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Freeform Treeless Saddle
See Saddle Selection in the middle of this page
Freeform is the latest revolution in the world of treeless saddles! Italian craftsmanship and passion for working with leather has created a revolutionary new saddle of the highest technical performance and comfort. This saddle comes to you from an Italian saddle manufacturer with over a decade's experience and extensive consultation with leading equestrians. Both the materials and the craftsmanship are guaranteed to the highest technical and qualitative standards.
The Freeform is a versatile saddle indicated for ENDURANCE, JUMPING, TRAIL RIDING, and DRESSAGE. Freeform combines the look of a conventional saddle with the lightness and flexibility of being treeless. This is possible due to the technology of foam injection moulding. As a result of this process the saddle is suitable for many different horse shapes.
The flexibility of the Freeform minimizes interference with the horse's natural gait and allows full freedom of movement without the encumbrance of a rigid tree. For the rider, it provides full contact with the horse's motion, giving more "feel" than is achieved with a traditional treeless saddle
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Freeform is made of two parts: Saddle Base and Detachable Seat with a combined weight of only 7 1/2 pounds.
The Freeform's detachable seat has a high tensile aluminium bar incorporated into the front of the seat to aid in wither clearance. This bar is very lightweight but is incredibly flexible. It will automatically adjust both with the movement and shape of your horse. Therefore, the Freeform will act as a totally tree free saddle as it will be flexible throughout its entirety, but it will not totally collapse in the pommel arch through use. When transferring your saddle from a very wide bodied horse to a narrow horse, just remove the detachable seat, gently squeeze the pommel arch together, and then reaffix the seat to your saddle base. The pommel will automatically adjust to the shape of the horse.
The special features of a Freeform include a detachable seat, an adjustable stirrup attachment, standard or forward girthing, and all in a wide choice of leathers and colors.
The stirrup attachment on the Freeform Saddles is completely adjustable. This adjustable stirrup attachment is designed to allow different stirrup positions, from jumping position to classical dressage seat. Having an adjustable stirrup attachment allows each individual rider to adjust their stirrup placement so they do not have to fight the forces of nature, allowing each rider to sit easily in the natural hip-shoulder-heel alignment.
The girth straps on the Freeform Saddles are made from leather faced coated nylon. The girth straps are stitched on a "Y" system to help make the saddle more secure and spread the pressure of the rider over the whole of the saddle. This design also ensures that the stirrup and girthing arrangement do not attach at the same point, thereby preventing pressure from radiating at one point on the horse's back. The girth straps on the Freeform Saddles are English style billets that accept an English dressage girth.
There are three girthing options available on Freeform saddles:
Forward/Arab girthing is an available option for those horses with a tendency to have a more forward girth groove. The girthing is set forward approximately two (2) inches from standard girthing and helps to eliminate the forward movement of the saddle such as found in more traditionally designed saddles.
Full girthing combines the standard girthing option and the forward girthing option on one saddle.
Freeform Underlay Options: Wool fleece is the standard underlay on Freeform saddles. Available options are blue or red sympanova or black, brown, burgundy or newmarket brown leather.
SEAT SIZES
Measurement Up To Seat Size Required
16 ½” 15”
18 ½” 16”
20” 16 ½”
21 ½” 17”
23” 17 ½”
Over 23” 18”
Important! These are guidelines only!
Frequently Asked Questions
Often when someone is considering changing from something they are used to, like a saddle with a tree, to an unknown, like a saddle without a tree they have many questions. I have tried to answer many of those questions here. If you have other questions, please feel free to call Choice Tack at 804-314-0787.
- Why should I consider riding a treeless saddle? What is wrong with a tree?
- If there is no solid tree between my seat and my horse's back, am I not sitting directly on the horse's spine?
- Where should my Freeform saddle be placed on my horse?
- Will I have to ride differently or sit in my Freeform saddle differently than I would my treed saddle?
- How will my Freeform Saddle feel to my horse?
- What fittings and accessories can I use with my Freeform Saddle?
Why should I consider riding a treeless saddle? What is wrong with a tree?
The Freeform Saddles, designed without a tree, are designed to be extremely flexible, comfortable and secure. The flexibility of the Freeform Saddles minimizes interference with the horse's natural gaits and allows full freedom of movement without restriction. As a rider, you will have fuller contact with your horse's motion, giving you more "feel" than you can achieve with a traditional treed saddle.
If there is no solid tree between my seat and my horse's back, am I not sitting directly on the horse's spine?
No. The seat bones of the rider are positioned left and right of the horse's vertebrae, so your weight is well distributed. Additionally, Freeform's foam injection moulding technology protects both your horse and you from direct pressure points.
Where should my Freeform saddle be placed on my horse?
To maximize your horse's comfort and minimize pressure on your horse's back, Freeform has designed the Freeform SB and Freeform SB Endurance with a shorter saddle base. This is particularly important on Arabians and other short-backed horses. When riding in a Freeform Saddle you want your seat to be in the spot where you would naturally sit when riding bareback. Since the Freeform Saddles are flexible and conform to the shape of your horse, the saddle will not be putting undue pressure on the shoulder and will not limit movement of your horse's shoulders.
