Bandos Treeless Saddle

[Auventera Two]

. (http://picasaweb.google.com/FreeFormUSA/BandosTrail)

[pandorasboxx]

Please keep us updated on this saddle. I thought it looked interesting as a second saddle to my Freeform.

I think Freeform USA is selling the Bandos and Chris, the proprietor of FFUSA and an avid endurance rider, was doing the testing.

[matryoshka]

I rode in a Sensation last week and really liked it. My hip didn't bother me after an hour in the saddle, and that is unusual.

Let us know what you think of the saddle! Most of them seem to be too wide in the twist. The Sensation is not. I'm curious to see what you think of this saddle.

[winona]

My friend just bought one and likes it. She commented that she liked her Trekker and Bob Marshal better, but was impressed with this one.

[PalominoMorgan]

Interesting saddle, but I couldn't help noticing this picture. http://picasaweb.google.com/FreeFormUSA/BandosTrail/photo#5099421024952324386

I'm hoping to do some endurance rides next summer so I am by no means all that familiar with the endurance scene, but is that a normal weight for an endurance horse. I ask just because it caught my attention and doesn't do much to "sell" the saddle in my mind.

[pandorasboxx]

The chestnut horse looks a wee bit thin and tucked up but in all fairness it could have been taken at the end of a tough race. Its really too hard to tell from that little pic what is going on.

My horse has lost up to 30 lbs by the end of a rough ride (the SE rides usually have scales). We generally come to the ride with a little extra on to combat that. If only the riders had the same problem ;)

OTOH-in Chris's gallery there is a verrrry interesting fix to the Epic/Bare lost boot dilemma. I believe I will try it! http://picasaweb.google.com/FreeFormUSA/EZFixForEZBoots

[pandorasboxx]

Interesting easyboot fix, wow! :eek: Do you know what's the deal with that PK70 foam he's talking about in this gallery?

http://picasaweb.google.com/FreeFormUSA/MemoryFoamPK70

I believe its the foam used in the HAF pad. He talked about it on the treeless saddle yahoo group some time ago. He is a first class experimenter and gives us lots of valuable information.

From the treeless group Oct. 12, 2007:

"Hi Diane:

I think that maybe you felt the insert with two fingers rather then the flat of your hand on either side, simulating horse on one side and saddle on the other. This saddle pad is used by many endurance people who spend lots of time in the saddle, and was on the winning horse at the Tevis Cup this year. You have to be careful with hard foam in that I suspect that it is closed foam and will not breath, which is one of the valuable assets of the PK 70 foam. I have some pictures of the foam in the HAF pad in a file on the picasa link below.

Ciao

Chris Martin "

[PalominoMorgan]

Thanks for the info on the weight loss during a race. I have been staring at my fat (and now fuzzy) morgan mare all summer while working crazy hours and being pregnant. I haven't seen her "in shape" since early spring. Hopefully we'll both be back in the swing of things next summer and we'll get to some endurance rides with a friend while hubby babysits. :)

[Romantic Rider]

That's a neat looking saddle. I'm still hunting for one. Do let us know how you like it. Where did you order it? And was it $$$?

[pandorasboxx]

Chris is selling them on ebay ( http://tinyurl.com/2pwcbj ) and I think you can buy them on his website.

From what I remember they are $499 and a package deal w/HAF pad and leathers for $649. Thats a pretty good deal considering the HAF pads are $185.

[Malda]

Sorry for bringing up an old thread, but I found this when I was searching for information about Bandos saddles.

I bought my Bandos endurance saddle seven months ago and it's already falling apart - the right side of the pommel has detached from the saddle (the stitching has come apart). I trail ride 4-5 days a week for about two hours at a time, and I'm riding a gaited horse so I'm not putting a lot of stress on the saddle by posting. I'm not happy that this saddle is falling apart so quickly.

Does anyone know which company makes this saddle? I bought it from Webtack USA, but for some reason I can not send any e-mails to them. I would like to complain to the company. I hope no one else is having this problem!

Thanks in advance,

Erin

[paintedtrails]

I'm sending you a PM