Are treeless saddles good for barrel racing?

However, today trail riders and barrel racers have embraced treeless saddles. Treeless saddles are especially suitable for thin riders and for horses with swayed backs.

Are treeless saddles any good?

Treeless saddles (which are essentially bareback pads) may work for a while, especially if the horse has been ridden in a badly fitting treed saddle, but eventually constant pressure will cause long-term damage.

Do treeless saddles fit any horse?

Just because a saddle is treeless does not mean that it will fit any horse you put it on. Not all treeless saddles fit all horses (or riders), and when purchasing one, it is just as important to “try before you buy” as with a traditional Western or English saddle.

Do treeless saddles need a special pad?

Though you don’t necessarily need a special pad for a treeless saddle, you need to make sure it provides the proper support. They do make specific treeless saddle pads that can be a great option.

Is a Barrel saddle good for trail riding?

The main job of a barrel saddle is to be light weight and keep the rider snug in the saddle. You can also trail ride out of barrel saddles, but you can not rope out of them. The horn is not sturdy enough and will break if you tried roping or dragging out of it.

Do treeless saddles cause kissing spine?

As I suggested in our first post, horses hollow their backs in response to saddles that create pain. This is the principal cause of Kissing Spine. Trying to recover a horse from this condition by riding in such a saddle makes no sense.

How do you keep a treeless saddle from slipping?

There are a few tricks to keep your saddle secure. First, of course, is to stay balanced. Treeless saddles may reveal that you lean to one side, put more weight in one stirrup than the other, or are easily jostled out of position. Second, is try not to mount from the ground.

What is the advantage of a treeless saddle?

Pros of Treeless Saddles Without tree points putting pressure on the horse’s shoulders as they move, many horse owners find that their horses’ strides are longer and freer, allowing better quality of movement in performance horses. A treeless saddle may flex and move with a horse’s motion.

Can you pleasure ride in a barrel saddle?

Where should a treeless saddle sit?

Treeless saddles do not have a solid tree to block the rotation of the scapula (shoulder), therefore they should be fitted over the scapula as shown in the diagram above. The red circle represents where the saddle pommel will sit.

What size barrel saddle should I get?

What size saddle do I need?

	Up to 50 lbs	100 to 150 lbs
Roping	12″	13″ to 15″
Pleasure / Trail	10″ to 12″	14″ to 15″
Barrel	10″ to 12″	13″ to 14″
Rancher	12″	13″ to 15″

What makes a good barrel saddle?

What Makes a Good Barrel Saddle? A good barrel saddle will have a deep seat, high cantle, tall horn, and wide swells. Ideally, they should also have a suede seat, free-swinging fenders, and side jockeys, short skirts, narrow stirrups with good grip, and in-skirt rigging.

Do treeless saddles have stirrups?

The short answer is yes. A traditional treed English saddle has a recessed metal stirrup bar affixed to the tree of the saddle.

What is the purpose of a barrel saddle?

Barrel saddles are used for the event of Barrel Racing. They have a deep seat to grip the rider in during those sharp, fast turns. They also have a tall horn for a good grip and a taller pommel to secure the rider. A barrel saddle also has a higher cantle to allow more security while going around a turn.

What is a treeless barrel saddle?

This treeless barrel saddle allows all the freedom of movement you and your horse need to get the win. Two models to choose from, too. Shown here is the 3″ horn; you may prefer the shorter 2.5″ horn saddle option that is also available. This treeless saddle is ideal for those who want the security of an upright swell and tall 5″ cantle.

What are the pros and cons of treeless saddles?

The rider can get into a rhythm with the movement of the horse. Treeless saddle defenders state that a rider can easily transmit riding aids to the horse, which in turn helps them to execute crisp transitions and movements. It is a fact that the treeless saddle can be slightly longer than a traditional saddle since the tree is absent.

How to choose a saddle for a treeless horse?

If the horse you intend to use the saddle on has a rounded or wide back in conjunction with low withers, you would be wise to take special care in choosing your new saddle. A treeless saddle wants to turn and slide sideways on a horse with this type of conformation.

Why don’t upper-level riders use treeless saddles?

Defenders of traditional saddles often bring up the fact that most of the upper-level riders do not use treeless saddles. The idea is that there are reasons behind this lack of participation.