Treeless saddles

[Kerpug]

I was looking to buy a SC saddle but might not be viable at moment so am looking at other options. Treeless being one of them. My lad has lost alot of weight but he does change alot through the seasons and with him being an Ardennais X is very chunky for his 15.1hh build!:eek: He currently measures at withers approx XXXWide.

So does anyone have experience of these 2 links.....
www.barefoot-treeless-saddles.co.uk/
www.equinewhispers.co.uk/

I've never sat on one so do they let you try before you buy? Do they fit any horse, shape or size?

Really interested in your views on this, thanks

[lexi]

I got an equinelibrium hack-about at the beginning of the week from equine whispers, and I'm really impressed with it, my pony is xx wide. We've had two really good rides in it so far, she goes beautifully in it, much better than her treed.

[Kerpug]

Did you get synthetic or leather one? Had you tried a treeless before and how did you go in it? :)

[lexi]

I got the synthetic suede, which is really nice and helps it stick. I have tried treeless before, but didn't like the solid blocks and lack of knee rolls on others I've tried. I've started a thread on it a few posts down!:)

[Kerpug]

Ok thanks, just had a look. Keep me posted on how it goes, i'm looking at leather one just worried as never sat on a treeless before

Anyone else??

[ami29]

Try a Solution treeless - looks like a conventional saddle, handmade in the UK from English and Italian leather and you can try one out at home.

[molly34]

Great minds ;) - I ended up choosing between these two as well!

I contacted both companies (Horse & Harmony for Barefoot) and liked both well enough. I decided on Barefoot as I thought the saddles were a bit better made, I preferred the look of their gullet/padding over the adjustable hackabout ones, and thought I might need to play with different sized pommels. I got the Cherokee because I wanted a slightly more solid feel, and knee rolls. Its a lovely quality saddle and really comfy (although I've added a hipsaver pad). The only possible issue is that it is a big, long saddle so not so suitable for horses with very short backs.

[Kerpug]

Thanks for everyones input, keep it coming. :)

I've decided i quite like this one more than the hack about. Rang up Equine Whispers and she said she uses this saddle on her draft horses. So what do we think of this one??

www.equinewhispers.co.uk/trekkerendurance.html

I can trial this one too. Has anyone had or tried this one? :)

[No_Angel]

ive tried quite a few treeless saddles.
Used to have a trekker endurance, the first one, which was ok, but very square in the seat. The one I had fit thinner built horses than wider ones.

[happyhacker101]

Hi - I have one of the barefoot western saddles and its very comfy for both horse and rider. We bought one of the cheaper makes of treeless and although it was ok - I'd rather go for a Barefoot any day - infact, saving up for another barefoot for the other ned!.

[Kerpug]

ive tried quite a few treeless saddles.
Used to have a trekker endurance, the first one, which was ok, but very square in the seat. The one I had fit thinner built horses than wider ones.

Cant see what this one is like. The woman at Equine Whispers advised either hack about or this one but she uses this one on her ardennais when i said i liked the look of this one.

What other treeless saddles have you used that are good and worth looking at?

Thanks :)

[horsesforever]

The Barefoot Cheyenne seemed to be the most widely used and reviewed when I did research on the internet.. (Have now gone for a well-fitting treed) I did also consider a Hackabout or Trekker too, but couldnt find as much info out about them in terms of people's personal experiences with them. Your boy sounds VERY wide so I imagine you'll have/had real trouble getting a normal saddle to fit!!

www.bettersaddles.co.uk do trials of treeless saddles. And I think if you order from HorseandHarmony you can return after 7 days if it's not suitable..

Although treeless saddles are often advertised as "one size fits all" you still need to consider your horses shape (and yours) when looking at saddles. The Cheyenne is good because they now do removable pommel inserts (eg - you could put a wider one in) And you still would need to check for pressure points etc. Why not try a couple on trial and see how your horse gets on? Some horses love them and others make it quite clear they dont!! :p

[lexi]

I like the look of the trekker too, and think the adjustable seat is a great idea, also they have the velcro off panels like the hackabout which makes it so much more versatile. If you've got the money I'd give one a try :D

[Skippys Mum]

Kerpug, I dont like the look of the big handle on the equine whispers one:(. Thats just me though. I am currently frantically saving for a Freeform (which I havent even seen in the flesh yet - oh, scared!!).

