Saddle, all opinions needed!!

[Sexy Sietske]

Right, I am coming into some spare dollar so naturally, being a horse owner, I am going to buy a saddle :D

Said horse is 3 and half and short backed cob x tb type, although he appears to be stretching out some now :p also this wither has magically appeared over night and he is quite wide but not a barrel.

Ideally I would like a traditional saddle so I can show, ect but a treeless would be better for a changing shape.

Recommendations on saddles... treesless, or treed synthetic/leather, Im at my wits end debating with myself between a thorowgood or libra trec so would like to see it in black and white from someone elses point of view, of course other saddles are welcome to join the debate :D

Oh... and this spare dollar isn't growing on a tree, so realistic prices please!!

[Rarah]

I would have suggested treeless for a youngster, but if you want something more traditional how about a saddle co saddle? They are adjustable so should be able accommodate a changing shape.

You can buy them brand new for about £570 but if you want to hang onto some of your spare cash for a rainy day you could always have a look on ebay for a smart second hand one.

[No_Angel]

how about a traditional treeless?

there are a few barefoot londons on ebay and some cheap fhoenix/sbs saddles.

[Sexy Sietske]

I would have suggested treeless for a youngster, but if you want something more traditional how about a saddle co saddle? They are adjustable so should be able accommodate a changing shape.

You can buy them brand new for about £570 but if you want to hang onto some of your spare cash for a rainy day you could always have a look on ebay for a smart second hand one.

Alot of people seem to be selling their SCS for one reason or another so that has but me off slightly as I was looking at these at first.

Traditional treeless scares me, dont know why I just feel as though a treed looking saddle should have a tree and that they would be quite slippery and not so keen on the thick pads that go underneath some treeless to make them 'fit'

I want to feel like im sat on the horse, not the saddle, if that makes sense?

[Clava]

I love my Thorowgood even though I was prepared to hate it (always had leather before), but they are supposed to have excellent pressure test results (better than Wintec) and with the changeable gullet it can adapt as a youngster grows. Mine cost £370 including new girth and the saddle fitter to fit it. Belle seems very happy too.

[mikh]

Alot of people seem to be selling their SCS for one reason or another so that has but me off slightly as I was looking at these at first.

Traditional treeless scares me, dont know why I just feel as though a treed looking saddle should have a tree and that they would be quite slippery and not so keen on the thick pads that go underneath some treeless to make them 'fit'

I want to feel like im sat on the horse, not the saddle, if that makes sense?

Don't be put off SCS cause of people selling most of those are because of poor fittings, I had one which I loved and am hoping to get again for my new boy. What about bates? better shape than wintec and have changable gullet?

[No_Angel]

I don't quite get what you mean?:o

The thick pads to make them 'fit' are usually for filling in any wastage on the horses back caused by other saddles.

[Sexy Sietske]

The treeless companies say you must use such and such pad with this saddle, there just seems to be alot of layers, especially if I had one because I would have a gp saddlecloth underneath so expensive pad doesnt have to go in the wash as often (our washer and my lack of washing skill has destroyed many items :rolleyes:), and they always seem to slip, every treeless I have tried has slipped and with him being a clumsy youngster (can often be seen strutting his stuff across the field looking cool and showing off until he trips and falls :p) I dont want to be going out the slide door when he forgets to pick his feet up!

I duno... maybe im looking for an excuse not to have a treeless, I do prefere riding in a treed but I have to put my horse first. I have got a libra trec for my welsh but have only walked in it a handful of times and dont really get on with it and if I ever need to get off I need a leg up to egt back on, which isnt going to happen when im hacking solo :p

[Big Ears]

traditional VSD cut saddles tend to fit chunky cobs as they leave their shoulder nice and free - Ideal, Black Country all make this type - i have my cob in one of these. the synthetic cob types didn't fit her at all.

[Sexy Sietske]

traditional VSD cut saddles tend to fit chunky cobs as they leave their shoulder nice and free - Ideal, Black Country all make this type - i have my cob in one of these. the synthetic cob types didn't fit her at all.

He isnt a proper chunky cob really, he is wide but has wither too, I see if i can find a pic ;) obviously this will all change when he is 'a real horse' :p

[montys helper]

Right, I am coming into some spare dollar so naturally, being a horse owner, I am going to buy a saddle :D

Said horse is 3 and half and short backed cob x tb type, although he appears to be stretching out some now :p also this wither has magically appeared over night and he is quite wide but not a barrel.

