First ride in my trekker treeless!

[Drummers mum]

Thought I'd keep this in adults and ponies as I think alot of people are probably fed up of hearing about it.lol!

But...........

,,,,,,,,,IT WAS GREAT!! My biggest problem was that a 16" girth still wasn't short enough, so I rode around with a loose girth! I walked, trotted and cantered though and it didn't slip! Just felt a bit wobbly! My OH has now sorted the problem by drilling me 6 new holes in the girth straps! See they are useful for some things. lol!

It was wierd to ride in. Really comfy but I couldn't find a comfy stirrup length and changed them at least 5 times! But I always have stirrup problems, my friends wouldn't be suprised!

The pommel didn't dig in but my hips ached a bit after as it is sooo different to a treed saddle.

My only worry was that once I was on, the saddle seemed to sit on Drummers withers a bit but I think a special pad would probably cure that.

Don't ask me how Drummer went, I haven't got a clue! I was being very dizzy and just charging around getting used to the feel of it!

I will get some pics and let you know how it goes the next couple of rides!

Just for the record though, I LOVE IT!

[Showjumper]

lol you will feel a bit stretched the first few times but you soon get used to it I'm glad you like it and that the OH has put more holes in Can't wait to see the photos

[Drummers mum]

Thanks Showjumper. It was a bit odd actually. My left leg did all it was supposed to but my right leg wouldn't stay still. I kept loosing my stirrup and my toe was pointing out! It must be showing any lopsidedness and stiffness I have! I might go no stirrups once I can trust my girth to hold me in place!

Edit: Look ate the numnah on this. It comes way down the sides of the horse and Drummers half that size.

http://search.ebay.co.uk/treeless_Eq...trypageZsearch

What do you think?

[No_Angel]

HI, glad you liked your saddle!
That numnah looks massive on that horse, I think it would look big on mine!
Ive just bought my mom some toe stoppers, they are very good. If you keep having the problem with your stirrups you might want to give them a go. i found my leg position alot more secure with them, and my legs are normally quite good!
Once again Im glad you enjoyed it. We can start our own trekker club!

[Showjumper]

The numnah does look a bit big, but it's nothing to worry about - it just means that he will have a larger sweat patch that he would with a smaller numnah...

[Yann]

It is strange at first - there's no lift from the saddle tree so you're forced to open wider at the hip joint. As we generally aren't that flexible there the effect will be to draw your knee upwards and forwards, hence the fiddling with the stirrup length and other problems. You do get used to it, and it does get better

I'm sure you'll notice a difference in Drummer, especially as you were having problems before. It might be worth taking it a bit steady with him for a little while though as you're asking him to carry you in a different way and his back muscles will need time to adjust.

Have fun

[Drummers mum]

Thanks everyone! I do love it already.

Showjumper: Its the padded bit I'm worried about as it comes down round his shoulders it will push the saddle out further and I will loose the closeness.

No_Angel: We need more members then we could be the Trekker Treeless Troop! lol!
Can you mount from the ground in yours? I tried today now that my girth fits and it felt like it was going to slip but my sister held the other stirrup just in case and she said she didn't have to hold on much at all! Will toe stoppers fit on my bent leg stirrup irons?

Yann: when i cantered I nearly fell off. I was trying to grip with my knee, it was quite a shock I kind of nearly popped off the top! It really made me think about my position and how I ride. I constantly have to think "keep leg long!"

[Yann]

Unless the saddle is literally hanging off the wither I wouldn't worry too much - Rio has never had any wither clearance to speak of in the Fitform and there have been no problems. It's not the same as having a rigid tree pressing there.

[Drummers mum]

That makes sense, thanks Yann. I really want to make sure I get this right. This is all new to me ao all advice is much appreciated.

[No_Angel]

HI, I haven't mounted from the ground yet with mine, I always have a leg up. My stirrups are prob too short go get my leg up that high anyway!
Toe stoppers should fit onto ** ben leg stirrups, they are on the new rider shop I think. Mine have a velcro bit that goes over the tread and two smaller bits that go either side of the leather.