I do quite like the look of the hackabout though. Its a very tempting price:). Like you, I have never sat on a treeless:(

[Kerpug]

I'm going to look into the Barefoot and other companies in more detail. I loke to do research!:rolleyes::D

I want to narrow it down to what i think might be suitable then look to trial so heres hoping i find the right one. Its all very scary :eek:

Horseforever - He is wide only i don't think he's that bad but people always comment on his size. I suppose i'm used to it. He's 15.1 and takes 6'6 / 6'9 rugs and his bridle i had to get made to measure.

Lexi - yeah she did say it was adjustable to a very wide fitting (xxxxxw- i think thats what she said got abit lost after the 3rd X) also removeable panels too and gives a clearance of the spine. The hack about does aswell though doesn't it?

Skippy's mum - I wondered what the handle was for too!! Well my lad used to be a true bolter so if he evers wants to have a go again at least i can hold on to that!!:D I believe Freeform is well out of my league (£1000???), I 've borrowed an extra £200 off OH he only did it to shut me up so i was looking at about £685 max. I'm looking at cheaper too as i only hack so really the priorty is comfort for my boy and also peace of mind that when he changes shape i'm not restricted like with a treed.

[lexi]

I really like the detachable panel idea, you can have the gullet width etc just how you like, my treed saddles have always had really narrow gullets at the cantle. With the panels on it is the least slippy saddle I have ever had, the couple of fleece lined treeless that I've tried were very slippy. I've bought a couple of shaped meshy pads from ebay to go between saddles and numnahs, and they're really good, I'll find you a link if you're interested. They're only a fiver.

Also, with the memory foam pommel, you don't have to worry about getting the right size pommel block, or that it's going to feel uncomfortable if it moves forward.

The hackabout goes really wide, my mare is the middle gullet in a wintec wide, so very wide with flat withers.

I love the Ammara, it looks and feels so nice, I like it much better than leather, and I'm hoping it won't wear smooth like suede does. I do like the trekker, and also the look of the voyager, but I am sold on the fake suede, so I think I've bought the right saddle for us. :D


Good luck anyway, let me know what you end up getting, with full report!!!:D

[Kerpug]

Yeah if you could send me tht link please Lexi. If i get the trekker pro enduranse you don't need special pads i don't think?:confused:

Also i looked on the Trekker website and it said t went to Xwide but it was in dollars so could it be different sizing?? I'm going to write a list of questions and call them back so might be alittle longer on deciding!!:D

[lexi]

Here it is, I got a couple, they're really light

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SALE-75-OFF-MAGI-PAD-EXCLUSIVE-NON-SLIP-SADDLE-PAD_W0QQitemZ360015716822QQihZ023QQcategoryZ57269QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[lexi]

Meant to add, I don't think you need special pads, I know under the hackabout you don't need special pads, whereas some treeless insist on various special pads, so the manufacturers must be confident!! I put suber pads under everything though!!

[Shadowlark]

I would personnaly avoid the one with adjustable panels. The thing is that if you don't get them to be identical, your saddle will be out of symmytry which can cause some serious problems. On that note, I do have the Trekker Dressage master and Adore it (despite it now being for sale) so I would recommend looking into thier saddles as I found them to be good value for money and very well made.

[lexi]

Well, I put them on extremely carefully with the help of a tape measure, and I have huge doubts over the symmetry of many saddles, including treed. I think I'd rather do the panels myself than rely on the factory to get them right, I have also had a top-end very expensive treeless that left a little to be desired symmetry-wise!!:confused: The panels themselves are identical in shape and size.

Once you've got them spot-on, both on and off the horse, you'll not need to change them. :)

[Shadowlark]

I can appreciate that you have done due dilligence.

But as the OP is still in the research stage, I am sure they would rather know about the possible drawbacks of the saddle in question. Perhaps they don't feel as confident as you in placing the panels, or didn't realize how essential it is to get them symetrical, it isn't as simple as pulling and moving them as the web site would have you believe.