Treeless Saddles

[LynneAC]

Not for me unfortunately :( but my friend has a 15' 2 WIDE cob and is looking for a new saddle. She's interested in the advertising blurb for the treeless saddles but doesn't know an awful lot about them. She mainly does flatwork and lower level dressage tests. Can anyone shed on light on them? I know that Heather is bringing one out soon but am pretty clueless about them myself.

Thanks

[Showjumper]

I have a Fitform, which I adore. It's pretty similar to the Dartmoor Treefree and the Torsion. None of which are supposed to be used in competition because the seat is seperate to the rest of the saddle. However, I fully intend to show at local level in mine, and if anyone argues, I'll tell them that it complies with the rule that it has to be of British or European manufacturing (made in Italy)

If she wants to be on the safe side, I'd advise her to go for a Freeform (not out yet but will retail at about £795) or a Heather Moffett Treeless.

[Alibi]

I'm getting a Torsion soon, for my wide cobs. You can get further details at www.torsion-scotland.com, she doesn't just provide for Scotland either, but she's a friend of a friend and very helpful and you can ask her all the questions under the sun and she does a week try before you buy (no, i'm not on commission!)

The Torsion Dressage saddle is also approved by the Dressage Board.

I've pm'd you with some other details too.

[LynneAC]

Thank you, I'll check it out! All I need now is a horse of my own then I can buy one .....

[Bebe]

I have a Fitform too, have had it for 2 years and mostly hack but also do basic flatwork and pop over the odd log and ditch in it. My horse loves it and so do I.

I've got a Freeform on order from Goldfinch, should hopefully be here by the end of April. There should be pics at www.goldfinch-endurance.co.uk. The saddle alone retails at £695 but they sell them as a package with a numnah and you also have the option of dressage leathers (buckle at the bottom near the stirrup iron).

[Roseanne]

For information on Torsion Treeless Saddles I've just visited http://gotreeless.com/info.htm.

Roseanne

[fluffy]

I have a Flexion SBS and a Stephens Lambwool numnah with great effect.

[notpoodle]

or barefoot saddles

www.barefoot-saddle.de (dont worry they have it all in english as well!!)

julia
x

[White-Blazes]

Think I'm going to get a barefoot one from Horse and Harmony, seem good value at £300 ish :)

[notpoodle]

remember you need a saddlecloth/pad to go with it as well, which adds to your cost. i ordered my barefoot (which should turn up soon!!!) directly from germany. the saddle, the special pad and the postage to the uk came to £350.

julia
x

[Quarter Horse]

Wish I had that much to get one, they look Uber nice :rolleyes: :cool:

[temujin]

im going to get one too soon as i have a job!
i think treeless are so much nicer

(by the way hello everyone im a new person :) )

[jinglejoys]

Hello new person! :D

[Chip]

We have torsions and love them. I think they are allowed in most competitions????


Hello Missy *wave* :D (try initials RH, but sssh :cool: )

[Roseanne]

Hello Chip. I wondered if you had to send away for your Torsion saddle? The only suppliers I have been able to find are Robinsons, but I am not happy about having one delivered by post, in case it isn't suitable for my horse and will have the problem of sending it back, assuming they would take it back that is.

From the pictures I have seen, and information I've read, they seem to be a very comfortable option for a horse, and light to to carry.

Would appreciate any advice?

Thank you

Roseanne

[jinglejoys]

http://www.torsionsaddles.co.uk/ ---do a search

[Roseanne]

I was in touch with Torsion Saddlers today and I am told that they will send one out to me (I live in Epsom Downs area)to use over a long weekend, for £30.00 to cover courier, but that I must send a cheque for £400, which they will not cash until I confirm I want to keep the saddle. As there is a waiting list of approximately 4 weeks, I would be happier if they contacted me again to say when, the saddle is due to be delivered, and then wait until they receive my cheque for the £400.

Can those of you who have bought the Torsion tell me what procedures you had to go through (I would apparently fill in a form over the net, with details of address etc), how long you had to wait for the saddle to arrive, and if you had to send the cheque right away, regardless of the waiting list delay?

Would appreciate advice and comments.

Many thanks

Roseanne

[Megans mum]

Hi there is a german girl near Oxford who imports them I can get her phone number iff you like' she has icelandics so uses them all the time' I have a Torsion and love it to bits as do my horses'

[Bay Mare]

Thank you, I'll check it out! All I need now is a horse of my own then I can buy one .....

What a difference a year makes!

Different user name, have my own horse AND have an SBS ... and, of course, they're no longer available for sale :(

My friend never did get an SBS, she ended up getting a treed! Oh, and she's a 'happy hacker' now too :)

[dlace]

Take a trip to Barnstaple in North Devon, Barnstaple Horse & Pet Supplies keep several models in stock (I have a dressage and endurance).

