FAQs
Often when someone is considering changing from something they are used to, like a saddle with a tree, to an unknown, like a saddle without a tree they have many questions. We have tried to answer many of those questions here. If you have other questions, please feel free to call Saddle Up at (540) 271-4577.
- Why should I consider riding a treeless saddle? What is wrong with a tree?
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The Freeform Saddles, designed without a tree, are designed to be extremely flexible, comfortable and secure. The flexibility of the Freeform Saddles minimizes interference with the horse’s natural gaits and allows full freedom of movement without restriction.
As a rider, you will have noticeably greater contact with your horse’s motion, giving you more “feel” than you can achieve with a traditional treed saddle. You will also notice that your horse will have easier movement.
- If there is no solid tree between my seat and my horse’s back, am I not sitting directly on the horse’s spine?
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No. The seat bones of the rider are positioned left and right of the horse’s vertebrae, so your weight is well distributed. Additionally, Freeform’s foam injection molding technology protects both your horse and you from direct pressure points.
- Where should my Freeform saddle be placed on my horse?
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When riding in a Freeform Saddle you want your seat to be in the spot where you would naturally sit when riding bareback.
- Will I have to ride differently or sit in my Freeform saddle differently than I would my treed saddle?
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In a Freeform saddle you will sit totally around the natural shape of your horse. Initially you may feel some stretching of the muscles of your inner thighs, but they will soon adjust.
The Freeform Saddles have an adjustable stirrup attachment designed to allow different stirrup placements. This allows you to position your stirrups so you may sit easily in a balanced, natural hip-shoulder-heel alignment. You can be in total balance and in tune with your horse.
- How will my Freeform Saddle feel to my horse?
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Your horse will be delighted. He will be moving much more freely, especially in the shoulders, and will generally be moving with a bigger stride.
The design of the Freeform Saddles moves with the contours of your horse’s back in motion. The “Y” girthing system distributes pressure over the whole of the saddle. Since the Freeform Saddles fit to the shape of your horse’s back, whether at rest or in motion, there is greatly diminished stress to your horse.
- What fittings and accessories can I use with my Freeform Saddle?
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Freeform Saddles are equipped with interchangeable dressage billet straps to help aid in finding the correct girth grove. You can use any regular dressage girth. Center fire rigging is available on most Trail saddles. Western models are equipped with one large D-ring. The front D-rings provide for the use of a standard breast collar. One-inch English style stirrup leathers are available to match your Freeform Saddle. Freeform stirrup leathers are a single piece of leather and attach with a buckle at the stirrup bar. This eliminates bulk under your thigh, greatly increasing your comfort and contact with your horse.
We also have Fenders, and Wave leathers that are 2” wide for the trail type saddles. And if you decide you’d like to change disciplines, we offer Mono Dressage and All Purpose flaps to add to your trail type saddle.