[jinglejoys]

I tried a Torsion on Sarah-lee the other day and it felt weird compared to my trooper saddle.It was very comfortable,like sitting in an armchair but to ride it was like riding astride an armchair!
Now I know from Yanns comment why it felt this way.
My problem was that it seemed to cover her withers with the pad several inches up the neck.I would really like to have a longer try with one.
There were four at Henley sales today but too much money for something I'm not too sure about.

[Drummers mum]

Hi Jinglejoys, you are the first member I've met that lives anywhere near me!

What were they going for at Henley? Did they have the numnahs for sale too?

Rode properly yesterday and Drummer was ace! He was really relaxed and responsive, bending nicely in walk and trot. Its so nice to feel him underneath you. My mum and my sister both had a go too although he takes the mick and they have no control. lol, he cantered my sister back to the stable! Very funny!

We all agreed the saddle is sooo comfy and you feel really secure, I got canter on the first ask every time and we went for a gallop in the field and he really went for it, it was GREAT! I even popped over a small jump!

Have taken some pics and I will post them later.

Edit, No_Angel: I got on from the ground but only after I'd already ridden so my girth was tight! It was fine! No slippage!

[No_Angel]

Hi, im glad you like it.
the way you felt was exactly how i felt when I tried it on my cob. We got bend, we never bend! (apat from the other night when we had a lovely ride and were doing serpentines and 10 metre circles, and that was in his treed saddle)
Im going to really put mine to the test today, im going past the scary house (they have lots of dogs-it either a boarding kennels or they have greyhounds or something), but amber dives into the bushes and tries to gallop off, she either scared or thinks shes out hunting!
I will have to try mounting from the ground aswell, I think my saddle has moulded now.
Ill try and get some pictures for you with her hackamore and treeless.

[jinglejoys]

Hi Drummer
They all went up to £200 but I don't think they were selling.The woman who puts all the tack in "bought" them all.They were brown,three with fleece linning and the last with ridged linning.One was labeled 14"
There were three numners that looked as if they would fit but they would've been the last things to be sold.
Have you been on the Ragley Hall ride today.I was very tempted but not when I saw the price of entry £20 for twelve miles!Sarah-lee does just two miles less than that to work and back for nothing! :0)

[Drummers mum]

If they were Torsions that was a bargain,you could have sold them on for at least double that! Whens the next Henley sales, do you know? I might go have a look.

Didn't do the ride, haven't done a fun ride on Drummer yet, I wasn't the most confident of riders when I bought him (due to a bad fall and smashed elbow) but I'd love to have a go now but with someone who will go at my pace and not bomb off!

My dad rode Drummer today and he also loved the Trekker. I'm getting a good even saddle mark on the numnah and its even showing slight spine clearance so I'm really pleased!

[jinglejoys]

Henleys always the first Saturday in the month.They would've been cheap if they had stayed at that price but as I was sure the seller was running them up I wasn't going for that game especially as a) I wanted a black b) I wasn't sure they were the right size and c) I'd like to try one out for longer first--bit like buyung a pony isn't it?!
Shame its the wrong end of the season or I wouldn't mind doing a ride with someone.I don't like riding out in company normally because it usually means riing behind someone and shouting forewards in the wind to hear each other speak and most people only want to gallop everywhere whereas I go out to see the countryside and relax.That is why I like the fun rides,no darn cars.
Do you know who it is who rides an exmoor near Wilmcote? I've seen her twice cutting across from the Alcester rd to the Stratford rd when I'm going to Henley.She's quite tall slim and has plaits,its so nice to see an Exmoor ridden by an adult.

[Showjumper]

Yay! Sounds like you had a lovely ride today - I can't wait to see the photos

[Drummers mum]

Thanks Showjumper it was great! Photos are coming, but am having problems with my downloading!

jinglejoys: No don't know who that is! We go out to Wilmcote sometimes and my YO drives a pony and trap so look out for her!

[jinglejoys]

Ooh I saw a pony and trap trotting round sometime last year I think was that you?Nasty narrow road!

[notpoodle]

you got that for under £200??? *damn you* ive been on ebay for literally weeks trying to find a decent treeless that cheaply but never found one

julia

xx