Barefoot Cheyenne Limited Edition Simply Red

Barefoot Cheyenne Limited Edition Simply Red

The idea to ride treeless didn’t come from me, but from a friend. She rides her mares only rarely, and then always has to fight with their weight fluctuations. For that, the treeless seemed to fit ideally. After some consideration, I finally hit upon the thought that for my then 23 years old Icelandic a treeless saddle may be a good solution, too. The old Crates-endurance saddle didn’t fit well anymore, because Vinur had, with age, developed a slight swayback. Then to top it off, I stumbled across the Simply Red, and so the decision was made, ‘I got to get that saddle’.

Ordered it, put together everything and tested it – a difference like day and night! Vinur arched his neck, lifted his back, and toelted in the best manner, through the poll - and he still does. He had always worked with a clear rhythm and without noticeable tensions, but with the new saddle I noticed for the first time what I had been missing all the years before! The lateral work comes more fluently than ever, with true bend through the spine, seat aids I just have to ‘think’, and, look at that, even at a slow speed he now does a clean three beat canter (he has five gaits, with a strong tendency to pace). Plus the saddle matches my Santa suit just perfectly (see photo)!

Just as beautiful was the experience with Ninja, an Aegidienberger mare (the Aegidienberger breed was established in Germany in 1994, by crossing Icelandics with Peruvian Pasos.) After a longer break from riding, she became very hot when riding outdoors, and was almost impossible to hold back, especially when sitting down deep into the saddle. Her back had really changed so much (through pregnancy and weight loss) that her old saddle didn’t fit well anymore. So, here too: put Barefoot on. (Also looks really stylish on a coal black horse, see photos). Since then she is working still energetically, but relaxed. In the arena she can be steered by just a slight tensing of the buttocks. At the toelt, she transitions smoothly from slow to fast, always relaxed and with a clean rhythm. From fast to slow we still need some practice, her stubbornness often gets in the way, and she just loves to canter – that has nothing to do with the saddle!

I’m still a bit skeptical about the suitability of treeless saddles for endurance or long distance riding, but I must say, it has become so difficult to find a good saddler, and correspondingly a good, fitting saddle, that by now I advise everyone to ride their horse rather treeless than with a saddle that fits only partially.

Therefore, a big thumbs up!