Can we talk about saddle slippage with treeless?

[Auventera_Two]

The Bob Marshall just sits so deep on the horse and does NOT slip and slide back and forth like the Bandos did. The Bandos situation is tough for me because it was so comfortable to sit in. But my legs were never on the horse. They were always propped out and away from her sides. With the BM, my legs just hang flat against her belly and there is constant contact there.

The BM so far has worked on every horse I’ve put it on (that would be 4). The Bandos had the same problem on every horse - legs jutted out and completely unable to get them on the horse and make any sort of contact.

With the Bandos, my hips felt like they were opened way up and pulled out away from my body. With the Bob Marshall, I don’t feel that at all.

For both saddles I’ve used the Toklat Woolback pad, and love it.

[Golden_Pony]

Contact

I, too, swtiched from the Bandos to a more “endurance” type treeless - the Barefoot Atlanta (english girthing, endurance fenders, Metalab Air System stirrups). I loved the seat on the Bandos and DID NOT have any slippage issues on a Haflinger using a HAF pad. I just wanted more contact with my youngster. You’ve really got to cinch them down tight. I was told that when using a treeless, cinch it as tight as you can and the when you think it’s tight enough - cinch again! The saddles “relax” when the foam warms up and you settle in the seat. I haved tightened my girth from the saddle while on the trail and gotten back after a 4 hour ride to find the girth is comfortably where I would have put it if on a treed saddle. I don’t think we are allowed to advert here, but I know where a pristine Bandos is for sale if anyone wants to PM me.

[GreyDes]

Since we’re bringing this thread back up, thought I’d share details on what’s worked for me.

My horses:

• 2 mutton withered, wide shouldered Arabs (23 & 3)
• 1 TWH with a dip behind his shoulder, long back (10, husband’s horse)

Saddles/Pads/Girths:

• Arabs (I’m starting the 3 year old, and semi-retiring the 23 year old, so they share saddles).
  Trail Riding

• Saddle - Bob Marshall endurance
• Pad - Skito w/100% wool w/thinline pad on top
• Girth - mohair (really like the Moss Rock endurance one)
• Breastplate - biothane endurance w/neck strap (purchased from Running Bear, similar models available at endurance stores)

Dressage

• Saddle - Ansur Carleton
• Pad - Mattes sheepskin w/thinlin pad on top
• Girth - mohair
• Breastplate - no breastplate unless I’m using the dressage saddle for trail riding.

Tennessee Walker (trail riding)

• Saddle - Bob Marshall trail
• Pad - Skito w/100% wool w/thinline pad on top
• Non-slip pad from Nunn finer
• Girth - mohair (really like the Moss Rock endurance one)
• Breastplate - Bob Marshall

For this horse, I had to get Tom at Skito to change the inserts to deal with his shoulder shape. I also ended up adding a non-slip pad, which he doesn’t mind, but I would NEVER be able to use on either of my Arabs. He didn’t have any trouble with lateral slippage, but the saddle would slide back during the ride, even with the breastplate.

I have heard that many people put the thinlines under their regular saddle pads to help with slipping. I did try that, but didn’t need it on the Arabs, and it didn’t help much on the TWH, so I went back to putting the thinline over the regular pad.

As other posters have noted, tighten the girth as much as possible. Because the treeless saddles mold to you, they will compress some when you sit in them, and the girth will loosen.

In my experience with treeless saddles, the pad and girth combo is really key to help stabilize them. It’s a lot more important than with treed saddles, and worth spending the time/money to figure out what works.

These combinations have worked well for me.

Best of luck!

[Malda]

I also have a Bandos and I agree, waaay too much padding under the legs. I also had a problem with the seat bunching up in the middle and for some reason I couldn’t sit in the middle of the saddle, it kept pushing me to the back. If I look at it on the horse, I can see how it has it dip in the back. Also, the pomel started to come off after six months so I had to have it stitched back on.

I just bought my Aussie, so it’s going to be a year before I have enough money to buy another treeless. It’s going to take me that long to decide between a Sensation, Freeform or Barefoot.

malda

[Auventera_Two]

The Bandos was a good idea, but it needs a LOT of modifications to be actually usable for more than a stroll around the back paddock.

I was so opposed to the Bob Marshall because they look so cheap, but I’m glad I bought it. I can’t see myself riding in anything else now. I’ve ridden in a couple different treed saddles since acquiring the BM and they just feel “wrong.” :lol: