Treeless Saddle Opinions

[Syrynx]

I did a search and most of the threads I’ve found are fairly old so thought I’d start a new one.

I have a pretty sporty Clydesdale and we’re aiming to do some low level eventing. He’s got hardly any wither and a fairly upright shoulder.

I did have my jump saddle adjusted for those shoulders but he’s been showing some discomfort when mounting - he throws his head up and jigs away. Some is due to putting pressure on his right shoulder when I use the knee block to help me get on. I am working on breaking that habit!

We had a saddle fitter out last year who thought the Schleese Jete could work but sadly they don’t make it in my seat size.

I’m going to ride in my trainers Jete for a couple of weeks but she and I started discussing treeless saddles for him.

I’ve never ridden in one so have no idea what the difference in feel might be. I also don’t know much about brands and such.

Does anyone have any opinions? TIA for any advice.

[Jackie_Cochran]

I would try one before buying.

I have MS, and when I bought and rode in my treeless saddle (EZ-fit–he could not figure out how to make dressage saddle tree so all they are is sort of Western w/o a horn) I quickly realized that there was NOTHING to keep the saddle from slipping from side to side–unless I did a REALLY tight girth.

After months of frustration I gave it to one of the ladies who lets me ride her horse. This lady has much better balance than I do and she loves this saddle, but she is mainly a Western or bareback rider.

I ended up buying a Pegasus Butterfly saddle which has its own challenges, but it has just enough of a tree so I feel like there is possibly a stable point somewhere. The problem with this particular saddle is that the rider NEEDS to periodically tighten the girth during the ride. If the girth is not tight enough it can roll off the horse’s back just like it did yesterday while I was trying to dismount. I think I need a 5-point breastplate with it to feel truly secure.

[Syrynx]

Security is one of my concerns as whilst I am working on getting fitter and better balanced, that will take some time and I’m of an age where my bravery is not what it used to be.

For sure I will try one as my trainer said she rode in one when younger and was not a fan.

[Jackie_Cochran]

IF you really want to work on your balance out off a horse I recommend trying the Home Horse.

It is not like riding a horse that much, but I put a bubble balance with side-to-side and front-to-back bubbles and now my husband can tell me definitely when I am going off of center (instead of maybe, I think, possibly, I’m not really sure.)

I cannot “ride” it every day, and I notice that if I do not “ride” it for a day or two that my balance gets worse when I stand, walk around, or ride a horse.

Plus it is helping tone up my core muscles.

[Posting_Trot]

I don’t have any experience with treeless saddle, but I wanted to suggest that you try a saddle that has a hoop tree. Hoop trees usually work better for wider horses. (I have an Irish Draught mare so I know where you’re coming from).

My dressage saddle is a Balance International saddle, but there are other saddlers who make hoop trees: Frank Baines, Fairfax, etc. Several British saddlers make both hoop trees and V-shaped trees because hoop trees tend to fit cobs better.

Good luck!

[Paisley_Pony]

At one point several years ago, I was considering a treeless saddle, and one of the endurance riding shops had videos on fitting the saddles, etc… One of the things they suggested was always using a breastplate to keep the saddle from slipping and sometimes a crupper. The other thing that comes to mind is a grippy, non-slip pad and girth.

[hwake]

Ghost saddles are my go-to for treeless - lightweight, a good amount of structure to distribute weight, super modular and customizable (you can swap out different styles of panel, seat, girth rigging, etc) and their velcro panel style seems able to accommodate even very wide-backed horses. And a decent price point.
I would second using a breastplate to prevent slipping. YMMV - I rode my gelding in a Ghost with woolback pad and it never budged, up or down hills, mounting from the ground, when he was clipped and unclipped, anything. I set it up for my narrower mare with the same saddle and pad, and it rolled halfway down her belly the first time I tried mounting from the ground.

[fivestrideline]

Have you tried a hoop tree saddle? I would be doing that (properly fitted) before making the jump to treeless. Hoop trees are meant to fit the wide table with no wither horses, like cobs and draughts and draft crosses. Since there are a ton of those horses in the UK, English brands have hoop options usually.

Treeless saddles are not cheap, have lower resale value, and require special pads (for spinal clearance), balanced riders, and often breastplate and crupper. Many endurance riders use them so they DO work - but endurance horses are rarely jumping or turn-and-burning the way an eventer or foxhunter might. This is not to say there isn’t a treeless out there that will work for you, just that they aren’t the super easy solution they sometimes are advertised to be.

ETA I say “lower resale value” in the sense that the audience looking for a treeless is significantly smaller than those looking for a traditional treed saddle. Even if you’re in a pretty endurance heavy area

[anon68314200]

I’m a very big fan of the classic Ansur. I’m 6+ foot tall and 190-ish pounds. The classics are basically a glorified bareback pad. They’re very pretty and very well-made but they’re basically a very pretty very well-made leather bareback pad. They have no lateral stability other than the balance of your seat. But I’ve ridden enough horses in mine that I replaced the billets three times.

But….I did purchase an EQ science saddle for my current horse. Who was simply too weak in the back for the Ansur when I got him.

