Adjusting a saddle tree

[Christmas Crumpet]

I’ve got a new saddle which was made for the horse. I feel like the tree width is a bit too wide as it moves slightly side to side when I’m riding. The trees are adjustable (not a change of gullet one). So do they change the tree width or tree angle? I need the tree width adjusting slightly, I think the angle is fine.

 

[TPO]

Depends on the brand. If find it unlikely that the whole tree will be adjusted. More than likely, brand dependent, it will be heat treated and/or put in a a vice type arrangement and adjusted that way but generally just the headpiece that is narrowed/widened. Although the rest of the tree might move slightly in response to that adjustment it's not always in ways you would want. For example putting XW headplates into an adjustable can warp and alter the fit of the tree/panels but not in a making it wider way, more in a slightly warped way.

 

[Shay]

Best people to ask are the ones who made it initially.

 

[sbloom]

I’ve got a new saddle which was made for the horse. I feel like the tree width is a bit too wide as it moves slightly side to side when I’m riding. The trees are adjustable (not a change of gullet one). So do they change the tree width or tree angle? I need the tree width adjusting slightly, I think the angle is fine.

For most fitters the angle of the front arch IS the width (MW, W, XW etc). If any other aspect of the saddle is too wide - pommel, rails, seat - then it's generally not adjustable. Moving side to side can be for all sorts of reasons, as always, in the first instance go back to the fitter.

Some saddle brands do talk about both what they call width (width at the pommel and, to a certain extent, rails) and angle, and I believe they can adjust both, again, talk to the person who fitted it.