Has anybody tried the newer 2018/2019 Easytrek treeless saddles?

[Lou_n_Ronnie]

As above! Has anybody tried them and are they any good quality wise and in terms of comfort for the horse? I know reviews on the previous models weren't great and there were issues regarding pressure and the stirrup bars but have these been resolved?
Reason I'm interested is I'm currently riding Ronnie in a treeless Trekker true talent which has no saddle flaps/knee rolls and my lower legs have a tendency to flap about! I need some more support and the padded fenders you can get for this saddle are way too long for my little legs lol
It's like this but in black leather!

 

[Trewsers]

I think @newforest knows lots about treeless, hopefully she will see this.

 

[Kite_Rider]

Ive been waiting for @newforest to chime in too.
I know very little about treeless saddles apart from the one I ride in (sensation) and the old heather moffet phoenix.

 

[newforest]

Hi
I have no knowledge of the newer model.
It had panels underneath and my lass doesn't do panels like that.
We get on fine with the Freeform and the Sensation.

If I were thinking of playing around I would look into the Treefree as they come up secondhand, or the Barefoot but not the Cheyenne models.
If you are finding your legs move, can you adjust your knee roll. On the pad if not the saddle.
I went through this movement and it was simply a case of readjusting the stirrup plate and lifting the pad where necessary. Kept the saddle.

 

[Lou_n_Ronnie]

Hi
I have no knowledge of the newer model.
It had panels underneath and my lass doesn't do panels like that.
We get on fine with the Freeform and the Sensation.

If I were thinking of playing around I would look into the Treefree as they come up secondhand, or the Barefoot but not the Cheyenne models.
If you are finding your legs move, can you adjust your knee roll. On the pad if not the saddle.
I went through this movement and it was simply a case of readjusting the stirrup plate and lifting the pad where necessary. Kept the saddle.

Unfortunately there are no flaps on my current saddle so no knee rolls
Have tried Ghost which I didn't get on with, Freeform and Barefoot which had too big a footprint. Trekker pony Luxus which was fab but too small for my bum and now the Trekker True Talent which has a panel length of just under 17" but no skirts and no knee rolls for security when Ronnie's mucking around.
I wondered if the Easytrek had improved at all over previous models and whether it would be worth a try, my budget is limited and these aren't mega expensive. Alternatively a Thorn pad but Ronnie has some wither!

 

[newforest]

The Freeform I think does an x short base, but from memory that may have been 19"

Have a look on this site. Scroll down there is a bit on adults on small ponies. Thorn or their copies possibly could be the way to go, but I don't think you will get a knee roll in the right place unless you stick it over the pad/ saddle pad.


https://thetreelesssaddle.wordpress.com

 

[Lou_n_Ronnie]

The Freeform I think does an x short base, but from memory that may have been 19"

Have a look on this site. Scroll down there is a bit on adults on small ponies. Thorn or their copies possibly could be the way to go, but I don't think you will get a knee roll in the right place unless you stick it over the pad/ saddle pad.


https://thetreelesssaddle.wordpress.com

Thank you, I'll have a good look at this

I'm taking Ronnie for a lesson in manners on Sunday as I think I need to stop letting him take the p out of me... That's half the battle! He's like Ed the Naughty Pony!

 

[No_Angel]

Have you looked at the barefoot fenders with knee rolls? I'm not sure of the length of them but they might fit your legs better? Or maybe look at the Trekker Aussie seat and see if you can get one for your saddle?

Sensations are great saddles as well, I've used a dressage trail on a small pony (12hh Welsh Section A and it's a great fit).

Maybe a FlexEE would work? I have no experience of the Easytrek saddles though.

 

[Kite_Rider]

Have you looked at the barefoot fenders with knee rolls? I'm not sure of the length of them but they might fit your legs better? Or maybe look at the Trekker Aussie seat and see if you can get one for your saddle?

Sensations are great saddles as well, I've used a dressage trail on a small pony (12hh Welsh Section A and it's a great fit).

Maybe a FlexEE would work? I have no experience of the Easytrek saddles though.

I love my sensation saddle although Belle is bigger than Ronnie she has a short back and in seven years we’ve had no problems with it at all.
I wouldn’t touch a Flexee, had one new and Belle hated it, it takes a lot for her to tell you she’s not happy and it was very obvious from the off she didn’t like it. Ms Moffett was less than helpful over it and quite insulting actually.

 

[No_Angel]

I love my sensation saddle although Belle is bigger than Ronnie she has a short back and in seven years we’ve had no problems with it at all.
I wouldn’t touch a Flexee, had one new and Belle hated it, it takes a lot for her to tell you she’s not happy and it was very obvious from the off she didn’t like it. Ms Moffett was less than helpful over it and quite insulting actually.

That's interesting, I've not tried a Flexee but I've heard a few comments from people now who disliked them.

