Re: treeless saddles

[Tara Wheeler <harpy@io.com>]

Right now I'm beta testing a B&C Saddlery 'shell' saddle.

It does not have a rigid tree, instead it has a flexible fiberglass shell
that is molded to the horse's back and then re-enforced at the pommel with a
roll of fiberglass.

The whole thing is covered with leather and medical felt.  It looks like a
regular hornless endurance-western-style saddle.

It was designed for barrel racers  who are claiming that it's shaving
minutes off their rides.  The horses aren't getting pinched at the withers
by a solid tree when they make those hairpin turns.

It also claims to be three times more efficient at distributing weight
across a horse's back.

All I know is that it's working for my horse.  I tried it because I couldn't
find a saddle to fit my arab with the throughbred withers (although he may
settle down to a Sharon Saare 'B' tree).

They're only available in Texas, email bhadlock@comalsaddlery for more
information.