When discussing saddles or how saddles are made, it is important to remember that everything to do with saddles starts with the saddle "Tree".  The tree is the foundation for every saddle.  It is the frame on which all other parts of the saddle are built on. 

Saddle trees are traditionally made of wood, which is why they are predominately called "trees".  The wood that "trees" are made of is usually the softer woods such as Beachwood, Ash, Cottonwood, Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir.  The soft woods are chosen for there flexibility as saddles need to give a little so as not to put pressure on the horse.  After the tree is assembled, a covering, usually of rawhide, is stretched wet over the tree and dried so that it shrinks and tightens down over the tree making it extremely sturdy.   The top of the line saddles have a tree covering of rawhide, with bullhide, which is the heaviest weight rawhide.  There are many other lesser quality coverings such as poorer hides, cheesecloth and canvas.  There is also the newest coverings of fiberglass coatings that is becoming more popular.  After the hide is stretched, a coating  of varnish is applied to seal in the rawhide.

The saddle tree's job is weight distribution.  A more efficient and comfortable saddle is one that distributes the rider's weight over the horse's back.  There are five basic parts to the tree; the horn, the cantle which olds the back bars together, the fork which holds the front bars together, and the two bars running parallel.  Between the bars there is a space created called the gullet channel.

The actual weight-bearing surface of the saddle are the bars.  They come in contact with the horse more than any other piece of the saddle.  The entire fit of the saddle to the horse depends on how the bars contact the horse. 

There is no industry standard for tree measurements or terminology.  Every tree maker is different in their measurements and even the names by which they refer to each tree that may be exactly like another.  There is really no way to become an expert on the saddle tree for this reason.  There are too many variables between makers.  You have either a full-quarter horse tree or a semi-quarter horse tree with tons of different variables.

If you have any questions on Horse supplies or Posh Pampered Pets, please call 979-221-7251 or  visit us at "http://www.poshpamperedpets.com". Our home office is located in Waller, Texas, with warehouses located throughout the United States such as Dallas TX, Houston TX, New York NY, Denver CO, Chicago ILL, Seattle WA, Kansas City MO, Miami FL, Raleigh-Durham NC, Washington DC, Los Angeles CA, Fayetteville AR, Philadelphia PA, Phoenix Arizona, San Antonio TX Texas.