A Question Re Saddle Trees

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Jellymoon

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Do saddle brands make their own trees, or do they buy trees in from tree suppliers? So is it possible that different brands are using the same trees? Just wondering as often see the same tree names cropping up for different brands. Eg. the Freedom tree being one.
 
Tree manufacture has changed Jo end. When I started 7m17 years ago there were a good handful of tree makers but no longer. I think only Ideal effectively make their own trees via Walsall Riding, the maker that they own.

Ideal has taken over Barnsby who used to have, I believe, their own BB trees.

Aulton &Butler have gone, I think Lariat is still in existence, there may be others.

But no, the Freedom tree is a name that Black Country have given to a tree they use, and I don't know of it in reference to any other saddle or brand, though Dabbs had, and possibly still have, their freedom panel. It's one of those words sounds great for something in a saddle tree but like all things it's just a shape that will fit some horses, giving them "freedom", but not others.

A tree usually has a code with letters and numbers, such as LT10 which was a tree made by Light wood, a maker that is no longer.

Although he may not be so up to speed these days (and I'm not, for sure!) @cremedemonthe would be more aware of tree makers in general than I am.
 
My DH, Ray Symonds, has been an independent Saddler in the heart of Walsall for his entire life, and he has given me the answer to your question @Jellymoon - and some extra information which @sbloom might find interesting too.

Ideal bought out the Barnsby and Aulton & Butler brands, and they now make the BB and Aulton & Butler trees.

Ideal also own Walsall Riding, so they make Walsall Riding trees too.

Lariat - not sure.

As for Lightwood, the father sadly passed away, and his son did carry on the business, and as far as I know he is still trading.

There have been a few new saddle tree companies start in the last few years, Birchwood being one of them.

My DH has also had his own 'Ray' tree made under contract for the last 40+ years by a recognised tree maker.

My DH currently uses Aulton & Butler, BB, Walsall Riding and Birchwood trees in his saddles, as it is important to keep a variety and full choice of trees in stock to fit both horse and rider.

I hope this helps! 🙂
 
And we should support them.

So, another question please!

As well as Symonds, which other brands are made completely in the UK. I mean every component, not assembled in UK using imported leather/trees etc.
 
Jellymoon said:
Just googled your OH and they look beautiful, how amazing to have such a craft.
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Thank you so much - I am very proud of him!

Jellymoon said:
And we should support them.

So, another question please!

As well as Symonds, which other brands are made completely in the UK. I mean every component, not assembled in UK using imported leather/trees etc.
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Most saddle brands are made in the UK - although there are a few companies who import saddles partially made, and finish them here. It is really important to ask directly where a particular saddle is made before purchase. Or, if you are not quite sure, phone the company direct and ask them.

The problem nowadays is that most saddle companies operate 'production lines' and saddlers really only assemble saddles, as everything else is done for them.

This is where my DH is different, as he does absolutely everything himself when making his saddles. He really is a true craftsman, and an old school Saddler who will carry on making saddles in the traditional way. 🙂
 
Jellymoon said:
Have you ever recorded him making saddles? Would be really fascinating to see how he does it from start to finish.
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No, I've never recorded him whilst he is working to be honest. However, his FB page has lots of posts showing his saddles being made at different stages. A while ago DH posted about the knee rolls and blocks - he even makes those by hand - cutting and shaping each one. I'll see if I can find a couple of pics to show you......
 
If everyone knew how difficult it is to start a brand, to deal with suppliers and a very dysfunctional supply chain they'd be amazed that any saddles are made in the UK, or anywhere. I think saddlers that got set up in the 80s and 90s have an advantage but having been party to the set up of two new Walsall brands, it's an absolute nightmare.

I love a bench-made saddle, where saddlers like @Baywonder's OH make a saddle beginning to end, and at the moment I stock such a brand (though to be fair it's constructed slightly differently to most British made saddles) but there are SO many other options out there with different technologies that are really moving the industry forward.

I would disagree that most brands are made in the UK. Yes, a good proportion of the most well known brands in the UK are made, or partially made, here but there are many European brands that sell in big numbers. There is a big saddlery industry in Argentina, who make for some of the European brands too, and now we have saddles made in the Far East, including a good proportion of some very familiar, big selling non-British brands.

Then you get into local markets where you'll find saddles made in all sorts of countries, I believe some, for instance, are made in North America (English not Western obviously), there are so many brands we just don't see in the UK.

Definitely do your research, and thanks @Baywonder for the clarifications, into the brands you're considering, the fitter you want to use, and take into account where saddles are made, for sure, but also be aware that you don't need to assemble THAT much of the saddle, from what I gather, in the UK to be able to say it's made in the UK.
 
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