I have used treats, it just depends on the horse, situation, and personality. When starting or teaching a horse something, OR retraining a bad habit, I will use treats. The last gelding I had was very bad about being saddled, he would move all over the place and tuck his butt. He was a passive horse, and food oriented, so it was easy to reward him for being good when he stood still. Took a week, and never again did I have a problem. I chose to use treats because his owner would hit him when wouldn't stand still, and so he had a bad association with the saddle. The treats made it pleasant, and fun to be saddled, and so even when I slowly took away the treats, he still had a pleasant association with the saddle.
