Where are the tree points on a saddle?

Locate the tree points on your saddle. The tree points are considered the lowest parts of the tree and there is one on each side. A tree point is the portion of the frame that comes down the farthest on the horse's back and will sit slightly below and behind the horse's withers.

Where are the points on a saddle?

The saddle should ideally sit in what is called the saddle support area, with the tree points behind the shoulder and no further back than the 18th thoracic vertebra (last floating rib).

How do you check a tree on a saddle?

Support the front of the saddle against one thigh, press one hand on the seat, and, with the other hand, grasp the cantle and pull it towards you. An intact tree does not give to the pressure; a broken tree does. Clicking noises are another possible sign of a breakdown.

Is the tree and gullet the same thing?

The tree is the underlying framework of the saddle. The gullet is the channel that runs from the pommel to the cantle on the underside of the saddle. Although the size of the tree influences the front of the gullet, the tree size and the gullet size are not the same.

What is the tree size on a saddle?

The greater the angle of the bars is, the wider the tree.

A saddle that has full quarter horse bars, also known as a wide tree, generally has a measurement of 90 degrees, plus or minus 3. A very wide tree will have an angle of 94 degrees plus or minus 3. Very wide trees are often used on large horses such as drafts.

What does full Quarter horse bars mean on a saddle?

A saddle with full quarter horse bars is designed to fit a horse with a wide, fairly flat back. A saddle with semi-quarter horse bars is designed to fit a horse with a medium-sized back. The primary difference between the two sizes is in the angle at which the bars are positioned and the width of the gullet.

What are the different types of saddle trees?

There are three main types of saddle trees. The main types are: flex tree, a ridged tree, and treeless.

What is the back of the saddle called?

Cantle: The back of the saddle that gently curves upwards for backward seat support. Twist: The “twist” is the part of the saddle tree that sits just below the pommel in front of the “seat” of the saddle (circled in the image). This is a part of the saddle that determines how the saddle sits between the rider's legs.

What are gaited bars on a saddle?

Unlike a full Quarter Horse Bar saddle it is designed to sit correctly on the withers and not drop down and throw off the way the bars sit on the horses back. The bars are called by many people as wide, however they are not. The bars themselves are not wide (only measuring 13 inches), but the angle is wide.

What happens if a saddle is too wide?

When a saddle is too wide in the front, it can sink down over the withers. This takes the saddle out of balance by making the pommel lower than the cantle, which in turn carries more pressure over the front of the tree (at the withers/shoulders) than a saddle with a properly sized tree.

Can you fix a broken tree in saddle?

You can't fix a broken tree and most saddlers will not replace them either. Not only is it a very labor-intensive process — figure $800-$900 for the repair) but you would need to have the exact same tree, so if it's an older saddle you might not be able to even find the right tree.

How does a saddle tree get twisted?

Often saddles twist from right to left. Therefore, the right side of the cantle is higher than the left as seen in the photo of the Monarch saddle above. This can be due to riders grabbing the cantle when they mount, and pulling it over. Over a period of time this can cause the saddle to twist.

Why does my saddle lifts at the back?

However, if you do have a situation where the saddle really is lifting up at the back, the most common reason is that the saddle is too wide for the horse. This can be because of too wide a bar spread or too wide a bar angle.

Where should saddle sit on horses back?

The saddle needs to be in the right position on the horse's back in order to judge its fit, and to allow the horse correct movement.

• The saddle needs to sit 2-3 fingers behind the shoulderblade and its muscles (see picture below). ...
• The saddle must nowhere touch the spinal processes, or the dorsal ligament system.

How many fingers should be under the saddle?

There should be adequate clearance between the pommel and the top horse's withers, approximately two to three fingers. More than three fingers‚ clearance may mean the pommel is too high, i.e. the tree is too narrow. A saddle with less than 2-3 fingers may mean that the saddle is too wide.

What is the tree in the saddle?

The tree of a saddle is the firm, inner part that gives the saddle its stability and main shape. This frame is usually made of plastic or wood and comes in different sizes to accommodate the differing shapes of horses' backs. English saddles have varying tree widths, so what fits one horse might not fit another.

What is the difference between gaited saddles and regular saddles?

The difference between a gaited Western saddle and a normal Western saddle is the shape of the tree. Gaited horses move differently than their non-gaited peers. Because of their unique movements, gaited horses require saddles with trees that are shaped differently than saddles for normal horses.

Do gaited horses need special saddles?

While it's true that gaited horses generally require a saddle that accommodates a greater range of motion, especially through the back, shoulders, and neck, this is an important consideration for all horses. Gaited horses muscles move differently than those that are built to perform only the walk, trot, and canter.

What are the parts on a saddle?

Western Horse Saddle: Its Parts and How Long One Should Last

• Western horse saddles have many parts, including their tree, horn, stirrups, and cinch. ...
• The top of a Western horse saddle consists of the underlying tree, the pommel, seat, cantle, and skirt.

What is a knee roll on a saddle?

A flatter, more streamlined saddle flap shows off a nicely positioned leg. A flap with a slightly more built-up knee roll (one that has a supportive leather block sewn into the skirt under the flap) helps your leg stay in the correct place.

What is the foot part of a saddle called?

Stirrup: part of the saddle in which the rider's feet are placed; provides support and leverage to the rider. Leathers and flaps (English), or fenders (Western): The leather straps connecting the stirrups to the saddle tree and leather flaps giving support to the rider's leg and protecting the rider from sweat.

What is a Wade tree saddle?

A Wade saddle is a slick fork, buckaroo style specifically built to be a working saddle. It's designed for handling livestock and for maximum comfort during long, strenuous hours in the saddle.

What are most saddle trees made of?

All quality saddle trees are made out of wood… usually a type of pine wood, but many of the high end custom tree makers have their preferred types of wood for different parts of the tree.

What is a flat tree saddle?

A number saddles are purpose-built on trees well-suited to wide, flat backs. These are not like conventional “sport horse” tree shapes that come in extra wide widths. Sport horse trees are made from molds of a different shape and they rarely serve broad backed horses well, even if they are offered in extra-wide widths.