Amateur Dressage

hey everyone,
i was hoping for some guidance regarding my treeless saddle. here's the background: after bringing my new guy home, i found myself faced with the lengthy task of finding a saddle to fit him. although not overweight, as confirmed by the vet, a wide frame and larger shoulder put him at a 42cm tree...ugh, all of which were made in sizes too big for me and consisted of so much leather, i didn't feel like i could feel a horse underneath me at all. i did a ton of reading for months and finally decided on a treeless saddle, which i absolutely love- i can feel every thought, every muscle movement my horse makes, and for him, early intervention is necessary to prevent disaster. anyway, he's changed shape a few times since i've had him as he becomes a bit more fit, and now i'm worrying that the treeless saddle's pommel area is putting too much pressure on his wither/spine. i do keep the saddle further back so as not to interfere with his shoulder. for a horse who has been so forward (out of anxiety), he's now wanting to suck back behind my leg. given his history, i'm sure there's a variety of things going on, and i'm working to figure out what's bothering him, be it physical or psychological, but i am concerned about how the saddle is putting pressure on his backbone. i've made attempts to pad it up with a rolled towel, which seems to relieve the pressure, although i know when i mount i add a decent amount more pressure. does anyone have any experience with treeless saddles that might be able to give me some guidance or tell me whether my worries are warranted? maybe i should just contact the saddle maker...thanks so much!!

Hi, Mouse42. I'm always so impressed with how thoughtful you are in all areas of your training!

I don't have any experience with treeless saddles other than riding in one once earlier this summer. It was a little strange at first because you do almost feel like you're riding bareback. However, after I got going, I forgot about the saddle which I guess I wouldn't have done if the saddle got in my way.

I'm going to pm you the name of someone who's close to you (I think) who uses one so you might see if she has any info to share.

Hola again, mouse42. I was browsing the COTH Bb and saw a recent discussion about treeless saddles. You might want to check over there in the Dressage Forum.

Best of luck!