The Damaging Effects of Treeless Saddles

A saddle tree lifts a saddle up off the horse's back and distributes a rider's weight evenly on either side of the horse's spine. A treeless saddle is designed to approximate the feeling of riding bareback. While treeless saddles offer the horse more freedom and flexibility than traditional saddles, concerns exist that they can cause damage to a horse's spine.

  1. Function

    • Saddles provide the rider with both support and control over a horse while protecting its back from the weight of the rider. Treeless saddles are designed to place a rider in closer contact with a horse to allow both horse and rider greater freedom of movement.

    Features

    • Traditional saddles are rigid and give riders a secure, stable position on a horse. A saddle tree made of wood or fiberglass elevates the rider and avoids placing disproportional pressure on any area of the horse's back. Trees were originally intended to help horses bear the tremendous weight of an armored rider. Treeless saddles, on the other hand, are lightweight and flexible enough to move with the horse.

    Benefits

    • A traditional saddle must be extensively fitted and adjusted to avoid causing the horse pain from chafing or improperly distributed weight. Because of this, a saddle is generally only used by a single horse. Treeless saddles, on the other hand, require less adjusting and are more universal. Because treeless saddles are less structured and rigid, they provide greater long-term comfort, making them a favorite of endurance riders who need to remain on a horse for prolonged periods. While saddle prices vary, treeless saddles are generally less expensive, as they require less skill and labor to construct.

    Considerations

    • Inexperienced riders should use caution when riding with a treeless saddle, as it may be more difficult to control and remain mounted upon the horse. In 2007, the Society of Master Saddlers in the United Kingdom carried out comprehensive pressure testing on various brands of treeless saddles and found no advantages to their use over traditional saddles. In addition, testing showed that all brands of treeless saddles exerted pressure on a horse's spine, whereas the traditional saddles included in the test did not. The report concluded that traditional saddles, when used properly, were better for a horse's well-being than treeless saddles.

    Warning

    • To prevent injuries to the horse, use special padding with a treeless saddle to avoid causing harmful pressure points on a horse's back. All saddles, traditional or treeless, must be properly fitted to avoid causing pain or injury to the horse or rider.