stupid question - whats a treeless or treed saddle?
- Thread starter johannapage
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someone else will be able to answer this in much better detail than me, but basically a treed saddle has a sort of frame (tree) which the saddle is built around to help distribute the riders weight.
Treeless saddles erm, don't... so distribute pressure in other ways (help, treeless people!)
Treeless saddles erm, don't... so distribute pressure in other ways (help, treeless people!)
A treed saddle is held to a rigid shape by a wooden or plastic tree. They were originally invented when people developed the crazy idea 
of taking horses to war, carrying heavy men in heavy armour. They are the typical saddle that you will ride on at riding schools.
Treeless saddles are flexible and can adapt to fit many different horses with the aid of special shimmable pads. They started off looking pretty unconventional but are quickly gaining in popularity and are starting to look more "traditional".
I believe that both treed and treeless have their place however for me, if I had the choice, I'd choose treeless every time, due to the comfort factor and the difference it's made to Dolly's movement (she's a 13.2hh that moves like a 15.2hh!) See my thread "My 3 Italian Saddles" for pictures of my treelesses
of taking horses to war, carrying heavy men in heavy armour. They are the typical saddle that you will ride on at riding schools. Treeless saddles are flexible and can adapt to fit many different horses with the aid of special shimmable pads. They started off looking pretty unconventional but are quickly gaining in popularity and are starting to look more "traditional".
I believe that both treed and treeless have their place however for me, if I had the choice, I'd choose treeless every time, due to the comfort factor and the difference it's made to Dolly's movement (she's a 13.2hh that moves like a 15.2hh!) See my thread "My 3 Italian Saddles" for pictures of my treelesses
bascially treed saddles have a tree, which is a solid frame work, the leather of the saddle is attached around this tree.
A tree in a saddle has to fit a horses back perfectly otherwise it can cause problems like muscle atrophy.
A treeless saddle does not have this solid frame work, but the shape of the saddle is formed by layers of shock absorbing materials, some have solid blocks front and back to create shape.
The stirrup bars are not attached to anything solid, which can cause problems if the correct padding is not used with the saddle, or the rider is too heavy in the stirrups, which they can get away with in a treed saddle.
A treeless saddle is more adjustable than a treed saddle, one saddle can fit a variety of horses and riders, but as with treed saddle the type of saddle needs to be suitable for the horse and rider.
Treeless saddles can be gulleted or gulletless, which means that some have panels underneath that allow a gap for spine and wither clearance, some don't, with the ones that don't the correct padding, which usually creates a gullet for the saddle, is very important.usually the gullet aids the lateral stability of the saddle as well.
A tree in a saddle has to fit a horses back perfectly otherwise it can cause problems like muscle atrophy.
A treeless saddle does not have this solid frame work, but the shape of the saddle is formed by layers of shock absorbing materials, some have solid blocks front and back to create shape.
The stirrup bars are not attached to anything solid, which can cause problems if the correct padding is not used with the saddle, or the rider is too heavy in the stirrups, which they can get away with in a treed saddle.
A treeless saddle is more adjustable than a treed saddle, one saddle can fit a variety of horses and riders, but as with treed saddle the type of saddle needs to be suitable for the horse and rider.
Treeless saddles can be gulleted or gulletless, which means that some have panels underneath that allow a gap for spine and wither clearance, some don't, with the ones that don't the correct padding, which usually creates a gullet for the saddle, is very important.usually the gullet aids the lateral stability of the saddle as well.
I have both types - treeless and treed (sp).
Traditional (treed) saddles have a rigid tree which is the framework that the saddle is built around. There is very limited amount of flexibility but the framework is designed to distribute the weight of a rider evenly on the horses back to avoid back problems - this means that the saddle needs to be correctly fitted - enough clearance given along the spine and withers and should not 'lift' away at the back when riding or slip and slide about. Treed saddles should sit on a horse so that they do not rest to far back as they are then sitting on the kidneys (or be too long for the horses back).
Treeless saddles don't have the framework at all - I can bend mine completely in half. The good thing I have found is that they move with the horse - if you think about it then when you watch a horse move untacked then there is flexing in the spine from side to side as the horse swings through it's hips - a treeless saddle will move with this - down side (for some) is that you are putting your weight directly onto the horses spine in some cases. The other good thing I have found is that you really can feel your horse move in a treeless so you can feel muscles tightening and everything.
I tend to use my treeless for general hacking and with youngsters but do revert to my traditional for dressage.
Hope this helps.
Traditional (treed) saddles have a rigid tree which is the framework that the saddle is built around. There is very limited amount of flexibility but the framework is designed to distribute the weight of a rider evenly on the horses back to avoid back problems - this means that the saddle needs to be correctly fitted - enough clearance given along the spine and withers and should not 'lift' away at the back when riding or slip and slide about. Treed saddles should sit on a horse so that they do not rest to far back as they are then sitting on the kidneys (or be too long for the horses back).
Treeless saddles don't have the framework at all - I can bend mine completely in half. The good thing I have found is that they move with the horse - if you think about it then when you watch a horse move untacked then there is flexing in the spine from side to side as the horse swings through it's hips - a treeless saddle will move with this - down side (for some) is that you are putting your weight directly onto the horses spine in some cases. The other good thing I have found is that you really can feel your horse move in a treeless so you can feel muscles tightening and everything.
I tend to use my treeless for general hacking and with youngsters but do revert to my traditional for dressage.
Hope this helps.
and then there are part treed, half treed and flexible/holistic treed 
I've got a treeless (Flexion SBS) and love it. I'm not against a well fitting treed saddle and would probably consider one if I was jumping on a regular basis but do prefer my treeless for flatwork.
I've got a treeless (Flexion SBS) and love it. I'm not against a well fitting treed saddle and would probably consider one if I was jumping on a regular basis but do prefer my treeless for flatwork.
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