>>> sometimes it just p___s me off that the most comfortable saddles are >>> often bad for the horse! Like a Tucker, my gosh I loved riding in that >>> thing! And it almsot ruined my jaspars back. Then my orthoflex >>> stitchdown, something about it just makes me sit correctly, so >>> balanced, I ride so well in it, and it just plain wont work on my >>> icelandics. My sensation hybrid works on some but not others. and it >>> is very comfortable. but some horses have to have spinal clearance.
Janice, your horses for which the Hybrid doesn't work - they are TWH, right? I think that's the reason that there are so many treeless fans on this list - particularly Sensation fans. I used treed saddles for 15 years with barely a problem, at least no big ones...but then I got Icelandic's. As Liz Graves said, and as Carol Brett said, and as my local saddle-fitter said, and I certainly agree, for many Icelandic's, treeless is going to be the only option. There's often just not enough length to their "saddle backs" for a tree to fit. Interestingly enough, Liz, Carol Brett, and my local saddler could have each sold me a treed saddle, and each could have profited from it, but none of them did. Carol is founder of Balance Saddles International, and my local saddler sold Wintecs and Stubbens (among others) when she did the last saddle fitting here, and Liz is Dave Genadek's significant other... but all were honest and told me that treeless saddles are a viable option for us, and for Sina, probably my ONLY option. I have to admire dealers/clinicians who put ethics above personal profit, and these are three people I commend for doing just that. It's not a matter of being a "treeless fanatic" - it's just being realistic about finding something that really works for our horses, and doesn't cause them pain. I commend anyone who does that, no matter what kind of saddle they find that works for their horse. Karen Thomas, NC
