[dockeramb]

No matter what brand of saddle, I'm interested in what they are like. I'm not sure if that's what they are called, but it's treeless. I would love to know how you like them and why? I've always wondered how they felt to ride in!! I'm looking to buy one, but I'd like to get some input first! And do you think they are better for a horses back? Any info. would be great!!! OH, and what brand should I look at? Thanks so much!!!

[Moostang]

I take it you mean flex-Tree not flex-Free.
I have a Courbette Cresta it is not a treeless saddle. It has the E-motion Panel, which is basically a flex tree and I love it. My horse has a hard to fit back, I had a lot of problems with dry spots under my saddle on my wintec no matter which gullet I used so I got this one. I now am having an even sweat pattern and he seems to move a lot more comfortably.

[3WishesDun]

I have the same as Moostang...and like it very much.

[Trixiesue]

I ride a Circle-Y flex fit saddle for trail riding. I have also ridden in the Reinsman Flex Tree saddles as well. We got to Demo on of the very first flex fit saddle that Circle-Y made (we are a Circle-Y dealer) I was shocked at the close-contact feeling you get with those saddles, They fit awesome, and if I had to find any faults with them it would be that if your horse has higher withers they do have a tendency to run alittle wider than normal especially with weight is in the saddle, and second you must put lock tight on the saddle screws because of the tree flexing the screws will back themselves out a little bit.

[Shotgun93]

there is a difference between flex tree and treeless saddles. The difference is in how they fit the horse. A flex tree wil fit your horse 99% of the time, a treeless will only fit about half the horse out there.

I only ride in flex trees. I have the same saddle that 3WD and Moostang have and I love it. I also have the Courbette Arosa with the same tree and I have a Big Horn flex tree reiner. I love them all, they fit every horse I try them on and they are very comfy.

Also, treeless saddles can be hit or miss. If you have a horse with high withers or a prominant spine, you can't use them, and they really can do a lot of damage to a horses back if they don't fit correctly. I know a lot of people swear by Ansur english saddles and Bob Marshal western saddles, but I don't like them.

[lvmypnt]

I ride in a Circle Y Flex Light western saddle. I have never used a treeless.

[dockeramb]

Thanks for the info. everyone!!!! It really helped me out on understanding the 2 different types out there. I'll go with a flex tree!!!! They sound alot better for the horse!!! And I'm excited about having closer contact with the horse!!! Thanks again!!!

[Shannon]

I have a Courbette Alpina, with a similiar (if not the same) tree as Moostang, 3WD, and Shotgun. You really can tell a difference between it and a "fixed" tree saddle, though it didn't fit my mare. It has pressure points near the pommel

I'm not verry familiar with treeless saddles, though I did see some at Equine Affair. They were *very* pricey, upwards of $1000. Just FYI!

[Lindsayanne]

I bought the same saddle as 3WD, shotgun, and Moostang (because I wanted to be cool like them ) and actually found it really uncomfortable. Everyone's built different, and these ladies love that saddle, but I just had to point out flex tree doesn't mean "comfortable for everyone".

It didn't fit my horse as well as the spring tree we use currently, either. Maybe it would have self-adjusted more if we'd used it for several weeks or months, but I wasn't willing to endure the discomfort on my end to find out.

[Shannon]

Originally Posted by Lindsayanne

I bought the same saddle as 3WD, shotgun, and Moostang (because I wanted to be cool like them ) and actually found it really uncomfortable. Everyone's built different, and these ladies love that saddle, but I just had to point out flex tree doesn't mean "comfortable for everyone".

It didn't fit my horse as well as the spring tree we use currently, either. Maybe it would have self-adjusted more if we'd used it for several weeks or months, but I wasn't willing to endure the discomfort on my end to find out.

If the Arosa is built the same as the Alpina, I totally agree with you! The seat was extremely hard, and there was a *very* fine line between having the saddle too far back and too far forward. It was impossible to keep it in the right position, so my poor crotchbones were constantly sitting awkwardly on the seat. I easily fixed the issue of it being uncomfortable for me with a sheepskin seat saver, but the saddle never really fit my mare well.