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.