Introducing Total Contact Saddles at R&R Country: A Treeless Saddle Designed for Comfort, Connection and Fit
- r-r-country-blog
Finding the right saddle for your horse can feel like one of the biggest challenges as a rider. Every horse is different, and with traditional saddles, changes in shape, muscle development, weight and seasonal condition can all affect how well a saddle fits.
That’s why we’re excited to introduce the Total Contact Saddle (TCS) to R&R Country - a unique treeless saddle designed to offer a close-contact riding experience while adapting to a huge variety of horses, shapes and sizes.
One of the most common questions we hear from riders considering a treeless saddle is:
“Will a treeless saddle put pressure on my horse’s spine or withers?”
With the Total Contact Saddle, the answer is no - when correctly positioned and paired with suitable padding, the TCS is designed to avoid pressure on the spine and allow the withers to remain free from weight-bearing pressure.
How Does the Total Contact Saddle Work?
Unlike a traditional saddle, the Total Contact Saddle does not have a rigid tree. Instead, it is fully flexible and designed to mould around the horse’s back, following their natural shape and movement.
The unique construction creates a bridging effect when weight is applied through the stirrups, helping the saddle distribute the rider’s weight while maintaining clearance over the spine. Rather than sitting on top of the horse with a fixed shape, the TCS wraps around the horse and works with their individual conformation.
This means the saddle is not forcing your horse to fit the saddle - the saddle adapts to your horse.
One Size Really Does Fit All
One of the biggest benefits of the Total Contact Saddle is its adaptability.
Whether you have a small pony, a wide cob, a high-withered Thoroughbred, or a horse whose shape changes throughout the year, the TCS is designed to fit horses of all breeds, sizes and conformations.
Traditional saddles often require adjustments as horses gain muscle, lose weight, change work levels or move through different seasons. The TCS works differently because it has no fixed tree shape that needs to match your horse’s back.
The saddle itself is delivered flat and takes its shape from the horse underneath it.
This is what makes the TCS such a versatile choice for riders who have struggled with saddle fitting in the past, especially with horses that are difficult to fit.
Padding: The Key to Your Horse’s Comfort
While the TCS is a one-size saddle, the comfort and fit come from choosing the correct padding for your individual horse.
No two horses are the same, so no two padding setups will be identical. A horse with a broad, low-withered back may need a different solution to a horse with a higher or longer wither.
The padding allows the saddle to be tailored to your horse’s current shape, muscle development and the rider’s own needs.
This doesn’t mean the saddle is difficult to fit - it simply means that, like any saddle, your horse’s individual anatomy needs to be considered.
The right combination of saddle placement, padding and girthing allows the TCS to work as intended, providing comfort, stability and freedom of movement.
A Closer Connection Between Horse and Rider
One of the things riders love most about the Total Contact Saddle is the feeling of connection.
Without a rigid tree creating a barrier between horse and rider, the TCS allows you to feel more of your horse’s movement. Many riders describe this as feeling more in tune with their horse, with clearer communication through lighter aids.
The close-contact design encourages a more natural feel, allowing both horse and rider to move together.
What Does the Research Say?
The Total Contact Saddle has undergone testing to investigate its effect on horse comfort, movement and back temperature.
A pilot study comparing a traditional treed saddle with the Total Contact Saddle found that horses ridden in the TCS showed lower back temperatures and improvements in areas of movement, including stride length and shoulder movement.
The study concluded that the Total Contact Saddle had a lower impact on the horse’s back compared to the traditional saddle used in the study.
While research continues to develop, testing and feedback from riders, body workers and saddle specialists continue to support the benefits of this unique treeless design.
Why Choose a Total Contact Saddle?
The TCS may be the ideal choice if you are looking for:
- A lightweight saddle (the TCS weighs approximately 1–1.3kg)
- A saddle that adapts as your horse changes shape
- A closer connection with your horse
- A solution for hard-to-fit horses
- A flexible saddle designed around comfort and movement
- A low-maintenance option without flocking adjustments
Most importantly, it offers riders confidence that their horse’s comfort is at the heart of the design.
Getting the Most From Your TCS
Like any saddle, correct use is essential. The TCS should be placed correctly on the horse’s back, paired with appropriate padding and used with a suitable girthing setup.
At R&R Country, we understand that choosing a new saddle is a big decision, and our team is here to help answer your questions and guide you through the process.
The Total Contact Saddle is a different approach - one that prioritises adaptability, comfort and connection.
If you’ve struggled to find a saddle that works for your horse, the TCS could be the flexible, horse-friendly solution you’ve been looking for.
Click here to view Total Contact Saddles User Guides! Providing you with even more information and answering any other questions you may have.