Your opinions please on this saddle

[india]

I don't know much about treeless saddles and would appreciate your views on this one listed on eBay. ;)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TREELESS-SADDLE-BROWN-BEAUTIFUL-QUALITY-BN-NR_W0QQitemZ110036439384QQihZ001QQcategoryZ72594QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[jenren!!]

Its a trekker talent saddle isnt it? I find them quite ugly to be honest, but a nice colour.

[No_Angel]

no, it isnt a trekker talent, its a copy that the owner of the shop makes, just because you think its ugly doesnt mean its not any good.
I have looked at these saddles a few times, some dont look symmetrical to me, but that actually looks nice a nice example. because she has a shop she may give refunds/swop if the saddle isnt right.

[jenren!!]

I never said it wasnt any good :rolleyes:.

[No_Angel]

you seem to reply to treeless threads saying they are ugly and not very good, as you dont have any experience with treeless saddles you cannot speak from experience.

[jenren!!]

I have never said they are no good, i wouldnt know would i! I dont like the look of them, but that is only my opinion, but i wouldnt use that as my only reason not to ever use one!

[india]

I've got a very high withered TB, how would I go about measuring a treeless to fit him - would it be the same way as measuring a normal saddle? :confused:

Told you I don't know much about them!!!:o

[Showjumper]

I'd be inclined to get a Barefoot Cheyenne or similar rather than buying one of these cheap copies. You will need plenty of correct padding though if your horse has a prominent spine and withers.

Click onto www.freewebs.com/alternativehorse for a list of treeless saddles, suitable pads, and peoples' experiences with them.

[Afellpony]

Forgive my ignorance about such matters but with a treeless saddle (no matter how well fitted it is) aren't you sitting directly onto the horse's spine? I would be interested to know.

[No_Angel]

with treeless saddles with no gullet, a special pad which has panels either side of the spine greates a gullet, but due to your bum cheeks you can create youe own gullet of sorts aswell:D

[Afellpony]

Thanx for that.

[carrieh]

The same ebay shop also does a saddle called the Liberty Classic which looks very much like the Heather Moffett Fhoenix. I think the pictures on their website of the Classic are of the pre-production models so the finish isn't very good on them. Not sure if it has a part-tree like the real Fhoenix though. I think she will be selling the proper production models for around £400. No idea what they are like, and doubtful they are anywhere near as good as the real Fhoenix.

[No_Angel]

carrie have you got a pic of the saddle, id be interested to have a look at it:)

[carrieh]

Hi Tasha

try:

http://www.anything-equestrian.com/libertyclassic.htm

I know she said the pictures on the website were of pre-production models and therefore not up to standard - check out the 'folds' in the panels on the brown one for example. She sold the pre-production models on eBay for around £200 I think. This Liberty Classic is due out on October/November time, from memory.

EDIT: Found her email now! Yes round about November time. They are still in the design and modification stage.

[No_Angel]

thanks carrie, looks awful, i once bought a cheap indian saddle off ebay to have a look at it and it looked very similar:eek:

[carrieh]

I would hazard a guess that this is made in India as well, for those prices.

[Crystal Fire]

Heather's Fhoenix saddle has "memory foam" in the seat, this helps to distribute the rider's weight, which is a really useful feature in a treeless saddle. I doubt these cheap copies can include that foam for the price.
The weight distribution is worth checking in all treeless saddles. Many still have a singe strip across the back to attach the stirrups - the better and more expensive have the webbing set up as a sort of net, to distribute the weight more evenly. Also, if buying a saddle with blocks front and back - make sure it fits your posterior. You shouldn't be sitting against the back block as you will bruise your horse's back. Oh, yes, and the pommel block still has to give good clearance for the shoulders, and not sit on the wither... sorry a pet topic of mine :)