Choose A Western Saddle
Title: Choosing A Western Saddle - Saddle Tree Types
Author: Janet Ashby
Article:
Wade Tree Saddles
Wade tree saddles are becoming increasingly popular for working
saddles, for livestock handling or for situations that demand
long hours in the saddle. First popularised by working riders in
the Rocky Mountains their popularity is growing. Many riders
have been introduced to Wade tree saddles by Ray Hunt and they
are now being produced by many of the top manufacturers. Wade
tree saddles are built as working saddles and are comfortable
and easy to ride. Sitting very low on the horse they ensure good
close contact. The tree bars are designed for maximum contact
giving a better weight distribution and the horn is short and
rigid with a scooped out gullet area so that the saddle sits
lower on the horse. The stirrups are hung directly beneath the
rider for the best balance.
Flex Tree Saddles
Relatively new, flex tree saddles are gaining in popularity. The
cantle and fork are rigid but the tree bars are made from
flexible rubber or synthetic material or a combination of
leather and plastic materials. The tree therefore is able to
move with the horse and the saddle will fit a wide range of
horses. In addition flex tree saddles are light and give good
close contact. Flex tree saddles are becoming popular as trail
saddles but they are lower in durability. There is a wide range
of pricing and quality available, as with all saddles, so be
sure to buy a good quality saddle to ensure all the advantages
detailed here.
Treeless Saddles
Some people love treeless saddles, some people hate them!
Treeless saddles are a relatively new innovation and it is yet
to be seen how popular they may become. In a treeless saddle
there are no connecting bars between the fork and the cantle,
instead nylon, leather, rubber or foam is used instead. A
relatively soft material is used that will conform to the
horse’s back but be rigid enough to clear the spine of the
horse. Treeless saddles are designed to mimic bareback riding
and give a wide seat. A specially designed saddle pad should be
used to help ensure even weight distribution. These types of
saddles are light and not used as working saddles. Some
manufacturers claim that a treeless saddle will fit almost any
horse and will cure ill fitting saddle problems. These types of
saddles should not be looked on as universal cures for fitting
problems.
Some Claimed Advantages
Riders who favor treeless saddles claim that saddles with the
traditional wooden trees cause restriction of movement and
leading to soreness. They like the very close contact achievable
with a treeless saddle and claim that they conform to the
horse’s shape better than a saddle with a tree.
Some Claimed Disadvantages
Those not in favor of treeless saddles point out that a saddle
lacking a tree leads to poor weight distribution with the saddle
riding low on the gullet which increases pressure on the spine
of the horse. Mounting is more difficult and the saddle less
stable on the horse’s back and can slip sideways.
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