Bandos treeless report and pics

[Beth Worden]

Ho boy - just wrote a big long report on the Bandos saddle and it "disappeared". So here we go again. I hate it when this happens!!!

Have ridden about 5 times in it. I have it on a 10 (actually 20) day trail) and have decided to keep it. Yesterday my friend, Sue rode it on her Rocky mare who has a longer back than my IceWalkers. She liked it real wekk - so did the horse. We rode 3 hours, rough terrain, big hilss up and down at a good competitive pace. Maybe 20 miles or so. No problems.

Things I like:

Infinite stirrup position adjustment
Good sweat pattern on horse
Stays "stuck" - no crupper or breast collar pull - at all!
reinforced leather (with nylon backing) on girth rigging and stirrup leathers
well made
Nubuck (whatever that is) is easy to clean
lots of dee rings

Things I don't like:

I could feel the stirrup rigging under my butt - Sue did not but she has a bit more "padding" than me. I will use a sheepskin cover over the seat. Rigging did not touch the horses' back, tho.

I prefer Western rigging, but must admit the English rigging keeps the saddle in place

I will wrap the stirrup leathers with sheepsking for less wear on the saddle.

Do I like it better than my Bob Marshall? - No; Better than the treeless Trekker? - No; Better than the Barefoot? - Yes

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a196/pasobeth/bandos/bandos1.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a196/pasobeth/bandos/bandos2.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a196/pasobeth/bandos/bandos4.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a196/pasobeth/bandos/bandos3.jpg

[jodiTowne]

Looks very similar to my Torsion. Glad you like it.

[Beth Worden]

Jodi - It IS nearly exact to the Torsion. Rides just like a Trosion, actually. Here's another picture of it on Birna. I just went for a short spin around the trails (up and down a couple big hills) without crupper or breastcollar and...it stayed put!!!! This is amazing because no saddle stays put on that "table-top" body. I think it is the way the rigging straps kind of Y rather than coming from a direct line. Oh - not the HAF pad but another pad I like for treeless. It's a Professional's 1st Choice - knockoff
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a196/pasobeth/bandos/bandosandbirna.jpg

[jodiTowne]

It looks good on her. I, on the other hand, rode in the COLD rain on my treed endurance saddle. Once in awhile I get it out. Haven't used it since I stopped using Valedor. well, it still feels like I'm riding a board and my back was killing me within minutes. Makes me appreciate the treeless even more.....