Tips for a first-time user of a treeless saddle?

[slackerstalker]

I'm about to start sponsoring a new horse who is ridden with a treeless saddle. The owner wrote a description of her recommendations for how it's different from a treed-saddle (the only kind I've ever used

Comments

[lovemeinfocus]

Treeless saddles to me, feel like riding bareback with stirrups (though much safer!). Basically, ride in a treeless saddle the way you would bareback -- relying much more on your balance and keeping your thighs and upper legs relaxed. Does that make sense?

It's hard for me to give more specific advice without knowing what brand of treeless saddle. Do you know, by any chance? They all feel and ride a bit different.

I love treeless saddles and am currently working toward saving money to get a Bob Marshall treeless saddle. They are absolutely fabulous and the most comfortable ride I've ever had!

ETA: posting vs sitting trot -- I've sat and posted in various types of treeless saddles (jumped, too) with no issues. It is, however, very dependent on having the correct saddle pad under the saddle. Do you know what kind of pad the horse has?

[slackerstalker]

I don't know the type of treeless saddle, but I do know about the types of pads: she describes using a Skito pad with blue mesh top and a white dressage pad for use under that (closest to the horse's back). There's also a Dixie Midnight pad for hot days or if the felt pad is away being washed.

[lovemeinfocus]

Skito pads are perfect, though I'd recommend putting the Dixie Midnight pad under it at all times, but hey, that's just me.

I've ridden in both the Barefoot treeless saddles and the Bob Marshalls and both have a slightly different feel.

For the record, if the saddle says ANYTHING that looks like "Hilason"...run for the hills, because that saddle can and will fall apart on you!

[lyonesse]

i've used a couple of sensation treeless saddles, including for teaching. and must confess i don't see tons of difference in use. then again i also do a lot of bareback riding.

the idea that you want to spread your weight across your whole seat and leg -- basically everything that can be weight-bearing should be -- is just good general practice. even if you are in two-point, your weight should ride in your calves as well as your stirrups.

the sensation is designed to spread the stirrup weight through the whole saddle though -- if the stirrups are basically attached just in a "strip" across the horse's back, then i'd agree you should be lighter in them than optimal. (and honestly i'd question the design of such a saddle, too....)

[dreamswept]

I had a treeless saddle for a few years. Actually, I started with a Barefoot Cheyenne, then sold that after about 6 months and spent my my life's savings a lot of money on a western Sensation. Loved that saddle, really and boy, did it ever hold its value when my Haflinger broke the pipe fence and I needed money fast for hefty fence repair bills. I'm back in a treed saddle again (a buckaroo Wade <3 <3) and probably won't be going back to treeless unless I win the lottery, but Sensations are among the better treeless along with the Bob Marshalls.

I did find that my pony wasn't too comfortable going downhill in a treeless unless I sat on him just right.

[teh_kusogaki]

Do you have your own tack at all? If you have a saddle that might fit him consider asking his owner if it's okay for you to ride in your own tack that you are familiar/comfortable with using.

Sorry I don't have much advice on treeless saddles; they make me a bit weary. Some of them look like little more then glorified bareback pads and give me nightmarish visions of them rolling under the horse (though more recently I have seen some that look pretty solid and sturdy, but haven't had the opportunity to try one)

Good luck with everything; I hope you have fun with this new horse ^_^

[slackerstalker]

I think the owner is pretty particular about what tack is used on her horse, and I doubt the saddle I own would fit her horse (I could be wrong-- I'll find out soon enough). Thank you for the well-wishes! I hope this works out (really a lot). The barn is equipped mostly for trail riding, which is my favorite thing, and the trails run through a gorgeous part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (Marin County, CA, on the Pacific Ocean). Take a gander at the photos on the barn's website: http://oceanridersofmarin.wordpress.com/ -- Gorgeous!

[teh_kusogaki]

It looks lovely there; color me jealous.

I love trail riding. I wish I had a trailer and could take my girl out to some of the nice trails around here.

[linasfyre]

Please use a breast collar or something like that if you do ride in it.

My friends best friend(who WAS an excellent and experienced horsewoman) rode in a treeless and...well...lets just say the accident was so horrific she is totally out of horses now. I don't know much about treeless saddles-but basically the saddle got caught (they were out waayayyyy out trail riding/camping) and slipped and yep...
Not saying a breast collar will save the day, but I will never ever ever use a treeless saddle.

Bareback pad yes, for those days when I feel like I want to ride with no tack but don't want to murder my horses back with my butt bones, but as an every day rider-no. Maybe I'm in a negative nancy mood, but I interpret those instructions as "dont ride properly." If you can't "rely heavily on your stirrups" then posting to make yourself lighter on his back will definitely give you legs of freakin steeeeeell!!!!

Again, not trying to rain on the parade I just literally almost fall into paralysis when I think about a treeless saddle.

[slackerstalker]

I appreciate your perspective! Being totally new to the concept I admit I share some of your skepticism. I've made a note to ask the owner if she's considered using a breast collar or the like.

[miladyelizabeth]

I've heard more than one story like this, where a horse shied and the saddle slid and bad stuff happened. I think treeless saddles are iffy, as do both of the saddle fitters I've worked with.