The first fairly elaborate saddles were developed by nomad tribes around the year 400 BC, and what the Scythian people accomplished was a major improvement over the saddles that Assyrian cavalry units used three centuries earlier. Scythian saddles were the first to feature a structure that would later evolve into a tree. In other words, modern tree-less saddles follow the earliest designs. Cavalry tactics at the height of the Han Dynasty in China featured advanced saddles with trees for officers who were expected to lead from their horses instead of dismounting to fight. The purpose of these ancient saddle trees was pretty much the same as that of their modern counterparts: To distribute weight in order to avoid putting undue pressure on the animal's spine. Mounted units of Roman legions made treed saddles standard for the same reason Chinese cavalry officers did a century before. Nearly all Western saddles these days feature a tree structure, but there has been somewhat of a move towards treeless saddles in recent years. English saddles tend to feature a less prominent tree structure, but there are some that lack trees altogether. There is an invalid argument associated with this preference, and we may as well mention it now so that it is out of the way. To say that treeless saddles are more traditional because humans started off riding bareback makes no sense; this is an archaic concept that fails to recognize the foremost reason why trees came about, which is to make things safer and more comfortable for horses. With the above in mind, it is safe to say that riders can never go wrong with treed saddles. This is not to say that there is no use case for treeless saddles; we will get to that later, but first, we need to establish why treed saddles are the way to go in the vast majority of cases, especially when they have been properly measured and fitted to both horse and rider. Understanding Saddle Trees A saddle tree acts as a base that separates the panel from the seat. As the main structure of the saddle, the shape and size of the tree determines how it will fit the horse. Saddle trees are made in ways that riders will find easy to balance on. This is a part of the saddle that you can't see, but you definitely feel it underneath upon mounting. For several centuries, saddle trees were exclusively rigid foundations; one of the reasons they are called trees is because that is what they are traditionally made of. These days, saddle trees can also be made with advanced polyethylene materials that are extremely durable; plus, they provide an additional feature of flexibility, which means they offer a certain degree of adjustment that conforms to the movement of the horse. To further understand saddle trees, let's review their main functions: Trees are designed to seat on muscle groups, thus driving pressure and weight away from the spine.Riders get stability from the shape formed by the seat and bars.Safety is increased as riders ease into the saddle and straddle their legs around the tree structure.Superior distribution of weight. Without a doubt, the main function of keeping weight off the spine is the greatest advantage of treed saddles. When you think about it, saddlery adheres to a philosophy of making tack that makes equestrian disciplines more comfortable for horses, hence the general preference for treed saddles in both English and Western styles. Understanding Treeless Saddles Even though modern treeless saddles do not feature rigid structures, they still have cantles, pommels, and seats that adhere to the contours of equine anatomy. You could almost say that treeless saddles offer non-rigid structures, and this makes them lighter than their treed counterparts. The characteristics of treeless saddles are as follows: They are flexible to the point of moving along with the horse while galloping. They provide a greater sense of intimacy because of the closer contact between rider and horse.They feel natural because they are closer to a bareback ride.They generally do not require as much major maintenance such as reflocking. Although treeless saddles are made with a generous amount of padding, riders are still expected to fit them and apply extra pads as needed in order to reduce friction. Some of these saddles actually have semi-rigid padding along the sides; to some extent, this is almost like a soft version of the rigid channel created by saddle trees for the purpose of elevating weight away from the spine. The fitting of treeless saddles is less elaborate than treed versions, but some riders may need to try a few of their horses that have unique anatomies. Equestrian Research Into Treeless Saddles Most of the studies conducted for the purpose of comparing treed and treeless saddles have been done in this century. The most often cited research was commissioned by the British Society of Master Saddlers in 2007, and it involved measuring the pressure exerted by riders sitting on treeless saddles during walking, trotting, and galloping sessions. The conclusion was that horses endured direct pressure on their spines when fitted with treeless saddles despite the placement of pads. A few years later, researchers in Michigan replicated the aforementioned study and arrived at the same conclusions; furthermore, the comparison with treed saddles revealed that the absence of a rigid channel was uncomfortable and problematic for horses. No matter how riders try to adjust to the movement of their animals underneath, there is no way to avoid seating right on the spine when treeless saddles are used. Even friction spots can be a problem with some treeless saddles, and this is explained by the constant movement of both horses and riders as they try to find their stride, so to speak. Since there are no bars to push down on muscle groups, the weight distribution is uneven; in fact, it is all over the place in some situations, and this will inevitably result in friction. Another disadvantage for both horse and rider is the absence of a rigid channel under the spine. This means that the horse’s movements will not be blocked, as they are with treed saddles; there will be more space in the chest area, as well as more elbow room. Since the space between the hoof and the pad is much greater, it will be easier to feel when the horse is working on the inside, but this is not guaranteed to be a pleasant experience with each and every ride. The greater freedom of movement may seem special for some English-style riders, and also for riders who use their reins to make up a bit of space on their saddles, but this does not make it any easier on the horse. Use Cases for Treeless Saddles Before we conclude, it should be noted that treeless saddles can be useful for riders who do not spend too much time on the trail. Horses that are used for therapeutic purposes, for example, are often fitted with plush and comfortable treeless saddles. These horses work generally work at country retreats where patients can spend time and bond with them; there is not too much riding done by patients in these therapy sessions, but there is a medical intent in giving them a chance to be really close to the horses. Therapy horses mostly walk and lightly trot for the safety of patients, and usually a couple of hours a day at the most. Treeless saddles are also used by trainers who only do light work with horses for about an hour a day. Trainers may work with multiple horses in one day, so these lighter saddles are easier to carry and fit, but it would be rare for a trainer to spend more than an hour riding a treeless saddle. Longer sessions will invariably result in the horse being fitted with a treed saddle.
