The Kuda Leather-Flex Tree
Further information to follow.
The Leather-flex tree saddle range was designed to provide excellent freedom for horse's shoulders making it the perfect saddle choice for sports horses and gaited breeds.
Your Horse Magazine article - No advantage to treeless saddles?
An article in Your Horse magazine investigated the effects of a treeless saddle and a traditional treed saddle using the same horse and rider combination. The test was carried out by the Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) using the latest pressure mapping system from the German company Novel. The tests indicated that, without exception, there is no advantage to the horse in being ridden in a treeless saddle over a well fitting traditionally made treed saddle. All of the treeless saddles tested were found to exert pressure onto the horse’s spine under the rider.
Read the full article on the Your Horse Web Site
This test reflects our own thoughts on treeless saddles and over the years we have sought the best solution for our own horses. We needed a saddle that provided freedom around the shoulder to allow for the free movement that is required of the shoulders when a horse is being shown to its full potential. Some traditional treed saddles have been difficult to fit on our horses and so we were keen to evaluate the Kuda Leather Flex saddles as they offer many of the advantages of both treed and treeless saddles. The Flexible tree is an integral part of the saddle being build from leather and connected to a rigid pommel and cantle. The pommel is cut clear of the shoulder to allow for excellent freedom of movement but provides the required stability keeping the saddle in the correct position. The cantle is also solid providing additional support and location to the rear of the saddle. The real difference is in the way that the saddle can flex and conform accurately to the horse's back. The deep, wide gullet keeps the seat well clear of the spine and the wool felt panels distribute the rider's weight comfortably onto the muscles either side of the spine.
In short we have been hugely impressed with these flexible tree saddles and truly believe that they offer the best features of treeless and treed saddles. We have seen them make a real difference in the way of going of many horses now in many breeds including gaited breeds like Paso Finos and Rocky Mountain Horses. Since introducing these Kuda flexible tree saddles to the UK, we have fitted them on quarter horses, fell ponies, arabs, Appaloosa, saddle breds, in fact they suit just about any breed.
