go figure.. I must be as sensitive as my horsy.. :p Plus it made his back wrinkly very odd, I have never seen that in my life. It looked like your hands when you get out of a long hot tub. :confused: I figured it must be building up a lot of heat to do that to his back, so I passed on that one.

I haven't tried any of the others that you mentioned, I am hoping and praying that the Liberty will be the end of my treeless saddle search. :D If not, I will have to look into the others.

I have also been thru about 20 different treed saddles, which is why I am on the search for a treeless dressage.
The treeless has made such a difference in my horses back and topline. He has muscles now.. Maybe I can drag out some pics, not sure if I have any real old one.

I have been rehabbing his back for the last 2 and a half years, and we still have a lot to go. But we are slowly but surely getting there..

Here is from last summer, hard to see, but boy he has some major wastagle behind, and on the sides of his wither. He also had NO muscle on the top if his back at all, it was like knocking on wood! Boy do I feel Horrible!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/atstable52/i000_0379.jpg

and from 3 years ago, Don't mind the hurricane damage, that was from Wilma! Took out all our trees.:mad:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/atstable52/100b1380.jpg

And from April:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/atstable52/Bob%20Back%20April/100_3346.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/atstable52/Bob%20Back%20April/100_3345.jpg

I am slowly but surely seeing changes in him. I am hoping that with consistant riding, and the use of the treeless he will develop even more..

Megan

[QHLUV]

Here is a better one..

From December to April:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/atstable52/Bobs%20Back/Fhoenixtrial007.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/atstable52/Bob%20Back%20April/100_3339.jpg

Since it is the same picture you can see more of a change in his back. That goes from a well fitted treed saddle to 4 months of bareback riding and the beginning of the treeless saddle.

[Santi]

Those photos are great. My horse also has about the same amount of improvement after being treeless for a year.

I'm on the search for a replacement for my old style Cheyenne which is great but has always gone round him a bit. I'll have a look at the ones you are talking about.

I'm looking for a treeless that is very close to the horse like the barefoot but has a bit more padding for the horse - but not as much as the Fhoenix which the only other treeless i have used which i loved for hacking but not schooling (too squishy).

[QHLUV]

I love my Cheyenne, I have the newer model, it is very comfy, but feels more like a western saddle than an English.

My horse is definitly making vast improvements in his muscling. I have been thru a lot of treed saddles, and quite a few treeless.

I want something that has a bit more of an English feel to it. I did like the Fhoenix, but I found that the Memory foam heated my horses back, and made him wrinkly. He liked it though, I found that the saddle had a bit too wide of a twist, and the new one, well it rubbed my inner thigh. So I didn't keep it.

I can't wait to get it, comes on Thursday, so I will be sure to get pics of it..

Megan:D

[JanC]

In process of making final decisions re freeform style, colour and pad before I order mine on Monday (Helen is being sooo patient with me!). Anyway, thought I should let you know that the soft base option is available in UK. That's another decision I need to make this weekend...:confused:

[QHLUV]

I was told that unless I have a sway backed horse, that I would not need the Soft base otion. The regular base gives more support, and distributes the weight better. As I was told!!:)

Let me know how it goes!!

Megan

[lor]

My Pone hase a sway back, have just emailed Helen to see if i should go for one!