I have a lop sided mare, result of only running her in one direction on barrels. Got a very nice half pad that really helps her in my english saddle but I do want to run her in speed events. Since I can’t find a western pad that works like my english one, I have been looking at treeless. Told they give very good feel in the saddle and fit a wide range of horses. Figure better than a flex tree! Thoughts?
My thoughts would be no. I’ve had a treeless saddle (Freeform) and loved it for trail riding . . . but for mostly moseying around or doing a little bit of trot and canter. Unless you’re a really balanced rider and/or your horse is nicely balanced, you may find it actually throws you more out of balance laterally . . . and if your horse already has trouble laterally, you won’t have something to help you with stability. One of the problems I had with treeless is that the pads are so thick and have some sort of insert that it made the whole saddle experience feel really bouncy and like I was far away from my horse’s back.
But of course that’s just my experience. Various treeless saddle companies have all sorts of good trial policies so the only way you’ll know is to actually try one.
I remember when these first came out, I had reservations then, and still do.
I can see this harming more than helping you and horse.
You might try having a pad made that takes her shape more into consideration.
Only hang up is that her shape isn’t going to “stay” that way. If I knew Best Ever Pads would mold the felt, like my half pad felt inserts, then I would just buy that and be done with it. There is a huge difference with her when the tree or the bar lay completely against her side and I have no issues riding her bareback (which she’s perfect). So we need something flexible so it lies evenly against her ribs.
Buy a pad that has pockets with foam inserts, like a Skito pad. Then also purchase additional shims from them and customize your saddle fit by adding shims, and trimming shims yourself. The shims are low priced and easy to trim on with a serrated bread knife. Most people never think about using these pads to custom fit a treed saddle but it works great.
chicamuxen
Dittto what chicamuxen1 said! Skito’s rock and are worth the price.
If you are going to do speed events, I would stay away from treeless and just go for the Skito pad. I’ve seen a couple of nice treeless saddles that just did not stay put with all of the twisting and turning that running barrels and poles requires. With good, balanced riders.
I’ve ridden in a couple of treeless saddles of good quality, one Bob Marshall and one endurance style Ansur and really didn’t like the feel of either.
The other problem you run into with treeless is that there are only a handful of good brands and a ton of crap out there. You will pay a premium for a well made treeless saddle. Far more than you would probably have to pay for a comparable treed saddle.
I am more concerned that you say your horse is lop-sided from running one way on barrels? You should be working evenly both directions. If my barrel horses do any “pattern” work at home, it’s all rights, then all lefts, etc, or else I make sure to keep things balanced.
That being said, the Bob Marshall treeless saddles work for some horses. They are much different to ride in and have a different feel. I ran one horse that was very sensitive and hard to fit, and it worked great for her. Personally, I don’t like the feeling of riding in them. Most sit you down too deep and it’s hard to adjust where you need to be, get your feet forward, etc. I think it’s a personal preference, both for the horse and the rider.
I love my Bob Marshall. BUT, I’m a trail rider. And in lessons on DH’s lopsided mare the other day, the saddle kept slipping while I was trying to lope circles in one direction. I think it could work, but might not. By the time you buy saddle and pad, you might as well invest in a pad you can shim that will work with your current saddle. If you can borrow a treeless or want to pay to demo one, give it a try.
I love my freeform saddle-stays in place while riding and mounting! Stay away from hilason-they are the worst quality and slip all over
I have examples in my barn of horses who have become very back sore from riding in a treeless-- lots of riding, mind you, not just riding once in a while. I also have a rider who suffered lots of lower back pain from her continued use of a treeless, and finally moved into a treed saddle which offered better support, and her back pain has improved greatly. (She is a great, balanced rider, but has had existing back issues for many years.)
[QUOTE=BayMaresOnly;7371701]
I am more concerned that you say your horse is lop-sided from running one way on barrels? You should be working evenly both directions. If my barrel horses do any “pattern” work at home, it’s all rights, then all lefts, etc, or else I make sure to keep things balanced.[/QUOTE]
^^^ This. You’ll improve your times too.
You can kinda sorta get away with one weak side turn and two strong in barrels, but this will kill you if you ever run poles, figure 8’s, etc. A weak second turn in poles will set you up poorly when you start weaving back, usually leading to knocked down poles.
The latest Equus magazine has an article giving results results comparing tree saddles with treeless. They actually measured pressure on horse. It is worth reading.
