Treeless Saddles

As an equine veterinarian who emphasizes correct saddle-fit and who works closely with Certified Master Saddlers, I am frequently asked about treeless saddles as an option for difficult to fit horses, or owners on a budget. The saddle tree forms a platform of communication between your seat (your number one aid) and the horse's back, while protecting the spine and sensitive structures (in the case of correct fit). Treeless saddles have become more popular as people are educated about saddle-fit and deduce that if trees can pinch they must be "bad." However, some treeless saddles sit directly on the horse's withers and spine, and provide little protection to the horse's back. In the attached photo, a computerized saddle pad was used beneath a treeless saddle in live motion to document any pressure patterns. One can clearly see the focal pressure at the left front, the bridging (contact at the front and rear with no contact in between) on the right side, and the constant contact at the rear of the saddle on the horse's spine. The take home message is that "one doesn't fit all" and that each horse and saddle must be evaluated individually. Just because a saddle doesn't have a tree, doesn't mean that it automatically fits the horse.

To the Equine Advocate

Dear Equine Advocate,
Enough is enough! Draw reins and devices, hollow backs, soring, racing practices, young horse training methods, drugs and injections,  sales pitches,  oodles of supplements... when does it end?  Horses were treasured as a means of transportation, but with the moderization and industrialization of our society, the equine is now a considered a status symbol.  The equine industry currently generates 112 billion dollars annually in GNP, and encompasses trailers, entertainment, saddles and equipment, training, bedding and feed, veterinary care, and more!  The horse's very life currently depends on the fact that we want him around, whether as a family member, or to enhance our egos.  And we spend loads of money to prove that point.
In our dire rush to achieve success, these amazing creatures are often subjected to harsh and early training, any number of gadgets and equipment improperly understood and misused, and veterinary and farrier care  directed at achieving keeping an animal going whatever it takes. Often, what is only needed, is understanding.
More and more riders are coming into the industry at an older age, and with little background in horsemanship. These equestrians rely on the professionals around them for sage advice and guidance. Sadly, the industry is plagued by intentional ne'er do wells looking for a quick buck, or by those who mean well but simply lack correct information.  In a sport such as golf, where you play by yourself, that scenario is bad enough...but add a living, breathing, 1300lb creature, and you are responsible for yourself AND your partner. And! Your partner doesn't speak in words! So how do you know what to do, and if what you are being told is right?
Hippoh Foundation was established to set the record straight - to use science-based teaching and the unity of equine professionals working together to provide a voice for the horse. We intend to be an uncompromising force in the effort to highlight malpractice in the equine industry - and to explain WHY and HOW these practices are detrimental to the physical and emotional well-being of your horse. And better yet, we intend to provide resources and options to help you find the correct path and return harmony and integrity to your equine experience.
Please join us in this endeavor.
Sincerely,
HIPPOH Foundation