>crooked trees VS. treeless< I've seen many treeless saddles pulled into assymetry by the rider as well causing impact to the structure of the horse. It usually happens quicker than with a treed saddle because of the lack of rigid structure. It is also impactful in a different way because of the "less structure", but still impactful. The pro of the treeless is that a rider's "faults " will become evident a lot quicker in the form of saddles "slipping" off to one side, pressure from the rider's seat/seatbones causin pain or white hairs to name a few common complaints . Treeless saddles can also be made assymetrical, so check all saddles for symmetry regardless.
Because of my backround in human biomechanics/holistic health care, I think it is important for all us riders to have some kind of body work or exercise program geared to addressing our own assymetries. It doesn't have to cost a chunk of change either. Feldenkrais has at hundreds of home "Awareness Through Movement" tape series that you can buy starting at about $29.95 that will help in changing your habitual posture/movement patterns without even stepping outside your door. There are also some great Pilates/Gyrotonics/ & yoga tapes that help. A 3-4 time a year visit to a holistically oriented PT/personal trainer can give you a personalized exercise at home program without having to join a gym. A few chiropractic , cranial-sacral , cranio-osteopathy, or acupuncture visits a year can prevent injuries as well as healing current issues. Even a few Connected Riding/Centered Riding lessons a year or whomever you choose that promotes rider awareness can be sooo helpful. Riding & interacting with horses for me is a such a pleasurable journey of personal & spiritual growth . Being with my horses gentley brings me into experiencing the moment & a gives me a connection with nature that I get from nowhere else. Kaaren