If you can afford the average market rates of a brand new saddle, and you’re looking for a custom fit, I can recommend the EQ saddles.

I do love my ansur, But if you sit crooked, that saddle is not gonna sit in the middle of the horse.

[Syrynx]

@Posting_Trot

I wanted to suggest that you try a saddle that has a hoop tree. Hoop trees usually work better for wider horses. (I have an Irish Draught mare so I know where you’re coming from).

@fivestrideline

Have you tried a hoop tree saddle?

I’d only peripherally heard of a hoop tree so did a bit of research yesterday. And they look like a really good option. There is a fitter that reps one of the UK brands fairly close to me but I’ve also heard a few not so great reviews on their work so I’m not sure what I’ll do there.

But I am intrigued. Moreso than with the treeless now as I am not the most balanced rider by any stretch and I feel like anything I might gain for my horse I would proceed to screw up royally with my balance issues.

[Syrynx]

@anon68314200

I’m 6+ foot tall and 190-ish pounds. The classics are basically a glorified bareback pad. They’re very pretty and very well-made but they’re basically a very pretty very well-made leather bareback pad. They have no lateral stability other than the balance of your seat.

I’m 6ft tall as well but yeah, the balance thing concerns me. As I forgot to mention my big fella has a stop and spin that sometimes I really do not feel coming until he’s halfway through the maneuver. And while it’s pretty slow given how big he is, it is still enough to jar me!

[dreamswept]

I would demo a treeless saddle to see which one works best for you.

I just sold my Ghost treeless. It was a very stable saddle and fit nicely in my Haflinger who even at rising 24 is pretty broad and flat. I had the western skirt instead of the panels so it was very stable and didn’t slip. I did use a breastcollar and a mohair girth but don’t have to snug things super tight. I could mount from the ground.

Only reason why I sold my Ghost was I lost my mare and suddenly had too many saddles for one horse, so I sold my Ghost and my Big Horn treed and ended up buying a Colorado Springs Denver treeless western from a shop in Canada and wanted something that looked more western (Barefoot still looked a bit odd to me). Couldn’t quite afford one of the more traditional looking Edix western treeless models, but am happy with the Colorado Springs. Unless I told someone, they wouldn’t know it was treeless by looking at it. I do use a breastcollar, but part of that is looks. My cinch is snug, but not tight. I can also mount from the ground in it. Freemax Western could also be a possibility. If you are looking at westerns that is.

[fivestrideline]

I believe OP is an eventer.

[Syrynx]

@fivestrideline

I believe OP is an eventer.

A wannabe but yes, that is our aim…along with low level dressage.

@dreamswept

Only reason why I sold my Ghost was I lost my mare and suddenly had too many saddles for one horse,

I am so very sorry. Thank you for the suggestions.

[dreamswept]

@Syrynx

A wannabe but yes, that is our aim…along with low level dressage.

Ah. Eventer then. Must have missed that part. Do look at Edix perhaps. They’ve got a couple of soft tree saddles that might work.

@Syrynx

I am so very sorry. Thank you for the suggestions

Thank you. She was a retiree so the saddles weren’t actually hers, but I needed to reduce my collection. Now I’ve just got the 2 for my gelding and it looks a little more sane in my tack shed.

[SimonSays]

I have very very wide gypsies, one has no withers. I went with a hoop tree designed saddle with xx-wide tree. The treeless saddles don’t have a ton of stability, I would suggest doing more research before purchasing one.

But I have an Albion dressage saddle with a hoop tree and a Smith Worthington jumping saddle with a hoop tree. They fit both of my very wide and round boys great! And they’re wool flocked and can be adjusted as needed!

[irish_horse]

I’ve been trying a Freeform treeless on my new low withered, too-round Arab. I’m reluctant to buy a new saddle for a still growing 6 year old. After a few rides where I felt like I’d forgotten how to ride I’ve settled in and we both seem to like it. I’ve got an approved treeless pad with inserts and a breastcollar just in case. I can mount from the ground and even sat some silly behavior. I’m not completely a convert yet but it’ll do for now.

I also had a hoop tree Duett that I really liked, for a round lease horse. But of course sold that when the lease was over, thinking I wouldn’t need it. Damn! I did like it though I found the twist a bit wide.

[Syrynx]

I knew that Duett had saddles that fit the wider ponies but didn’t realize they had hoop trees as well.

And I love my Smith Worthington bridle. So will check them out too.

So much to think about! Thanks all for the suggestions!

[Posting_Trot]

Unfortunately, Smith-Worthington went out of business during the pandemic. It makes me sad because I bought a jumping saddle from them (hoop tree) and loved going to their Hartford, CT shop where they had a huge warehouse full of saddles and other tack. The smell of leather as you walked in was amazing.

Anyway, there are still some of their saddles available on ebay and some retailers, as well as (of course) used.

[Kyrabee]

I have a Smart saddle

Smart Saddles UK Safeshop | Buy SMART™ Saddles Online

It looks very traditional and is quite secure. I have been very happy with it. They have a nice range of dressage, jumping and all purpose models. Mine was about $1000 less than an Ansur even with shipping and customs (it was ten-ish years ago and I have no idea what the exchange rate is now).

Susan