Barefoot Merlyn - Treeless Dressage Saddle
The Barefoot Merlyn is a lightweight treeless dressage saddle designed for riders who want very close contact with their horse. The narrow seat and extra short saddle flap allow the rider's leg to lie close to the horse, supporting precise riding aids and sensitive communication.
This saddle is especially popular for smaller horses, ponies, or riders who prefer a shorter saddle flap. Despite the compact design, the Merlyn can also be used successfully on larger horses while maintaining excellent balance and rider comfort.
Like all Barefoot saddles, the Merlyn includes the VPS (Vertebrae Protection System), designed to distribute the rider's weight over a larger saddle area while maintaining spinal clearance and freedom of movement for the horse.
The removable seat and adjustable open stirrup attachment allow the saddle to be customized for the rider's leg position, helping riders achieve a balanced seat directly over the horse's natural center of gravity.
Quick Model Overview
- Best for: Dressage, schooling, and riders wanting close contact
- Seat feel: Narrow seat with lower cantle
- Rider position: Close contact with supportive knee rolls
- Weight: approx. 5-6 kg / about 11 lbs
- Material: Soft leather
- Sizes: 0 (Special order), 1, 2
- Color: Black
Key Features
- Barefoot VPS system distributing rider weight evenly
- Ultra-lightweight treeless saddle design
- Extra short saddle flap for closer leg contact
- Removable seat increasing saddle flexibility
- Open stirrup attachment adjustable with Velcro
- Soft anatomically shaped knee rolls stabilizing the leg
- Flexible V-girthing improving saddle balance
- Exchangeable pommel insert (medium included)
- Dense fleece underside supporting comfort for the horse
Compare Barefoot Dressage Treeless Saddles
| Model |
Seat Feel |
Best For |
Rider Support |
| Merlyn |
Narrow seat with short flap | Dressage, Eventing, Flatwork, Trails |
Good knee roll support |
| London |
More open dressage seat |
Dressage, Flatwork, Trails |
Light knee support |
| Lexington |
Balanced seat with wedge support |
Dressage, Flatwork, trails |
Strong knee roll support |
| Wellington |
Deep seat with narrow twist |
Classical dressage riding
| Very stable knee support |
Rider Position Guide
Treeless saddles encourage a balanced seat because there is no rigid tree positioning the rider automatically. Riders transitioning from traditional treed saddles may notice that a treeless saddle feels different at first and may require a short adjustment period while developing balance and core stability.
- Merlyn - Designed for close contact with a shorter flap and narrow seat, allowing riders to feel the horse's movement clearly.
- London - More open seat offering flexibility for general riding and dressage schooling.
- Lexington - Encourages an upright dressage posture with additional support from the wedge seat.
- Wellington - Provides the deepest seat and most classical dressage rider position.
Barefoot Saddle System
All Barefoot saddles perform best when used as part of a saddle system with a suitable Barefoot saddle pad and inserts. This helps distribute rider weight evenly and maintain proper spinal clearance for the horse.
ideal for smaller horses or smaller riders due to the extra short saddle flap
Ultra-lightweight saddle with the proven VPS system. The narrow seat and the extra short saddle flap allow a very good contact of the rider's leg to the pony or horse.
The seat is removable - this not only gives the saddle the desired flexibility and adaptability on the horse's back, but also allows the open stirrup attachment to be adjusted exactly to the rider. The open stirrup attachment is velcroed between the seat and the saddle base and can be easily varied. The seat with a non-slip seat surface is anatomically shaped, the extra soft knee roll stabilizes the rider's leg in the saddle and gives framing support.
The girthing is flexible and V-shaped. This saddle, like all barefoot saddles, may be saddled a little further forward, because the horse's shoulder can move freely under the barefoot saddle at all times. The rider is thus positioned directly above the horse's natural center of gravity, allowing the horse to balance the rider's weight more easily. Due to the low cantle (approx. 2 cm), the saddle lies a little lower in the rear area than our other saddle models.
Color: Black
See Sizing Tab for more information. Click here for more information on the Barefoot Saddle systems.
Saddle Trial Program
You can try the saddle for one week (7 days) after receiving the saddle to decide if it�s a good fit for you and your horse. Keep it clean, keep the tags. Ride in a controlled area, do not go on a trail ride. If you mark it up, scratch it, or damage it, you cannot return it. You cannot return a used saddle pad or girth/cinch. Use your own saddle pad to try the saddle if possible. If after one week you decide to return the saddle,
you will be charged a $150 restocking fee and you pay to ship the saddle back to us. If you would like to try a saddle for a week, Message us sales@barefootsaddlesusa.com
