Some experience with Trekker Dressage?

[AnneS]

Hi,
I wasn’t here for a long time now. A girl is riding my pony now and I was looking for a saddle. Because treed saddles do not really fit I bought a treeless, a Trekker Dressage. I know that some of you ride treeless and hope there is sombody who has a Trekker Dressage.

There are some things that are bothering me.

When I first saw the saddle I realized that there were screws under the saddle that hold the cantle. :eek: I fear that the screws will loosen some day and stick in the horses back.
Those of you who have the same saddle: did you experienced that the screws loosen?

Yesterday we put the saddle on the horses back and a lightweight rider. The seller of the saddle promised that the saddle would not touch the horses spine. I put a hand under the saddle and felt that the saddle touched the horses spine where the rider sat anyway. :(
Do I have to move the panels? Will it be better if I use a special pad? Which pads do you use?

/Anne

[fitz]

Do a search or look in the natural horsemanship forum. lots about it there!:) I cant really help you.

[AnneS]

Sorry, I already did a search, but didnt find an answer to my particular questions.

/Anne

[No_Angel]

I had a trekker dressage, didnt have it long but had no problems with it:)
i didnt find the screws loosened at all and also didnt find teh saddle touched the spine, so i cant really help either:)

[B&R's Mum]

I have a trekker dressage, No Angel's old one! I haven't had it long but have not yet had any problems with the screws loosening. It doesn't touch her spine at all either and I use a polypad with it. If you are having problems with it resting on the spine maybe one of the special treeless pads might help. I used to have an ordinary trekker which did sit on Beryl's spine and withers so I used a pad with it (it was actually the one for the Barefoot saddle) and that sorted out the problem fine.

[ShariN]

I have a Star Trekk but the Trekker is designed the same. Having tried to move one of the screws, lets just say I have no worries about it going any where.
I wish the Star Trekk had knee rolls!

With the ST you can get different thickness of the panel underneth, do you have the same option with the Trekker?

With the panels I have, I can stick my whole arm under the ST when I am sitting on it and I have lots of clearance even with no pad.

They make special pads for the Treeless saddles. Skito is a good one, and here is a link to all kinds of Treeless sadle pads.
http://www.freewebs.com/alternativehorse/treelesssaddlepads.htm

[AnneS]

Thank you for your answers, now I feel a little bit more calm about the screws.

Thanks for the tips about the pads. I guess I can use which treeless saddle pad I want.

ShariN, I cannot get panels with a different thickness, but because they are removable, I maybe can use Star Trekks panels instead.
Thanks for the link with the saddle pads.

/Anne

[ShariN]

You are welcome. You know,, the ST panels might just work on the Trekker.;)

[redhorse]

I recently purchased a treeless saddle/bareback pad from a company in San Diego CA, the price was around $300, the style a copy of the Trekker. I really can't describe how poorly and cheaply the thing was made(I know, I should have known!), but worse than that, it was put together CROOKED. Lining up the panels along the spine resulted in the seat being canted off to one side. I was refunded the price of the DEFECTIVE saddle, but am out $60 in shipping costs. The seller(apparently a one man show from his garage) has been rude and personally insulting, claiming I was too ignorant to make it work. I have been riding for 25 years, I continue to train in classical dressage, enjoy trails and bareback riding. Believe me, this saddle was worse than worthless- it would hurt your horse! Sorry this is so long, I just want to warn others about this. The info above should suffice. Happy riding!

[ShariN]

Yes, those saddles flood Ebay.
Have heard from other people and they are saying the same thing.

[No_Angel]

red horse- is that the hilason?

[ShariN]

Those are the ones that are getting a lot of complaints.
Though not 100% sure if that is the one Redhorse got.

[ShariN]

I have a trekker dressage, No Angel's old one! I haven't had it long but have not yet had any problems with the screws loosening. It doesn't touch her spine at all either and I use a polypad with it. If you are having problems with it resting on the spine maybe one of the special treeless pads might help. I used to have an ordinary trekker which did sit on Beryl's spine and withers so I used a pad with it (it was actually the one for the Barefoot saddle) and that sorted out the problem fine.

Have you gotten to ride in it yet? How do you like that Treeless?

[CMR]

I experienced the same thing as redhorse(minus the insults/rude people), except mine was direct from Trekker! It is the Dressage Master though, I don't have any experience with the regular Dressage. I will certainly never buy another Trekker. :(

[ShariN]

Oh that is sad, the Trekker company was like that. Their prices are also going up a lot.

Have been dealing with my Star Trekk and Freeform dealer. She is wonderful to work with. Got really lucky.

[B&R's Mum]

I have now ridden in mine quite a bit as has my sharer, mainly hacking. We both love it, I find it really comfy to ride in and it gives a bit more support than the normal trekker does. Beryl is going really well in it she is a lot more foward in it compared to treed saddles and comes back from long rides with even sweat patches etc.

[ShariN]

That is great News! Is nice to hear when a saddle works out.:D

[Peace]

I experienced the same thing as redhorse(minus the insults/rude people), except mine was direct from Trekker! It is the Dressage Master though, I don't have any experience with the regular Dressage. I will certainly never buy another Trekker. :(

I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly my Trekker Talent got to me - and in what good condition, given the state of the box it was shipped in.:eek: :D I remember your warning me about the shipper - maybe they've changed U.S. shippers in the meantime.

I haven't actually ridden in mine, though.:o One thing and another with me, horses, and the unbearably hot weather. I hope to give it a try on my veteran tomorrow morning - but I bet I'll need to add extra padding for his very dipped back.