Is treeless the answer?

[crazybootlady]

Hi all. My gelding has previously schooled dressage, XC, and done a combined test. Due to adult life, we have become trail riding buddies this year and so far we are loving it.

I use my custom fit Black Country monoflap jump saddle currently. (Well bareback pad for the last few days because I drove off with my girth on the wheel well and it’s gone, need to get a new one). Some of the water crossings here are deep enough to soak at least my saddle flaps sometimes the panel’s which are wool flocked.

In the interest of keeping my BC nice (not selling because we will eventually get back to schooling and jumping the odd fence here and there), I was considering getting another saddle just to trail ride in.

Problem is, he runs slightly downhill, is mutton withered and round (hence the custom BC).

What is the opinion on treeless? He seems happy in the bareback pad (only used for two hours walking.) But I would prefer stirrups. I wonder if they would stay well on his back or if they would slide, also how is pressure distribution? I worry about his back becoming sore especially as we progress to (hopefully) 4-6 hour rides this summer. Western is fine, not set on only English. Treed saddles off the rack really haven’t been usable…what would you do?

[tabula_rashah]

A properly fitted treeless including treeless pads, etc is not going to be a cheap saddle. Your still probably going to be close to 2K for your set up.

[Lisa_Preston]

It’s worth trying. Maybe take a look at the Ghost saddles. Marlene is terrific to work w/ - makes demo’ing easy and much more than fair.
http://www.badlandsequine.com/page/2451/Ghost%20Treeless%20Saddles

[JeanM]

I’ve gone from an advocate of treeless (being a fairly early adopter of the Ansur saddle) to a “meh, mebbe notsomuch”. I love - love! - the Ansur for going from horse to horse in a school situation, where each horse would be ridden for up to an hour.
If you plan to spend more time than that, regularly on one mount, maybe treeless isn’t the way to go.
I have ridden in my Ansur Classic on my mare until she’s gotten sweaty under the saddle (less than an hour of ring work), and have been dismayed to find dry spot under where the stirrup hangers are (plus, draw a line down and that’s also the pressure point for the girth). That dry spot HAS to be from too much pressure, not a point of “bridging”.
Treeless saddles can be wonderful, but you need to think carefully about how you mean to use them.

[SharonA]

I would ride in the saddle proven to be comfortable for us both, and would just make sure saddle was well-conditioned before and after rides such that it could handle getting the flaps wet. And I would be too wussy to ride across anything so deep it reached the flocking of the saddle.

[katyb]

I ride treeless, and with the right saddle/pad combination it can be wonderful. I don’t think it’s generally a less expensive option.

I often ride 10-15 miles in challenging terrain without problems.

[beckya]

My mare is down hill and mutton withered as well. I bought an EZfit treeless saddle. It is designed with panels on the bottom which are adjustable to fit different needs. They have a 2 week demo program too. Search on fb they have videos you can watch. I have had it for about 3 mo’s and I ride 4&5 hrs at a time. She never sores up and is a lot happier.