Ideally I would like a traditional saddle so I can show, ect but a treeless would be better for a changing shape.

Recommendations on saddles... treesless, or treed synthetic/leather, Im at my wits end debating with myself between a thorowgood or libra trec so would like to see it in black and white from someone elses point of view, of course other saddles are welcome to join the debate :D

Oh... and this spare dollar isn't growing on a tree, so realistic prices please!!



hi i have a treeless but i got to say treeless arent for every horse, infact sometimes they can corse more harm than good. personaly i would seek advise from a saddle fitter or from soem one who has lots of saddle no how.

[Sexy Sietske]

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i305/34lanny34/HPIM1463.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i305/34lanny34/Photo-0080.jpg

He isnt really a cob shape, nor a lean TB shape, he is an inbetweeny :p
I do keep my horses quite trim though, so he isn't carrying alot of excess weight like most out of work cob type do and obviously he doesn't have much muscle either.

[No_Angel]

hmm, well after having 14 types of treeless saddle and only having about 2 or 3 that slip, and backing a horse in one, I can say that I haven't fallen off many times.

I still don't know what you mean by having lots of pads, padding depends on the horse,treeless companies like to use certain pads so they can be sure the customer buys the correct pad, because some don't realize that you can't just fling it on and ride away.
The seams on cotton saddle pads usually are not a good match with treeless saddles without gullets, as they create a pressure point.
I haven't washed any saddle pads in about 2 years, I either buy wipe clean ones or wool that I can brush clean.

[Sexy Sietske]

Thats the other thing with treeless, there is always if, buts and maybes :confused:

Why do you HAVE to use a specialised pad, or one at all :confused: A treed saddle is fitted to be used without but treeless...

Garrr!!! I dont know im so confused :o

[montys helper]

[QUOTE=Sexy Sietske;1789720]Thats the other thing with treeless, there is always if, buts and maybes :confused:

Why do you HAVE to use a specialised pad, or one at all :confused: A treed saddle is fitted to be used without but treeless...

Garrr!!! I dont know im so confused :o[/QUOTE




this is y i say u need to speak to some one who really knows what they are talkin about. i cant see how some of these treeless work as some have way to much padding and pads.

[Sexy Sietske]

this is y i say u need to speak to some one who really knows what they are talkin about. i cant see how some of these treeless work as some have way to much padding and pads.

But Im not going to find someone with an unbiased opinion on everything, where as people on here can speak from experience.

A saddler will say no treeless, because it puts them out of pocket, a treeless company will make a treed saddle sound like the work of the devil

[No_Angel]

ok, a treed saddle has panels on the bottom, which create clearance for the spine and adds padding to the saddle.

A treeless saddle that has panels (well most of them) do not need a special pad, as they already have their own built in spine clearance and padding, a thin numnah, with a flat seam is better, can be used, unless the horse has muscle wastage or conformation problems where extra padding is needed, same as a treed saddle. Other pads can be used with these saddles if the owner wishes.

A treeless saddle without panels, needs a treeless saddle pad as it makes gullet clearance for the saddle, because it doesn't have one, and gives extra padding either side of the spine, which the panels in a treed saddle do.
Most of these pads allow extra shims (padding) into the saddle to adjust the fit for higher withered horses or horses with muscle wastage or conformational problems.

[montys helper]

ok well i only use treeless on one of my horses but if i ride my highland i will use the treeles on him but he do have a normal saddle. i bought my saddle from a guy name tom widdicombe this is his site, u can even contact him and chat to him personaly.i do hope u do find the right saddle. good luck
http://www.bettersaddles.co.uk/acatalog/TreeFree_Saddles.html

[Sexy Sietske]

Ahh that makes much more sense now :p

So, (:p) what about the pommel as that is firm? In my treeless anyway, is there anyway that should/shouldn't fit and how do you go about preventing slipping.

My libra trec, will that need padding? My mum brought the pad that came with it but it is HUUUUGE!! I have had a couple of 5 minute walks in on my mare (no pads) and she seemed fine.

[No_Angel]

I have 2 of those saddles, a dartmoor and an exmoor.
They are very nice saddles, they do not slip or move.

They have a gullet, but it is still recommended they are used with a treeless pad, because they have less structure.
saddle with more structure are startrekk, fhoenix ect.