Lacey

[cazrider]

On ebay at the moment there is a saddle that is not a Torsion, but the girl selling it is convinced it is one, but by another name. May be worth considering.

[jinglejoys]

Is that the one made under liscence in France?

[cazrider]

Haven't got a clue, sorry.. but it is sold now.

[donkeydressage]

i tried to ind an english saddle to fit my donkey.. and i ended up getting a witec all purpose with an extra wide tree but i just ended up taking the tree out entirely. lol i have to use a dressage girth on the all purpose saddle...lol

[BabaraTheMonkey]

and i ended up getting a witec all purpose with an extra wide tree but i just ended up taking the tree out entirely.

Just out of interest. Exactly how does one do this and wouldn't the saddle now collapse on itself and essentially be a big mutilated pony pad?

[Cloverwood1]

I'd say you'd end up more with a mutilated donkey myself..... can't be good for the withers or back. :eek:

[No_Angel]

I have actaully taken out the gullet plate in my wintecs to use on my very wide cob, well I did, I found it fit him alot better as it got wider, and could mould to his shape. The saddle still has a tree so it wouldnt fall in on itself, its just that the front of the tree can be widened with the wither plate, so if there is no wither plate the saddle just widens to the shape of the horse.

[BabaraTheMonkey]

But if you read the actual post they've said they've taken the tree out ENTIRELY.

[No_Angel]

I thik they meant the gullet plate, Im not sure you could take the tree out without killing the saddle

[jinglejoys]

Most Donkeys in this country (U.K.) are ridden in a Trooper saddle.

[BabaraTheMonkey]

Im not sure you could take the tree out without killing the saddle

Exactly my point, lol I need clarification.

[parsharainbow]

i tried to ind an english saddle to fit my donkey.. and i ended up getting a witec all purpose with an extra wide tree but i just ended up taking the tree out entirely. lol i have to use a dressage girth on the all purpose saddle...lol


Doesn't that make it a rather expensive numnah???

[No_Angel]

As I said before, I dont think she took the tree out of the saddle, I think she meant the gullet plate, as wintec saddles have a piece of metal at the front that determines the width of the saddle- the tree can NOT be taken out.

[BabaraTheMonkey]

I am assuming that if she says that she took the tree out, she took the tree out and I am genuinely interested in how she did so, what reason she did it for and how the saddle now functions.

"...as wintec saddles have a piece of metal at the front that determines the width of the saddle"

I'm quite aware that you can take the gullet out and that they are interchangeable (as much as I am against the idea) but I would prefer it that instead of answering for DonkeyDressage you let them answer the question themselves, seeing as it is directed at them, not you...

[No_Angel]

Im sorry if I answered a question that someone is not answering, but an answer from someone would be better than no answer at all.
Ill stay quiet now, but I think it highly unlikely that she took the tree out of a saddle, might as well buy a donkey pad or a treeless saddle.

[BabaraTheMonkey]

Hmmm, this will keep me thinking for a while.

[Roseanne]

Oh dear! Haven't been able to get on line much recently, but it seems there is still a bit of controversy about treeless saddles. I actually just wanted to know about any problems getting hold of a Torsion through the post (I was told by Torsion that waiting list was four weeks, and that I had to send a cheque in advance for £400, plus £30 for carriage, and that's what I wanted to check out) but didn't get any satisfactory replies from the board on that score, so think I will wait a while before considering buying one.

Incidentally, it isn't that I object to sending the £430 in advance, but more that I am wary of sending the money when there is a four weeks waiting list. I would be happier if Torsion contacted me a week before the saddle was ready to be forwarded, and then I would send the cheque.

I'm off to the Derby today folks, and really looking forward to all the excitement of the big race! I live close to Epsom Downs and parking, not to mention the congestion is a nightmare, but worth every frustrating minute to get there! Anyone else going?

Roseanne

[Drummers mum]

If you are worried about Torsion, don't be. They are very helpful and your money will be safe with them' I only ordered an equitex numnah not a saddle but they have a name to keep up! :D

I'm quite aware that you can take the gullet out and that they are interchangeable (as much as I am against the idea) but I would prefer it that instead of answering for DonkeyDressage you let them answer the question themselves, seeing as it is directed at them, not you...
No offense here but your reply was a little rude! No_Angel is entitled to post her opinion/reply for everyone to read, its usually very valid ;) so don't keep quiet :D

[ponylover88]

bit late into the thread :o but...just thought id add that i rode a cob in the lake district on a 2hr hack in a torsion saddle. my mum rode a cob roughly the same width height etc but in a normal tree'd saddle, she ended up with a 'numb bum' by the end of the ride and i was just sat there comfily!!!!