Altering the tree on a saddle?

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Remi'sMum

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Quite probably this has been asked before - but can a saddle have its tree altered?

I've been offered a rather lovely dressage saddle for a ridiculously low amount of money by a friend. But it's too narrow 😕.

Could it be adjusted? I know there's plenty more to saddle fit than the width at the front, obviously - but in principle is it possible? And how would I find a decent saddler to do the job, if so? And what would it cost? And would a saddler be interested in doing the work rather than selling me something themselves??

Thanks in advance!
 
Usually yes but it is not good for it to change by masses or very often (it gets weaker).
If the rest of the fit is near enough I'd think plenty of saddlers would do it for you.
Mine was altered last summer after narrowing with flocking previously, I kept saying but what if he has to have time off and gets fatter in 6 months time. Saddler told me if we were talking 6 months time he was narrowing it :p. Had the saddle for a long time, love it, but pony had lost a bit of topline (age related). So saddler took a template and made the tree a perfect fit for him :)
Cost ermm, not masses I want to say £80 but that might have been the faffing he did with the dressage saddle I bought secondhand too.

Said saddler does't sell a lot of new, though has a good eye for suggesting what might fit. Mostly because I think he just has a thing for leather and spends too much time working on film sets these days!
 
Some trees can be widened a little
And some saddles can have their trees replaced but it's quite expensive
 
It would very much depend on the type of saddle, how close it is to not fitting, and if having narrow tree points is the only problem. I would also want to take it to a master saddler or a saddle maker, as a saddle can easily be ruined...
 
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