 

[Lou_n_Ronnie]

Have you looked at the barefoot fenders with knee rolls? I'm not sure of the length of them but they might fit your legs better? Or maybe look at the Trekker Aussie seat and see if you can get one for your saddle?

Sensations are great saddles as well, I've used a dressage trail on a small pony (12hh Welsh Section A and it's a great fit).

Maybe a FlexEE would work? I have no experience of the Easytrek saddles though.

I have the barefoot fenders but they're too long unfortunately, I do like the look of the Aussie saddle and I'm sure you can order the seat separately. I had one of the prototype flexees for my previous pony and had problems with the stirrup leathers slipping off but I'm sure it's something that would've been resolved. Aside from that it was a nice saddle and nicely made... Unfortunately it went with him to his new owners.
I'm keeping an eye on ebay for any of the more expensive brands in case something suitable crops up, the good thing with these saddles is they seem to be in demand and hold their value so re-selling isn't usually an issue!

 

[No_Angel]

I have the barefoot fenders but they're too long unfortunately, I do like the look of the Aussie saddle and I'm sure you can order the seat separately. I had one of the prototype flexees for my previous pony and had problems with the stirrup leathers slipping off but I'm sure it's something that would've been resolved. Aside from that it was a nice saddle and nicely made... Unfortunately it went with him to his new owners.
I'm keeping an eye on ebay for any of the more expensive brands in case something suitable crops up, the good thing with these saddles is they seem to be in demand and hold their value so re-selling isn't usually an issue!

Are you on FB? There's a few groups on there where people buy and sell treeless saddles

 

[Lou_n_Ronnie]

Here's Ronnie with his hi-vis gear and sporting the saddle with fenders.... They're so big and my legs so short it makes it hard to fasten my stirrup leathers... I might see if I can get someone to take some of the bottom off and reshape them so they're more in proportion to my saddle and me!
How they look on Ronnie...

Vs how they look on the Barefoot site lol

 

[No_Angel]

It's great to actually see a pic of the fenders with knee rolls in 'real life' I've looked these quite a few times. When you are actually on them, do they give any leg support?
Have you tried the fenders with knee rolls made by Trekker?

 

[Lou_n_Ronnie]

It's great to actually see a pic of the fenders with knee rolls in 'real life' I've looked these quite a few times. When you are actually on them, do they give any leg support?
Have you tried the fenders with knee rolls made by Trekker?

Unfortunately the Trekker padded fenders are much longer than the Barefoot ones... I only have a 29"inside leg which is the problem. The Barefoot ones do give some support but as they're so big for me they interfere with my leg aids.

I'm going to have a look on the FB treeless groups and see what else is out there!

 

[No_Angel]

Unfortunately the Trekker padded fenders are much longer than the Barefoot ones... I only have a 29"inside leg which is the problem. The Barefoot ones do give some support but as they're so big for me they interfere with my leg aids.

I'm going to have a look on the FB treeless groups and see what else is out there!

I feel your pain, I also only have a 29 inch inside leg, so those fenders would be huge on me as well probably.

I have a Sensation Hybrid, suits my leg length fine. Also have a Sensation Westlish but that's too forward cut for me. I've had a Sensation English Trail which was ok, but a little too forward cut, but the Sensation Dressage trail was better.
Dressage models always work best for me, and I've also had western models, but I need leg support with my dodgy leg. I also had a Startrekk dressage saddle that fit my 12hh Section A pretty well.

What was it about the ghost you didn't get on with?

 

[newforest]

I tried the fenders as well, knee roll completely in the wrong place and the fenders themselves not adjustable enough.

 

[Lou_n_Ronnie]

I feel your pain, I also only have a 29 inch inside leg, so those fenders would be huge on me as well probably.

I have a Sensation Hybrid, suits my leg length fine. Also have a Sensation Westlish but that's too forward cut for me. I've had a Sensation English Trail which was ok, but a little too forward cut, but the Sensation Dressage trail was better.
Dressage models always work best for me, and I've also had western models, but I need leg support with my dodgy leg. I also had a Startrekk dressage saddle that fit my 12hh Section A pretty well.

What was it about the ghost you didn't get on with?

The sensation saddles are out of my price range unfortunately

I've had 2 ghost saddles, one was a standard sized Quilty with a suede seat which was actually quite nice but too big for Ronnie and the second was a piccolo size Roma I think. I was 100% satisfied with the quality to be honest and I'm not sure I ever managed to get the fit quite right as it was so adjustable. It never really looked right on Ronnie and I wasn't 100% happy riding in it.
Quilty...


Roma...

 

[Bodshi]

Just curious, would you not consider a treed saddle?

 

[No_Angel]

I've often fancied trying a ghost, I like the new Cavallin style ones. How did you find the stability of them and how were the thigh rolls for holding you in the saddle?

The only thing that puts me off them is how high they look off the back.

What about a smaller seat Ansur or Solution saddle? There's always a few second hand models floating around.

There's occasionally a Sensation that pops up second hand in the UK, hard to find but they are fab saddles