Re: Bob Marshall Treeless Saddles w/ proper padding

["Karen Sullivan" <greymare@jps.net>]

Lynda, I have ridden these for 9 years, successfully.  The reason they work
(at least for my family), is that they conform to the shape of the back as
it moves and changes shape. They are not entirely TREELESS.  There are two
tree pieces, the pommel and cantle, and are connnected between the top and
bottom of the saddle by a V shaped rigging.  This helps distribute weight
evenly.  So, if you are standing in the stirrups, the weight is spread
out....

Keep in mind, a traditional tree can only distributre weight evenly if it
fits the back exactly, and how can this happen when the back changes shape
as the horse raises and lowers his head and bends his body?

Anyway, I  have 5 sport saddles, and use them on all my 5 horses....I find
them lightweight, extremely well balanced and my horses travel better.  I
ride with a loose group of 12 or so friends who all have them, on a variety
of horse colors and shapes.  I have NEVER  seen any back sores, pressure
marks or white hairs caused by these saddles.  I cannot even begin to list
the number of people I know that used traditional treed sadddles for YEARS,
only to find damage; that switched to the sport saddles.

It's essential, I believe, to  use a skito pad with equalizer foam-this pad
is shaped to the back and has a small air channel down the spine.

I check my horses backs after any rides; have not found soreness, and at the
few endurance rides they do, they are A's on their backs.

Best example of successful  use if Karen Chaton, who has THOUSANDS of AERC
miles in Sport saddles, including Tevis and the summer XP rides, day after
day.

I find that the normal sitrrup position is too far forward; my saddles have
them moved back 2" , under me.

Karen Sullivan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cliff Fenneman" <cfly@concentric.net>
To: <guest@endurance.net>
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2001 10:41 AM
Subject: RC: Bob Marshall Treeless Saddles w/ proper padding


> I thought the point of a tree in a saddle was to distribute weight
> evenly. So what is the point of the "treeless" saddle. Besides being
> funny looking...what are their recommendations?
> Lynda
>
> guest@endurance.net wrote:
>
> >dlm tpl@qzip.net
> >What opinions do you have about the Bob Marshall Treeless saddles?
> >
> >
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> >.
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