Oh what to do? what to do?

[Camacoona]

I suffer from a genetic condition which means that when I have a flare up of the condition I have inflamation in my joints (mainly my left hip and my left knee). 

As a result of this and the width of my voluptuous, 'Rubenesque' Ketchup, I am struggling with any treeless!  I am currently using a Fheonix with a Topper and its still painful! 

I schooled a little horse in a synthetic treed dressage saddle and wow... I was impressed with its design and it was fine (though the horse wasn't as wide as Ketch)

I am wondering if Treeless is now no good for me and my MFM?!?!?! what do you think?

HELP! 

[night-mare]

I think you have to go with whatever lets you keep going , if that makes sense. As long as you can fit Ketchup too then ride in whatever allows you  both to be comfortable. I have recently changed from a very posh german dressage saddle to a not so posh synthetic and it has definitely made life easier for both of us.

[catkin]

Having just come to the end of a search for a new saddle for my little Welshie, I'd say there are some very nice treed saddles out there that suit 'curvy girls'.

The one we've ended up with is actually a Working Hunter type model, though the stirrup bars are nicely set back, so if you like the more open sort of dressage saddles it may be worth looking at some of these. There are a number of companies that have designed trees suited to natives and cobs. If Ketchup has the length of back to take a 17.5 size or bigger then you will have a good choice even 2nd hand (the smaller ones are very difficult to come by 2nd hand - they obviously remain with their owners for many years!!). Some suggested names to start you off: Black Country, Barnsby, Ideal, Farrington

Shame you are the other end of the country from me or I could pm you the details of my fitter who is great at these sorts of horses.

[Camacoona]

  Thanks for your thoughts!

[Appy2quarter]

I'm currently riding a very wide Highland in a Lavinia Mitchell.  Even though off the horse it looks mega wide, somehow it doesn't feel like it once on.

The other option I had was a WOW on my now-retired cob - she was an xxxw in a normal saddle, and a vogue felt too wide, but the twist in this saddle enabled me to ride her without being unable to move afterwards!

Luckily there are more treed options for the wider beastie now - good luck!

[cirocco]

Just after I had bought the two tree less saddles, I was offered a suede show saddle. Its off a huge highland, and lovely close fitting. Im sure that it would have been perfact for Jim, but id already spent too much, and it would have been to long on his back..
It might still be available, Ill tex her and see. I think its a ex wide. size 18. If I said that the owner was an um large lady.

My hips hurt when I started to ride Jim, and Id to ride him in the pad for ages until he lost the bulk.

[von10]

I'll be interested in how you get on Omar, I'm going through the same issue atm.

I've always had extremely tight gluteal & adductor muscles (remember Joy's feldenkrais workshop  ). I recently popped off for a 3 day holiday at Gilfach to get me back in the saddle after my op last year. This time I was hit with blinding hip joint pain which didn't ease off, I haven't had anything like this before.

I need to look at possible alternatives for Dan who as you know is a table top! If I can't get something I may have to stop riding altogether. Looking forwards to seeing Heather's treed saddles and hoping desperately there will be one for me  . Dan is the widest size gullet in the Wow saddles, but I can't sit in them either.

Painful hips stink!

Y.

[Camacoona]

Well things are better for me atm.   

I must be at that mid way point between my familial mediterranean fever flare ups  because i am back in my fhoenix saddle.  I have put my stirrups up a hole and I have taken the big blocks off to help.  I was surprised that my cob wide saddle wasn't that much narrower in the end!      and now that I am back in my fhoenix, Ketchup is MUCH happier!

Yes Yvonne I remember... I really enjoyed that workshop!! When I was humming and ha-ing I came across the strada saddle, that might help because the bottom part of the tree fits the horse while the top fits the rider... even down to how narrow the twist needs to be... just a thought. 

http://www.stradasaddles.co.uk/

[annep]

Hi Omar  -glad you are back sucesfully in your Fhoenix again!