JBN FAQ
What do you mean by “tree free”?
Traditional saddles are built on a tree-the skeleton of the saddle. They consist of a swell and cantle, connected by a pair of bars. The bars make contact along the sides of the horse’s back, distributing the rider’s weight. Just-B-Natural® Tree Free® saddles have a swell and cantle, but no bars.
How do Just-B-Natural® Tree Free® saddles compare to other treeless saddles?
It's hard to compare the Just-B-Natural® Tree Free saddle to other treeless saddle designs because it is different in so many ways. We addressed the points that are considered weaknesses in other treeless designs and set out to improve them with the JBN. Here are some of the improvements we've incorporated into the JBN Tree Free® saddle:
Close contact skirt shape: removes bulk under the leg and lets you feel even closer to the
horse
Cutback and contoured skirt at wither: provides wither relief-especially for high
withered horses-so the saddle skirt doesn't create pressure on top of the wither
Tunnel skirt™ design: the bar pads in the JBN skirts give a slight lift off the horse's
backbone. A problem with other treeless saddles is that the riders weight is directly on the horse's spine, and for a horse with a prominent or protruding spine, this can cause discomfort and soreness. By creating the tunnel with the neoprene bar pads, we eliminate pressure on the spine and distribute it to the muscles of the back.
Rigging design: distributes the pull of your cinch more equally to the front AND back of the saddle. Other designs concentrate the rigging pressure mostly in the front of the saddle; this could be a contributing factor to slipping if the saddle wasn't stabilized over the entire saddle, only in the front.
Seat assembly: is designed like a traditional western saddle so you aren't sitting on the
skirt pad like a bareback pad. The seat assembly is padded for comfort but still allows
you to feel the horse's movement.
What are the benefits of the Tree Free® saddle to the horse?
Because most bars are rigid, they may hinder the horse’s ability to bend and flex comfortably. And, if the tree does not fit properly, the horse may develop soreness, white spots, poor performance and a bad attitude. Because the Tree Free® saddle has no bars, saddle fit is not an issue. The materials utilized in the design of the skirt help distribute
the rider’s weight, and the skirt is flexible enough to conform to your horse’s shape, allowing him to move freely.
What are the benefits of the Tree Free® saddle to the rider?
The Tree Free® saddle allows the rider close contact and to really feel the horse. Because the bulk of the saddle tree has been eliminated between horse and rider, the horse can be more responsive to seat and leg cues. The Tree Free® saddle still has a swell, cantle, and seat assembly, so the rider has the security of a traditional saddle, with even greater comfort.
What are Softee® seat jockeys and fenders?
It’s a 2-ply leather that has a nice, broke in feeling, right out of the box. By using Softee® leather on the fenders, we eliminate the break-in time of traditional stiff leather fenders (no broomstick needed), making this saddle a lot easier on the knees and ankles.
What’s a 3-way rigging and how do I use it?
The 3-way adjustable rigging lets you change the position of the rigging to a full (front dee), ¾ (rear dee) or 7/8 (using both dees) by changing the use of your tie strap. Thismeans you can find the rigging position that works best for your horse and style of riding. Click Here to download instructions on 3-way rigging.
How do I know if my horse needs a medium or a wide saddle fit, and why is it important if the saddle doesn't have a tree?
The saddle is offered in two fits based on the gullet width of the swell. The medium fit is for the average, defined wither. The wide fit is suitable for a horse with a more rounded, wide, or "mutton wither".
Who makes the Just-B-Natural® Tree Free® saddle?
. Circle Y has been manufacturing quality saddles and tack since 1960. We celebrated our 50th Anniversary in 2010 and look forward to the next 50 years of saddle innovation.
What kind of warranty does the JBN® saddle have?
JBN® saddles carry a one year warranty on materials and workmanship to the original purchaser. Be sure to warranty register your new saddle-complete the registration form online here.
What do you mean by “tree free”?
Traditional saddles are built on a tree-the skeleton of the saddle. They consist of a swell and cantle, connected by a pair of bars. The bars make contact along the sides of the horse’s back, distributing the rider’s weight. Just-B-Natural® Tree Free® saddles have a swell and cantle, but no bars.
How do Just-B-Natural® Tree Free® saddles compare to other treeless saddles?
It's hard to compare the Just-B-Natural® Tree Free saddle to other treeless saddle designs because it is different in so many ways. We addressed the points that are considered weaknesses in other treeless designs and set out to improve them with the JBN. Here are some of the improvements we've incorporated into the JBN Tree Free® saddle:
Close contact skirt shape: removes bulk under the leg and lets you feel even closer to the
horse
Cutback and contoured skirt at wither: provides wither relief-especially for high
withered horses-so the saddle skirt doesn't create pressure on top of the wither
Tunnel skirt™ design: the bar pads in the JBN skirts give a slight lift off the horse's
backbone. A problem with other treeless saddles is that the riders weight is directly on the horse's spine, and for a horse with a prominent or protruding spine, this can cause discomfort and soreness. By creating the tunnel with the neoprene bar pads, we eliminate pressure on the spine and distribute it to the muscles of the back.
Rigging design: distributes the pull of your cinch more equally to the front AND back of the saddle. Other designs concentrate the rigging pressure mostly in the front of the saddle; this could be a contributing factor to slipping if the saddle wasn't stabilized over the entire saddle, only in the front.
Seat assembly: is designed like a traditional western saddle so you aren't sitting on the
skirt pad like a bareback pad. The seat assembly is padded for comfort but still allows
you to feel the horse's movement.
What are the benefits of the Tree Free® saddle to the horse?
Because most bars are rigid, they may hinder the horse’s ability to bend and flex comfortably. And, if the tree does not fit properly, the horse may develop soreness, white spots, poor performance and a bad attitude. Because the Tree Free® saddle has no bars, saddle fit is not an issue. The materials utilized in the design of the skirt help distribute
the rider’s weight, and the skirt is flexible enough to conform to your horse’s shape, allowing him to move freely.
What are the benefits of the Tree Free® saddle to the rider?
The Tree Free® saddle allows the rider close contact and to really feel the horse. Because the bulk of the saddle tree has been eliminated between horse and rider, the horse can be more responsive to seat and leg cues. The Tree Free® saddle still has a swell, cantle, and seat assembly, so the rider has the security of a traditional saddle, with even greater comfort.
What are Softee® seat jockeys and fenders?
It’s a 2-ply leather that has a nice, broke in feeling, right out of the box. By using Softee® leather on the fenders, we eliminate the break-in time of traditional stiff leather fenders (no broomstick needed), making this saddle a lot easier on the knees and ankles.
What’s a 3-way rigging and how do I use it?
The 3-way adjustable rigging lets you change the position of the rigging to a full (front dee), ¾ (rear dee) or 7/8 (using both dees) by changing the use of your tie strap. Thismeans you can find the rigging position that works best for your horse and style of riding. Click Here to download instructions on 3-way rigging.
How do I know if my horse needs a medium or a wide saddle fit, and why is it important if the saddle doesn't have a tree?
The saddle is offered in two fits based on the gullet width of the swell. The medium fit is for the average, defined wither. The wide fit is suitable for a horse with a more rounded, wide, or "mutton wither".
Who makes the Just-B-Natural® Tree Free® saddle?
. Circle Y has been manufacturing quality saddles and tack since 1960. We celebrated our 50th Anniversary in 2010 and look forward to the next 50 years of saddle innovation.
What kind of warranty does the JBN® saddle have?
JBN® saddles carry a one year warranty on materials and workmanship to the original purchaser. Be sure to warranty register your new saddle-complete the registration form online here.