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.
A flex tree saddle does not automatically ensure a good fit. In our opinion a good quality saddle with a wooden tree is still the best choice but a good quality flex tree saddle is a better choice than a poorer quality saddle with a wooden tree.
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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