What saddle pad should I use with a treeless saddle?
Thinline® saddle pad for treeless saddles allows and encourages optimal communication between horse and rider.
Do treeless saddles need a special pad?
If you ride with a treeless saddle, you will want to have a quality saddle pad to go with. The best treeless saddle pads offer cushioning, support, and a proper fit to ensure your horse will be comfortable. Ideally, they should have shock-absorbing foam, silicone, or felt inserts to improve performance.
Do you use a saddle pad with a treeless saddle?
With all treeless saddles, you should use a saddle pad with shock absorbing foam or felt inserts on either side of the spine, leaving the spine channel clear.
Are treeless saddles good for horses backs?
Elite (equine) athletes require support, comfort and protection to perform optimally. Without a tree, a bareback pad/treeless saddle cannot protect the horse’s spine, support the curvature of the rider’s spine, and be comfortable for both horse and rider.
How should a treeless saddle fit?
As far as fitting a treeless saddle, the part no one talks about is the relationship of the rider’s leg to the horse’s back shape. If the rider has a thin thigh and the horse has a relatively narrow back, or at least is narrow through the rider’s leg area, both horse and rider will be very comfortable.
Are treeless saddles good for high withered horses?
One of the main reasons for needing to use a treeless pad under a bareback pad, is to relieve pressure for high withered horses. Horses with a high wither or under developed topline may benefit from the extra foam inserts either side of the backbone that provide a channel.
What are the disadvantages of a treeless saddle?
Treeless Saddles: Are They Bad for Horses?
- Treeless saddles can be bad for some horses because they don’t distribute a rider’s weight evenly which can cause spine injuries, muscle soreness, and saddle sores, especially when riding over long distances.
- Treeless saddles may not be suitable for large riders.
What size seat do I need in a treeless saddle?
Sizing for the Rider
Saddle fit for the rider is equally important as saddle fit for the horse. The primary consideration for the rider of a treeless saddle is the seat size. The Freeform Saddles are available in seat size 15” – 19” [English saddle seat sizing].
Do you need a Numnah for a treeless saddle?
Treeless saddles have a flat underside and therefore require specially designed numnahs called “Pads”. They are designed to raise the saddle on either side of the withers and spine, providing a pressure-free zone above the spine.
Does gullet size matter on a treeless saddle?
The width of the gullet on a traditional treed saddle is important because it must clear the spine of the horse as the saddle shifts from side to side.
Do horses like treeless saddles?
Treeless saddles can be bad for some horses because they don’t distribute a rider’s weight evenly which can cause spine injuries, muscle soreness, and saddle sores, especially when riding over long distances. However, they do allow a horse to move more naturally.
What do I need to know about treeless saddles?
Treeless styles are lighter options that allow the rider to sit closer to the horse’s back, but they may also be less secure than those with saddle trees and are more likely to cause pain for the horse or rider if not fitted carefully. Treeless saddles come in Western, English and trail styles.
Are treeless saddles one size fits all?
Pros of Treeless Saddles
Many people choose to own a treeless saddle because the less-rigid structure can allow one saddle to be used on multiple horses with differently shaped backs, although a true one-size-fits-all solution is unlikely.
Does a treeless saddle fit any horse?
Just because a saddle is treeless does not mean that it will fit any horse you put it on. Not all treeless saddles fit all horses (or riders), and when purchasing one, it is just as important to “try before you buy” as with a traditional Western or English saddle.