The saddle tree is the base on which the rest of the saddle is built. It is usually made of wood which is covered in leather. The tree size determines its fit on the horse’s back as well as the size of the seat for the rider. A treeless saddle is made of fiberglass with a seat made out of leather and foam padding. It is made for horses that are hard to fit such as those with a very wide back and uneven shoulders.

Some riders like the close contact that a treeless saddle provides. But a treeless saddle can cause serious problems to the horse. Pressure is not distributed equally thus creating abnormal pressure points. This is something that cannot be controlled by the rider if his horse is wearing a treeless saddle. Some even say that using a treeless saddle can be just as bad as wearing an ill fitting saddle with tree.