Flexible Tree Saddles are a bit controversial but are becoming very popular, especially for barrel racers.  It has a hard skeletal structure shaped out of material that flexes to accommodate the movement of the horse and rider.  The tree bar fits near the horse's shoulders and around its back, but shouldn't touch its spine.  This forward thinking design allows the horse greater freedom, puts less force on his pressure points, and flexes to fit during walking or loping.

The design of the flexible tree has a traditional look and feel while remaining extremely flexible.  The challenge of creating a flexible saddletree was two-fold.  The first challenge was to make a flexible tree bar that would conform to the horses back.  There were many experiments done with several types of material, achieved by bonding high-density polyethylene plastic and leather together to give it flexibility while retaining structural integrity.  A typical saddle seat is created by taking a preformed seat, usually made of fiberglass or metal, and mounting it on to the saddle tree.  The material for the seat had to be flexible, have shape-holding characteristics for the seat's foundation, and memory to bring the saddle back to it's original position.  In the end, heat tempered spring steel was the answer.  In short, the ergonomic flexible tree saddle's bars are made of stiffened rubber, molded steel, or sculpted wood, along or in combination to create an elastic yet sturdy base.

The theory behind trying to invent a flexible tree is that, if the bar can adjust to the confirmation of any horse, it significantly widens the range of horses that will fit any particular saddle tree design.  The tree will flow and move with the horse instead of pushing against him.  The tree will move out of the way of the animals hips and shoulders when he bends or turns making it fit better with more comfort.

The new experimental materials used for this tree bar make the tree thinner and lighter.  1/2" neoprene rubber was incorporated in the bottom layer of the skirt rather than an additional layer of leather, which enhances the comfort to the horse while providing close contact to the horse and less weight to the saddle.  The prediction is that the flex-tree will provide three times more closeness to the horse while providing even distribution of weight over the back of the horse.  These two things have always been upmost in the making of saddles.  Closeness to the horse and even balance across the horse's back.

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