Bob Marshall Sport Saddles

[Draftmare]

I couldn’t decide if I wanted to post this here, or in western, but figured I would start here.

I have been kind of looking at the Bob Marshall Sport Saddle. I love that they offer a model that looks like a traditional western saddle. I was under the impression that this saddle was treeless, as in it had zero structure to it other than the front gullet, and the back support to the seat. However, on their website they make reference to the tree, and that they build custom trees, and how the tree self adjusts when the saddle is cinched up. Are they talking about the front and back parts, or does this saddle actually have some kind of structure inside? http://sportssaddle.com/about-sports-saddle/

Does anybody know if these put you in more of a chair seat, or more of correct alignment? I show western dressage and want something that is going to put me in correct alignment. Also…how is posting the trot in one of these?

Finally…the plus sized issue. Are these safe to ride in as a plus sized rider as long as I have a good pad?

[phantomhorse]

I can’t speak to the western type, but the endurance saddles do not have a tree. I feel that they put me in a chair seat, but I am not sure if newer models have a different stirrup bar placement than the older ones I am familiar with. I have had no issues with posting in the saddle.

How well these saddles work really seems to depend on the horse, though having an appropriate pad is a must for any size rider. A good friend is a heavyweight and has ridden thousands of miles in her BMSS on several different horses without issue. My DH (a lightweight) rode in one but it made one of our horses back sore no matter what kind of pad we used.

[hosspuller]

Be aware, the lack of a tree makes a BMSS roll around the horse. I had a horse shaped like a barrel. Low withers & hay bellied… Even with a tight, shaped girth, it would slip around. It made me learn to ride very centered. (after getting dumped many times)

[Nezzy]

I just bought a used one( the black type without a horn, but instead has a handle shaped pommel) It does not seem to fit my high withered guy, but while using it, his ears were up, so i guess it was not too bad. i did get a Skito pad and shims to help, but still might not be a good fit for him. am going to try it on my other horse soon. he has average withers. i suspect it will fit him very well. i would say maybe a low withered horse would not have good luck, but idk.