Horse people, has anyone tried Treeless or Flex Tree saddles??

[Azriel]

I have a very nice pleasure saddle that I really like, BUT, I was just given a new horse and my saddle does not fit her. I have Arabs and Arab crosses, and my saddle is great for them, but this new horse is BIG. The guy that gave her to me also lent me his saddle for her, but it is a big heavy roping saddle and I cannot lift it on to her.
I was in a car accident a couple of years ago, and crushed several vertebra and no longer have a lot of upper body strength, and lifting a big almost 40# saddle over my head to get it on this horse just isn't happening.
I have been wanting to get another saddle anyway, and have been looking at the Treeless and Flex tree, so I can use it on a wider range of horse sizes, or body types. If you have used this type of saddle, how do you like it? I hate to pay $900-$1500 for a saddle I don't like. Let me know what brand you have, Treeless or Flex Tree, and love it or hate it.
Thanks.

 

[michickenwrangler]

I have a Bob Marshall Treeless Endurance saddle that I use for (duh!) endurance. My Arab/Saddlebred's back changes shape over the year with conditioning so I like the saddle for that reason. I also LOVE the saddle because it's like riding bareback but with a saddle. I feel very secure and more "part" of the horse than in a saddle with a tree. I've also used my saddle on 3 different Tennessee Walkers, a purebred Arab, an Quarter Horse and a Paint.

Here's a pic of me recently dismounted at the end of a ride where you can see the saddle.

<a href="https://www.backyardchickens.com/ga...d/4542369/sort/display_order#order=10&albumId

Bob Marshall makes an excellent saddle but there are other brands out there. I paid about $1200 for that saddle over 10 years ago and never regretted it. It's still in excellent shape and has served me well. And yes, very lightweight too. They also have "western" style ones and you can also order the endurance with a western style cantle and pommel for more back support.

Hope this was helpful!

 

[michickenwrangler]

OK, how the heck does one post images on here with thie wacky new system?

 

[Azriel]

Thanks, I could not acess the photo, but good to know you like the saddle. I did manage to get that big roping saddle on my new mare, she was great. I found a half barrel that I turned upside down, got the saddle on the barrel, then I got on the barrel and lifted/shoved the saddle on the horse. She looked at me like I was nuts, but never moved a bit.
I think treeless is the way I'm going to go with a new saddle, it would be nice to have a saddle that would fit several body types.

 

[Azriel]

Oh, to put a photo on the post, click the icon right above where you start typing it will take you to your photo album, then click on the photo you want, click open, then submit. Your photo should be added to the post.

 

[Peaches Lee]

You could also look into Wintec saddles; they are very lightweight.