[montys helper]

I have 2 of those saddles, a dartmoor and an exmoor.
They are very nice saddles, they do not slip or move.

They have a gullet, but it is still recommended they are used with a treeless pad, because they have less structure.
saddle with more structure are startrekk, fhoenix ect.

ha i think mine is the exmore, its the best thing i bought, well besides the horse that is. i have become more confident since i bought it and would recomend it to anyone but like i said they are not for all horses

[No_Angel]

Ahh that makes much more sense now :p

So, (:p) what about the pommel as that is firm? In my treeless anyway, is there anyway that should/shouldn't fit and how do you go about preventing slipping.

My libra trec, will that need padding? My mum brought the pad that came with it but it is HUUUUGE!! I have had a couple of 5 minute walks in on my mare (no pads) and she seemed fine.


This website gives some insight into the pommel fitting, its based on dartmoor treefrees but works for barefoot and torsions and the like with solid pommels.
http://www.saddlingsolutions.com/Fitting.html

The libra trec will need a treeless saddle pad so give spine clearance, it will depend on the horse which pad will suit better and if you need extra shims ect.

I am not a fan of the libra trec pads, they look like they could cause some serious pressure problems. (haven't tried one so I could be convinced yet)

[birat]

I quite understand where you are coming from. I have just bought my first treeless and took months of looking and picking brains. I was also hampered by limited funds. If I found something I liked, I emailed the company/person and asked questions. Some are very helpful to begin with, and then give up when you persist with questions. Others are more than helpful but for some reason, something holds you back but you are learning more about the different saddles, your preferences and what would and wouldnt suit your horse. I had problems with horse being bum high, muscle wastage and forward girth. Had the advantage of trying a few HM's which I could never afford but didnt seem right and my horse wasnt happy. I learned that what you spend wasnt relevant. I joined here about a week ago, made some wonderful friends immediately and got some very good advice which I followed through. At some point you have to either take the plunge, or stick with treed. I dont think anyone could have given me more advice that made so much sense and so I went for it.

good luck

[freeformuk]

As a treeless saddle distributor, I may be pro-treeless but that does not make me anti-treed. The reason why so many people change to treeless is because they have trouble getting a good saddle fitter who understand the horse's physiology and they way he/she moves. Treed saddles are often fitted to the shape of the horse as it is standing without allowance for movement and/or regeneration of muscle wastage which is a common problem. Unfortunately, there are not many traditional saddlers and saddles that are made and fitted with a "wholistic" approach.

As for specialist treeless pads/numnahs; they do the same job as the flocked panels of treed saddles that would normally be adjusted by a saddler. Shimming is just an alternative way of make those necessary adjustments to saddle fit but they are made by the owner and can therefore be done as and when needed. Conventional numnahs are not suitable. They are not normally the right size and shape but more importantly, they have a conventionally sewn seam which causes bulk along the spine and even with panelled treeless saddles, this could be a problem unless the horse is very flat backed with a recessed spine. We've been going this job for nine years and I've seen the damage that can be done by using the wrong padding/numnahs and as far as treeless saddles go, the numnah is considered as a working part of the saddle.

For info on various treeless saddles, visit www.freewebs.com/alternativehorse.

As far as conventional treed saddles go, the ony ones I know of that are fitted & sized realistically for horses are the Saddle Company & Balance International. Alternative treed saddles would be WOW, Free 'n' Easy & Reactorpanel but these last four are well over £1000.00.
HTH.

[Skippys Mum]

I've had my new Freeform just over a week now - AND LOVE IT. My boy is so much happier and I feel really secure. Every other saddle I have had on him has rolled and I have ended up having to put my weight in one stirrup every few strides. This saddle just does not move! Even when Arnie threw in the most massive spook, which would normally have ended up with me on the deck as the saddle would have rolled when all my weight ended up in one stirrup, we didnt move an inch.

My riding is coming on leaps and bounds as my confidence is coming back.

My only issue is that its very wide - but then, he's very wide:D.

Oh, and its not cheap but so far its worth every penny:) - and they do come up on ebay!

They also look fairly traditional (in fact, The Original Crazywoman from here is doing showjumping and dressage in hers) which was a big factor for me.

[No_Angel]

I think we need some piccies of your new freeform in action!:D

[Skippys Mum]

I think we need some piccies of your new freeform in action!:D

I promise to try and take some over the weekend:D. I havent even got a photo of it on its own and the one pic I have with me on it doesnt actually show it:o