You can now get them with a latigo as well, I have the very old version which i am using to back my youngster. i found when using it its harder to use your weight becasue the saddle doesnt have a gullet or anything, the new ones do now so they may be a little beter. they dont look too bad but you need a deeper pad for them the flaps are quite long. there is another western treeless that looks nicer but is a lot more expensive called the bob marshall.

you can only compete the one that has a horn and looks like a western i think it is called the Nevada or the arizona? not sure. if your horse is really wide after a while your legs start to ache

I have the Barefoot Arizonia. I love this saddle . I use it on my heavy cob and all my Fell ponies, no probs. COz they are round ponies , it slips when mounting, but that is not a prob for me as I have to use the fence anyway coz of an injury. ALso it is the only saddle I can ride in. I have found my cob does not understand my seat aids in a tree western saddle, but responds fab in the treeless. I have also found when my leg stops working (from a accident), he can still get what I want, plus I can ride for hours in this. With a treed saddle, the concussion on my spine and hip was unbeliveably painful, I could just about manage 20 mins (and this was with a very smooth paced horse). It is not an issue in the barefoot. (Not even a fittness issue as I can still only do 20mins in a treed, but then go onto the barefoot and ride for hours).

The only thing against them is I would never let a beginner use one because you need to be a secure rider so as not to cause pressue points. I am also a equine body worker (bit like a physio) and my horses backs are fab with the treeless. but then again they are all native ponies wiht plenty of flesh over the spine. I would not use a treeless on a high withered horse.

AS always, its a case of what works for some, is no good for others, but I highly reccomend the Barefoot Arizona saddle.

You arent meant to mount from the grund in a treeless saddle

Actually you should never mount from the ground in any saddle due to the pressure put on the spinous processes (withers) as it can break and fracture them. On some horses the withers are up to 18 inchs long so the saddle acts like a lever as can crack them....ouch!!!

Hi everyone and thanx very much for your opinions. After quite a spate of disastrous saddles I am now the proud owner of a lovely western saddle from Trekers up in yorkshire. They did a fit to my drawings and photos and my little mare has never gone better. Its a lovley comfy saddle and doesnt shift if she spooks etc which all the english ones we tried did.she has a broad back and no withers so i chose a flexi tree on full quarter bars which fits a treat.
very happy pony and happy owner!
fi

Hi
How much did this service and Saddle cost?

Katie