Treeless saddle, riding pad

The riding pad is a modern interpretation of an old idea. Riding pads are pads for horses that do not require a saddle tree. Historically, people have been using simple blankets, skins or felt pads for riding for thousands of years. The classic saddle with a fixed tree only became widespread later on, in order to distribute weight better and make longer rides more comfortable. They are light, flexible and allow close contact with the horse. The current trend is mainly influenced by recreational riding, natural horsemanship and minimalism.

Components

• Front pommel & rear pommel (cantle): Define the seat area.

• Saddle panels (cushions): Rest on the horse's back.

• Seat area: Area for the rider.

• Saddle flap & sweat flap: Side leather parts.

• Knee roll: Support the rider's leg.

• Stirrup bar: Holder for stirrup straps.

• Girth straps: For attaching the saddle girth.

Advantages

• Distributes riders weight and the pressure of the stirrups evenly

• Shapes the rider's seat and can improve the application of aids

Disadvantages

• Solid base means that the rider sits far away from the horse, which makes it difficult to feel many of its movements

• The shape of the horse's back changes depending on whether the torso is raised straight or not. This has an impact on the shape of the saddle position. A saddle that has been tailored to the horse while it is standing may not fit during active work.

• The rigid saddle tree is often unable to accommodate this change.