Will I have to ride differently or sit in my Freeform saddle differently than I would my treed saddle?
When you sit in a Freeform saddle you will sit totally around the natural shape of your horse. Initially you may feel some stretching of the muscles of your inner thighs but they will soon adjust. The Freeform Saddles have an adjustable stirrup attachment designed to allow different stirrup positions from jumping position to a classical dressage seat. This allows you to position your stirrups so you may sit easily in a natural hip-shoulder-heel alignment.
How will my Freeform Saddle feel to my horse?
Your horse will be delighted. He will be moving much more freely, especially in the shoulders, and will generally be moving with a bigger stride. The design of the Freeform Saddles moves with the contours of your horse's back in motion. The "Y" girthing system distributes your weight and pressure over the whole of the saddle. Since the Freeform Saddles conform to the shape of your horse's back whether at rest or in motion, there is no stress to your horse and he will be happy.
What fittings and accessories can I use with my Freeform Saddle?
The Freeform Saddles are equipped with dressage billet straps so you can use any regular dressage girth. The front D-rings provide for the use of a standard breast collar. Dressage style stirrup leathers are available to match your Freeform Saddle. The stirrup leathers are a single piece of leather and attach with a buckle at the stirrup bar. This eliminates bulk under your thigh greatly increasing your comfort and contact with your horse.
Freeform Saddle Care
Basic Leather Care:
Routine cleaning is recommended to aid in the longevity of your Freeform saddle. A complete cleaning twice a year, followed by a conditioner and protectant, will maintain the finish and increase durability.
Choice Tack recommends the use of Leather Therapy Leather Cleaner and Leather Therapy Leather Restorer with your Freeform Saddle.
Why? Leather Therapy treatments offers an easy spray-on option. The treatments are more effective than other products requiring less frequent application. Unlike other systems you can’t overdose the leather when using a Leather Therapy formulation.
Wet Leather Rescue
The solution is to take action before that wet leather completely dries. Remove any dirt or mud from the wet leather with a damp rag.
While the leather is still damp and its pores are still open, apply a coat of Leather Therapy Leather Restorer. As the water evaporates, capillary action will pull the conditioner down between the fibers to take its place. The wet leather needs to absorb conditioner deep within its fibers to replace currying oils flushed out by the water.
Sweat and leather don’t mix
Sweat may be good for horses in training but it's bad for your tack. Left to dry, that sweat can damage your leather. Dirty leather becomes not only becomes stiff and dry, but the collective grunge can also irritate your horse's skin. Combined with dirt and
Freeform Testimonials
Amy Brachthauser
(& Jewel)
Just a note to report on my first ride in my Freeform Treeless. It arrived on Monday. I have a Thoroughbred with fairly high withers and in the two years that I have owned her, I've been through 5 saddles. I should have just spent the money on the treeless to start with.
It's a lovely saddle. It's definitely different than a traditional dressage saddle, but the quality is **really** nice. The leather is very soft and supple. The underside is lined in a fleecy wool ………
As for structure, it is firm, yet flexible. ………
After riding in it, all I can say is WOW!! What a difference in my horse!! I got on and she had a very nice swinging loose walk. We walked around the arena a couple of times both direction on a long rein and then picked up the trot. I immediately felt the difference in her trot -- IT WAS HUGE!! I've seen her big trot on the lunge and at liberty but until tonight, I hadn't felt it. It was awesome. AND this, hands down, is THE MOST COMFORTABLE saddle I have ever sat in. And I have sat in quite a few.
As for saddle fit, …… per the sweat dirt marks on the saddle pad, the saddle did evenly distribute my weight beneath the saddle ……… For the first time in the two years, we finished our ride with even sweat marks. Even all of the saddles that I thought fit well before didn't provide perfectly symmetrical sweat marks -- until this saddle, only riding bareback had done that.
………… I was able to really feel my horse move. In fact, I had to make a point of staying really quiet with my seat and legs because I was over aiding. It’s definitely something I'll need to get used to. In addition, the seat and stirrup placement is adjustable. ………
Anyhow, I'm very pleased with the saddle thus far. Time will tell, but I think ……… that this saddle will prove to be a very well fitting saddle and quite useful for me as a dressage and combined training rider.
Suzanne Manly
Maine
Love the saddle! It's like riding a cloud. Pure heaven on my downhill Anglo Arab.
Simrat Khalso
Oregon
Thank you, Candy! I had a great ride tonight out in the pastures. Lots of big trot, cantering and slogging through the mud. My mare even went for the jumps on her own, something she usually doesn't do. We tried a bit of hill. The only steep one around is the embankment between the driveway and the highway, about 60 degrees and maybe 30 feet. Lily went straight up and straight down several times, with very minimal slipping and I felt really secure. I also rode a big spook and some quick changes in direction and she gaited really nicely on the flat driveway. All in all, a great success. :)
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