Treeless saddles?

[Tarka the horse]

Hi guys,

In the shop where I work at weekends, we have been given a Barefoot treeless saddle, size 2, to sell. It comes "fully mounted" meaning with girth, stirrups leathers and stirrups, and the right treeless saddle pad. It's in superb condition and I REALLY like it.

I've been toying with the idea of treeless for a while. Does anyone have any stories, good or bad, about treeless saddles? I know there are a few people on here whith them. What brands do you have? Any input re the saddle pads etc?? If you have a Barefoot, have you kept the blocks in at the front and back, or have you taken them out?

Thanks guys :)

[Anni~Bell]

I don't own one personally but I haven't heard a bad thing about them :) Your Horse had an article about them a few months back and it was an intresting read and can't remember any bad things about them :)

[Tarka the horse]

Ok cool, thanks :)

The only bad things I have heard are the same as the bad things with regular treed saddles.....if they dont fit properly, they cause problems...but that's a no brainer anyway!!

Thanks for your input :)

Oh dear.....I do feel a purchase comng on!!

[CityLights]

I had the western version of the barefoot it was a really nice saddle, i found on my rather barrel shaped horse it slipped a little from side to side and obviously was no way i could get on from the ground although you apparently shouldnt with a treeless, i had mine for about five years and it held up really well the only thing that made it look old was becasue they are nubuck they polish up and look a bit tatty after a while but was otherwise sound

there are various articles around on treeless saddles i read one by the master saddlers association whatever they are called and they say there is no benefit of a treeless sdaddle over a well fitting treed saddle, but thats the key thing well fitting if you cant find one that fits well treeless is often the only way you can go

[Tarka the horse]

S&W, I totally agree with your last comment about the fitting of treed saddles, and over here, there are very few saddlers I would trust to fit a treed saddle to my horses. I know a fair bit, but I'm not trained, and I like the thought of the treeless anyway.

I had heard that you should not get on from the ground but had forgotten, so thanks for the reminder....just in case ;)

[so-n-so]

oooh i have one!

had it for 5 years now and LOVE IT!

i took out the inserts and stuffed the pommel and cantle with memory foam bits,
you can buy shaped soft inserts from the barefoot website and they dont cost much.

im looking to buy another saddle as i will be riding two of my ponies this year, and im deffo getting another barefoot treeless :D

[Tarka the horse]

Cool, thanks so-and-so! Which one do you have? The one we've got in to sell is the Cheyenne (sp?!) and I really like it :)

[gem]

When I was getting mine I read a lot of good reviews of the Cheyenne. I found a review website very useful - google 'treeless blog' and have a look at the first site that comes up.

[Tiaki]

I have Treeless and love it :)

I haven't had first experience with Barefoots but heard nothing but good things about them :)

xxx

[so-n-so]

Cool, thanks so-and-so! Which one do you have? The one we've got in to sell is the Cheyenne (sp?!) and I really like it :)

thats the one i have. :D

i dont have the special pad for under it - i use a shock absorber pad and a sheepskin half pad.. the front doesnt press on the withers or anything. :)

[coloredred]

I had one for Magic, similar style to the barefoot but was made by someone else. Was super comfy but they have no twist and i have narrow hips so struggled with trot a bit as Monster felt so wide lol. I ended up sending it back but it wasn't because i didn't like it, it was because the stirrup bars twisted round and my stirrups nearly came off everytime i rode.

[Tarka the horse]

Thanks so much for your input guys :)

Gem, I'll have a look for that review now, thanks :)

I'm getting excited now!! Colouredred, the guy selling this saddle has problems with the stirrups too so he's put swinging fenders on them (western "stirrup leathers") and it's solved the problem.

Oh dear....I've got to buy it haven't i?!

[so-n-so]

yep you do!!! :evilgrin:

[mermer]

I've just ordered one of these off the Barefoot web site, there's 20% off at the moment. Check out their prices to make sure you get a good deal! I've currently got a Copperbeech which is very similar. Merlin has quite hi-withers and dispite getting a special pad I feel the Copperbeech is too tight. Haven't received the Barefoot yet but it has more wither clearance so hopefully it will be o.k. How old is the saddle? I know there was a few issues with the older ones. If it has shaping underneath with a channel to clear the spine then it is one of the newer ones. Re the stirrups, I already rode with quite long stirrups and found it was better to ride with them quite long. Cos of their positioning they make you stretch your thigh down more.

I spoke to my vet about treed and treeless saddles. She said that treed saddles tend to press around the withers and further down to the back of the saddle, where as treeless tend to press around the stirrup area. She said if buying a treeless to feel the saddle underneath around where the stirrup is attached to the saddle to make sure there are no lumps and bumps. She also said to make sure you get a well padded saddle pad and dressage leathers to remove the bulk.

I like riding in it and now feel quite perched on top if I use a treed one now!

[Tarka the horse]

I bought it!!

[so-n-so]

I bought it!!

yey!!!!! pics! pics! pics!

[vels mum]

Hows the fit on him?

[Tarka the horse]

Hehehe :) I love it!!!

Haven't ridden on it yet as still getting myself set up at the new place, putting up a shed and stuff, but sat it on them both (Chester and Sweetie) and it seems fine on both of them :) Need to have a sit on and see what it's like with my weight on it, thinking i may need to buy a narrower pommel block thing for Sweetie as she's got high TB withers, but on Chester I'm sure it'll be fine :)

Whoot!!