Modern treeless saddles actually distribute the weight better. They shape to the horses back and give the horse more space at the shoulder. I'm getting my barefoot treeless saddle very soon and I'm super excited! (If anyone has any questions I can link my sources)
Answer to your question, I tried treeless once, I forget the brand and it felt "mushy" My horse is wide like a barrel I have a Synergist Brand saddle, Very comfortable for me, hopefully for my horses as well. No dry spots when I take the saddle off and my horse seams willing. Thank you for making this video. Very helpful!!
On my treeless saddle I can sit in it and look under it and see sunlight through the spinal clearance between the panels. The weight is distributed through the panels - it might be more concentrated to the center (where I sit, not front or back) but the spine is cleared very obviously so and the weight is distributed away from the spine. . And it is not bridging like a poor fitting treed might. Look up masterback, chezz iberica, star trek or any other panel type treeless. My horse gained muscle and broadened his back the times I switched from a treed to a treeless even though the treed had been fitted and worked.. But it didn't allow him to grow more muscle easily (it fit the muscle he had but not the muscle he could get) . Im not saying treed saddles are bad. They have benefits as well. But good treeless is a good long term option. (the chezz iberico was poor quality and didn't last for wear but was good the years it did last, the other I mentioned are better quality. You need to fit them some to the horse and make sure the panels are the right width for the spine clearance etc) I wouldn't use the cushion type treeless that require specisl pads and does not give spinal clearance. I have bad experience with them and safety. I feel like this is the type of treeless you're thinking about.
I like treeless saddles but will qualify that by saying I think you need to spend a minimum of $2000 to get a good one. One that you can trust to stay off the spine and do a good job distributing weight. And spend several hundred more to get a good pad that will accommodate shims. I'm talking about western/endurance saddles, now -- not English or dressage. I have a Startrekk and an Ansur Enduro (Westernaire) at the lower and high ends, respectively. And I would love to get a Natural Horseman saddle but I don't have the $$ or need right now. Those are obtainable between Startrekk and Ansur in price, although you can spend a lot if you want to.
Interesting. I am about to try a Barefoot treeless saddle on my Standardbred who is super hard to fit treed saddles. Of course I was skeptical myself at first, but from what I can see (I haven't gotten it yet, will have to verify in real life when it arrives) the spine is free of pressure just like a treed saddle. However, I am being very cautious and will make certain this is true before I advocate treeless. I'll get back to you on this after I've tried it.
@@phantomglasses Here's my thoughts: The Barefoot treeless saddle is a bit of a strange feeling to sit in - it forces you to have wide hips and to be honest feels very insecure (it's like sitting ON your horse rather than having your legs around them; sliding from side to side is a problem). It isn't a good choice for beginner riders I think. But my horse felt like a new horse. She had been ridden in (adjustable) Wintec GPs and Aus Stock saddles and when I put the treeless saddle on her she suddenly had energy and movement and she wanted to stretch when before she was stiff and ill-tempered. So, summary? A good-fitting saddle is essential. You can't expect your horse to work when they're in pain; you just can't. No, I don't think they are better than a good-fitting treed saddle. But when you have a horse like my standardbred, a good-fitting saddle is at the very least a highly expensive prospect and at the most, impossible to find. A treeless saddle may be the only choice for horses like her, and even though the experience for the rider is not ideal, at least I can ride her. As of yet she has not given me any hint that she is in discomfort, but bear in mind I have only been using it on and off for about a year. Hope this helps
Modern treeless saddles actually distribute the weight better. They shape to the horses back and give the horse more space at the shoulder. I'm getting my barefoot treeless saddle very soon and I'm super excited! (If anyone has any questions I can link my sources)
You should look up the Ghost Saddles.
It's a whole new world of treeless saddles out there these days :)
I would love to try riding on a ghost saddle!
Great Response!!
Answer to your question, I tried treeless once, I forget the brand and it felt "mushy" My horse is wide like a barrel I have a Synergist Brand saddle, Very comfortable for me, hopefully for my horses as well. No dry spots when I take the saddle off and my horse seams willing. Thank you for making this video. Very helpful!!
On my treeless saddle I can sit in it and look under it and see sunlight through the spinal clearance between the panels. The weight is distributed through the panels - it might be more concentrated to the center (where I sit, not front or back) but the spine is cleared very obviously so and the weight is distributed away from the spine. . And it is not bridging like a poor fitting treed might.
Look up masterback, chezz iberica, star trek or any other panel type treeless.
My horse gained muscle and broadened his back the times I switched from a treed to a treeless even though the treed had been fitted and worked.. But it didn't allow him to grow more muscle easily (it fit the muscle he had but not the muscle he could get) .
Im not saying treed saddles are bad. They have benefits as well. But good treeless is a good long term option. (the chezz iberico was poor quality and didn't last for wear but was good the years it did last, the other I mentioned are better quality. You need to fit them some to the horse and make sure the panels are the right width for the spine clearance etc)
I wouldn't use the cushion type treeless that require specisl pads and does not give spinal clearance. I have bad experience with them and safety. I feel like this is the type of treeless you're thinking about.
Can I ask you what brand you use I'm looking for a treeless saddle myself😄! I'm thinking about getting a barefoot one
Why do they offer treeless if they are bad for the horses?
I like treeless saddles but will qualify that by saying I think you need to spend a minimum of $2000 to get a good one. One that you can trust to stay off the spine and do a good job distributing weight. And spend several hundred more to get a good pad that will accommodate shims. I'm talking about western/endurance saddles, now -- not English or dressage. I have a Startrekk and an Ansur Enduro (Westernaire) at the lower and high ends, respectively. And I would love to get a Natural Horseman saddle but I don't have the $$ or need right now. Those are obtainable between Startrekk and Ansur in price, although you can spend a lot if you want to.
Interesting. I am about to try a Barefoot treeless saddle on my Standardbred who is super hard to fit treed saddles. Of course I was skeptical myself at first, but from what I can see (I haven't gotten it yet, will have to verify in real life when it arrives) the spine is free of pressure just like a treed saddle. However, I am being very cautious and will make certain this is true before I advocate treeless.
I'll get back to you on this after I've tried it.
... So?
@@phantomglasses Here's my thoughts:
The Barefoot treeless saddle is a bit of a strange feeling to sit in - it forces you to have wide hips and to be honest feels very insecure (it's like sitting ON your horse rather than having your legs around them; sliding from side to side is a problem). It isn't a good choice for beginner riders I think.
But my horse felt like a new horse. She had been ridden in (adjustable) Wintec GPs and Aus Stock saddles and when I put the treeless saddle on her she suddenly had energy and movement and she wanted to stretch when before she was stiff and ill-tempered.
So, summary?
A good-fitting saddle is essential. You can't expect your horse to work when they're in pain; you just can't.
No, I don't think they are better than a good-fitting treed saddle. But when you have a horse like my standardbred, a good-fitting saddle is at the very least a highly expensive prospect and at the most, impossible to find. A treeless saddle may be the only choice for horses like her, and even though the experience for the rider is not ideal, at least I can ride her.
As of yet she has not given me any hint that she is in discomfort, but bear in mind I have only been using it on and off for about a year.
Hope this helps