Are treeless saddles good?
On One Hand: A More Natural RideA treeless saddle works for just about any horse. A treeless saddle eliminates the need to purchase new saddles as a horse’s body changes over time and is a good solution for hard-to-fit horses. A treeless saddle is flexible, providing a ride that is similar to riding bareback–the rider and the horse have more freedom of movement.On the Other: Natural Is Not Necessarily BetterA poorly fit treed saddle can be harmful to the horse, but a treeless saddle causes pain as well. Treeless saddles force the rider to sit on the horse’s spine, potentially causing long-term damage. There is also no framework on a treeless saddle to stabilize it on the horse’s back, making this saddle difficult for beginning riders to use.Bottom LineA 2007 study from the Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) found that there is no advantage to using a treeless saddle instead of a treed version–a properly fitted treed saddle is much easier on the horse. However, an incorrectly fitted tre
