Re: Weight distribution of treeless saddles

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

On the Sport saddle, the stirrup leathers hang from webbing imbedded in the neoprene/leather seat, that attatch both to the pommel and cantle pieces in a Y.  This does spread the pressure to pommel and cantle....while riders weight in the middle of the seat also causes pressure. I personally ride with my feet in the stirrups very lightly-sort of ridnig off my thighs.  I guess I 

think of it as sort of "floating."  I don't think standing in the stirrups would be a good idea....or just sitting for long rides.

 

On the Ansur, I believe, the stirrups attatch to a stirrup bar that hangs from a single strap inside the saddle.  Time will tell with that saddle, if it works long miles or not. 

 

Again, I find it hard to believe a rigid tree works when the back of horse has so much flexibility.  Yesterday my daughter and I rode up the road to visit a friend. We both ponied horses.  I followed right behind the new mare, who was being poined.  As she walked, I could see tremendous lateral curving of the spine-it would swing and pivot behind the withers.  I just don't see how a rigid tree would be comfortable and fit a back that changes shape both side to side, and up and down.....another little mare I owned had a thin dorsal stripe.  You could clearly see how much that stripe moved when the horse walked.

 

Karen

----- Original Message -----

From: SunsetOvrC@aol.com

To: ridecamp@endurance.net

Sent: Monday, July 16, 2001 10:56 PM

Subject: RC: Weight distribution of treeless saddles

How is weight distributed without a tree?  It seems like all the weight would
be concentrated on where the stirrup leathers are attached when the rider
stands, plus under the rider's seat, when they are not standing in the
stirrups.