Treeless saddles are often said to be more "natural," more comfortable for riders and/or horses, or more universally fitting for all equine back shapes and rider seats. But according to a leading equitation scientist, the tree still seems to serve a very important purpose: regulating pressure distribution.

Are treeless saddles any good?

Treeless saddles are also great for the rider with multiple horses. It just depends on the body weight of the rider and how hard and long you ride. In general, if you are a lighter weight rider who rides a couple times a week at a slower pace, a treeless saddle will work fine for you.

What are the advantages of a treeless saddle?

Without tree points putting pressure on the horse's shoulders as they move, many horse owners find that their horses' strides are longer and freer, allowing better quality of movement in performance horses. A treeless saddle may flex and move with a horse's motion.