Freeform Treeless Saddle Giveaway - Winner

I am very Interrested in this saddle.

1. Freeform saddles are beneficial for horses and riders for many reasons. The lack of a tree helps the saddle move freely along the horse’s back rather than being rigid. Flex-panel saddles often have major pressure points, unlike Freeforms. A rider can benefit due to the narrow twist and wide seat, which relieves hip pain. Hip pain is a common pain that many riders of all ages struggle with. Additionally, this design relieves back pain.
2. I have had two horses who struggle with saddle fit. One of my horses is swaybacked with a high wither, and I could not find any saddle that worked for him. At the City of Rocks Endurance Ride in 2023, we were 75 miles into a multi-day race and he was suddenly backsore. I thought I had found a treed saddle that worked; I was mistaken. A friend generously let me use hers for the remaining 25 miles and his soreness seemed to slowly go away. The vet had told me that if I could find a saddle that did not make the soreness work, I would not be pulled. We ended up winning junior best condition both days. We would have been pulled if it weren’t for that Freeform. My mare also struggled with back soreness after long rides, so I finally ended up retiring the Bates saddle I was using and switching to an OrthoFlex. She ended up getting sore after 30 miles. Her old owner rode her in a Freeform with no issues. I also always end up getting intense lower back pain with any saddle I’ve tried and I have adjusted my riding to relieve that back pain as best as I can, but it is still prevalent, no matter what I do.
3. My goal is to complete Tevis this year and I cannot do that with an ill-fitting saddle. I know my horse will be much happier in a Freeform and I believe riding in a Freeform will immensley help my own problems. I am a fairly balanced rider but the back pain is always agonizing after 20 miles, along with the hip pain. I am only 16 and I will do whatever I can to stay in this sport, and I hope my back pain will be relieved if I can get a Freeform. My mare is 15 and I cannot afford to ride her in a poorly fitting saddle anymore. My mare has thrived in Freeforms in the past, along with my gelding (who is now retired), and I desperately hope that we can find a solution to her back pain before the Eagle Canyon Endurance Ride in April.

Thank you for hosting this, and good luck to all!

The flexiblity that a Freeform can offer will ensure that both myself and my horse will be comfortable! I am impressed by how customizable the saddles are, and that I can find a fit that is healthiest for my horse’s back, allowing freedom of movement and security for me.

The biggest challenge for me and my horse are that he is a young draft cross and therefore will still be growing for a few years. Traditional saddles pinch at the wither, bridge along his back, and are too long for a short-backed horse. As his body goes through some awkward growth spurts, its necessary to have a saddle that can be adjusted to fit well and distribute my weight evenly.

I am taking my time with him to do what I can to keep him healthy and sound. My last riding horse is sound at 24 and I rode him for 21 years. He’s now my daughter’s mount! I want to do the best I can to keep my new horse sound and happy for just as long, and I think one of the most important things you can do for a young horse is to help develop their muscles slowly and correctly, and saddle fit is paramount to that success. Research and technology has come a long way in making saddles better and better, and the Freeform has the research and successes to back up their claims!

When I got my first horse I did not know much about horses. I tried two different saddles before I gave up and had another saddled personally made for her. After spending all that time and money the custom saddle also hurt her movement. She could not walk out and used short choppy steps. I learned that she has a short back and all of the saddles I tried limited her shoulder movement. Then I tried a freeform and have used it on her for over 11 years. She has never had a movement problem again. When I remove the saddle after a ride her sweat marks are never on her spine. I also love the comfort of the seat and the lightness of the saddle. I was originally concerned about mounting and safety riding without a tree but that has never been an issue. It hugs her in comfort.

My second horse that I got 9 years ago it was easy to decide what saddle to get…..another freeform. The same has been true for both horses. Both horses are Paso Finos, small with short backs and a lot of shoulder movement. Both horses are movement free and I am comfortable with each saddle.

I rescued my third horse but he is not a Paso Fino. He is a Rocky Mountain that is bigger, not as short backed, wider but still a gaited horse with a lot of shoulder movement. I have been repeating my first mistake. I am now on my third saddle with a tree that does not allow him to move freely. I also find I get tired of saddling him and trying to stay in the same spot in the saddles. I am ready for another bigger freeform for him. I have learned that any horse, no matter their breed or size, can stride better in a freeform.

