I really enjoyed watching this - great to see such sound knowledge shared and to put the horse comfort first. I wanted to add that not all flex trees behave as you state. Some barely flex despite being called flex trees. And treeless definitely work for some combinations of horse and rider, but are incorrectly over used and rarely fitted, which can indeed cause issues.
Great information. Agree with the comment by Epona - tree or no tree, how the rider sits and uses their weight has a big impact on the horses back. How the horse is exercised and ridden will impact greatly. Also it does not actually mention the fact that regardless of weight bearing surface, a horse carrying a very heavy rider who both sits very heavy and works the horse hard will cause pain in the horses back, even if the saddle is the best saddle in the world. Lovely video though - very interesting and anything that gets people thinking about the welfare of their horses is worth the air time. Thank you.
I agreed with pretty much everything you say now when it comes to the saddle tree I don't care how good the tree is you can sculpt it to conform the back of the horse you ride all you want but the back of the horses changes throughout the years weather is age or losing weight gaining weight if you turn them out for a few months in the pasture and bring them back obviously their top line is not going to be the same saddles such as the Spanish vaquera saddle (tradicional) and the gaucho recado will conform to any back any type of horse so I think they are way better stock saddles than the western saddles now having said that all saddles have pros and cons
This is great info - I am currently looking for a saddle for my blm mustang so I can start him. After seeing this video and owning an Appy (he is 22 Ive owned him almost 21 yrs) that I have found most saddles dig into the area right at the front where it sits on him. So Im watching lots of videos - this info is great but whats a good saddle for someone who can't spend $3500 - $4000 on a saddle? I'm 51 years old, have rode very little even in the past 10 years but I will complete my dream of riding my own part of American history - even if I never leave my round pen lol - I don't need a $4000 saddle for that..Owning to ministries (thrift stores to help those in need) I draw $300 a week cuz we don't have debt, we dont have a house payment and we do this to help others..to present the gospel - so what saddle maker in my price range ($500 to $1500) what saddle tree should I look for? your average back yard horse owner would love to know 😊
Does anyone out there have any idea of the cost of a Terrance McGowan saddle? I'm very curious (and I'm fully aware that if I have to ask, I can't afford one!!!, LOL!!!)
Interesting video but I think the backpack/treeless saddle analogy is fairly weak. First, having the weight hanging on your shoulders isn't the same as having all the weight pressing on your spine. Secondly having no frame on the backpack isn't comparable to having no saddle tree. Seems to me no frame on the backpack would be more comparable to a rider slumping down in the saddle and not supporting him/herself. Both examples of dead weight. Just a thought.
Interesting when he talks about proper collection I think a big problem with your modern rider especially in jumping proper collection isn’t there The horse is just bent at the pole and hollow backed I think I might know this because have English riding friends and only one actually makes the horse collect The rest are just bent the pole
I think he has taken Bridging right out of context!!!He has misunderstood this point. Nobody wants bridging.Everybody knows bridging is only going to cause a sore back.
Actually I've heard an argument in favor of some bridging. I don't remember the rationale. Maybe what Jeff said, about having room for the horse to lift their back. It's certainly a fringe position, tho. Most people agree bridging is problematic.
He clearly doesn’t understand how saddles are made! The seat is shaped by “ground work” as are the stirrup leathers. The placement of rigging is entirely unrelated to the tree. Yes, I’m a saddle maker.