A Freeform treeless saddle would be beneficial to my horse and I for many reasons. A treeless saddle conforms to the horse and prevents saddle sores and aids in comfort for both the horse and rider. It provides proper fit for both, making a ride comfortable for both horse and rider. A
properly fit saddle makes for a happy horse, and a happy horse has a happy rider.

A challenge my horse and I have had is to find just the right saddle so we can both enjoy our trail rides, and be comfortable. A badly fit saddle gives a horse saddle sores, and the horse is miserable and does not move freely. I have found many saddles that do this, and as a rider my horse’s comfort is a must!! And so many saddles that are supposed to be comfortable for the rider are not, the saddle is off balance in make and throws the rider’s balance off. The rider ends up getting sore knee joints or back pain, making riding no longer a joy.

A Freeform saddle would help my horse by giving a proper fit/conformity and make for more free movement and flow. Also, it would give me ,as the rider, a more comfortable ride and not have to worry about sore joints and back pain. My horse would be pain free and happy, and THAT would make me happy. Choosing the correct saddle ,and fit for your horse ,would be a breeze with the Freeform saddle. Thus making ANY ride an enjoyable one, and many happy memories.

Thanks

Why are Freeform treeless saddles beneficial for horses and riders?
Why hey are made for the comfort of both. Due to the attention to fit and detail both horse and rider can perform to their best potential.
What challenges have you and your horse had with saddles and saddle fit?
The horse has a flat back and mutton withers- this makes it very difficult to find a saddle that fits!
How will a Freeform saddle specifically help you and your horse?
Other saddles made for a standard back rock and dig into his back. He really needs a Freeform saddle for comfort and fit!

Always wanted for my new Kentucky mountain horse. She’s sweet and needs a good saddle. Just trying to win something never do so. I’ll just wait. Ty

I believe, very strongly, “If my horse isn’t happy, I am not happy!” We put many miles on in our daily rides……..her comfort is paramount. Perfect balanced, supported seat for my weight without a wooden tree digging into her back, pressure points are gone, easy to clean, I do it often, pad, and a design to fit her unique body….this is the answer we all crave.
My Fell Pony is VERY hard to fit. Currently in an 3X, yup she is wide and very short backed…..get that saddle off that ponies hip so she can move out…..thank you Freeform as I believe you would do that! Imagine the connection and feel she and I will have as we ride together. She loves to see the world!
I am an old-ER rider. (truly it is amazing how many of us are out there). Safety and comfort become so much more important. Freeform has the ease to saddle, light weight, comfort for me and balance as I ride……this is what is necessary. When my pony is happy, I am happy! 🦄

A Freeform saddle benefits the horse by not being rigid. This allows more freedom of movement for the horse. It also allows for less saddle fitting problems in the horses. With the horse having freer movement, the rider has a more comfortable ride since the horse can relax their back muscles and move through the body. The Rider’s body will not have the jarring forces on it and will be saved a lot of wear and tear over years of riding.

I have had issues in the past finding a saddle to fit the variety of horses that I ride. I owned a thoroughbred that was somewhat narrow and high withered. My other horse is a daughter of hers by a warmblood stallion. She has somewhat high withers but is much wider. Then several of my clients havr horses that are wide and had little or no wither. My husband has Gypsies, so they are very round and wide. My current project is a small pony that is 12.2 hands. Comparatively speaking, he has a short back and not nearly as much drop in his barrel. I don’t want to use a saddle that will sit too far back on his back or that has flaps that come too far down his body. But finding something like that to fit an adult rider is tough.

A Freeform saddle will help my pony have freedom in his movement. Being treeless, there will be nothing rigid to sit behind his ribcage to cause back pain. The treeless saddle will allow me to communicate in a precise way with him as I work to teach him ridden dressage work to help his driven dressage work. My boy is a very fancy Welsh Mountain Pony that I hope to combined drive one day and stand at stud.