Have I broken my saddle tree?!!

[Christmas Crumpet]

So annoying - was putting my saddle back on the top saddle rack last night and whilst doing so, it fell off and landed on the ground with a bit of a thump. It probably fell about 6 ft.

I've flexed it and it moves very, very slightly with a tiny wrinkle in the seat which goes back immediately. We are talking a couple of mm not cm or inches. It is on a spring tree and the saddler did say that they do flex ever so slightly which is what it feels like its doing but if I flex the other saddle I have, it doesn't move at all. Worried I've broken the tree esp. as its only just come back from the menders having had a broken tree from another accident.

Do other people's saddles flex ever so slightly? I'm wondering whether it landed at a dodgy angle and something has broken inside or am I just being paranoid. Do saddles cope with falling off things?!! I've had them fall off stable doors before onto concrete and been fine.

 

[bouncing_ball]

I think that is probably a question for the saddler that is familiar with that type of saddle. I have had saddles survive similar, but it is hard to say. Maybe get someone to video you flexing both saddles and send to your saddler.

 

[be positive]

What you describe sounds like a normal spring tree, they do flex sometimes a fair way, your other one may not be spring tree or just not as flexible, I doubt it would have broken from just that drop but I would be concerned the original break has been damaged depending on how it was repaired if it is in a similar place, the few I have seen with broken trees sounded broken when checked and the damage was fairly obvious they did not spring back to normal.
Yes they are usually fine when dropped but as it has broken before I would want the saddler to check it before use.

 

[Surbie]

Definitely get it checked - the saddle that came with my loan horse flexed. Saddler opened it up and found an unstable weld from a previous repair that was about to snap.

(eta: saddler did point out the repair was awful and shouldn't have been welded in the first place)

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

What you describe sounds like a normal spring tree, they do flex sometimes a fair way, your other one may not be spring tree or just not as flexible, I doubt it would have broken from just that drop but I would be concerned the original break has been damaged depending on how it was repaired if it is in a similar place, the few I have seen with broken trees sounded broken when checked and the damage was fairly obvious they did not spring back to normal.
Yes they are usually fine when dropped but as it has broken before I would want the saddler to check it before use.

It had a new tree put in so should've been entirely solid. I just have the fear that I've done it again!! Although the last time it broke, it had been on a jolly round the farm with it round the horse's tummy.

 

[be positive]

I doubt a new tree will have broken, a repair would be less stable, still worth a check but they are pretty tough generally considering what they cope with in normal use.

 

[Red-1]

I would have it checked, otherwise you won't enjoy riding on it as you will wonder...

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

I would have it checked, otherwise you won't enjoy riding on it as you will wonder...

I will as soon as we can get to see the saddler. Wondering how long people like that will not be able to work for.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I would take a video of it and see if you can send that to saddler.. It's not ideal but they may be able to comment on it just from that in the meantime. If they are unsure then you can just wait - nothing lost, and worth a try.

 

[sbloom]

Bench saddlers are mostly working and that's what you need, not a saddle fitter (the danger of using "saddler" interchangeably, not just semantics). You can take it to an SMS saddler to get an opinion. Some trees/brands are more solid than others, I would doubt it is broken but if you didn't flex it before so can see the difference then it will be impossible for you to know, as you are getting a little movement from it. Even a video doesn't show how much force you're using so it's subjective.

 

[J&S]

Is there a noise? does it click at all, or squeak when you ride? You might also find your horse moves away when you mount. Best get it checked if you are worried.

 

[cremedemonthe]

Might be hard to get it checked just now in lockdown, the saddle that didn't flex probably had a rigid tree, ie no springs, spring trees can move a hell of a lot giving the impression it's broken. I check by movement, unusual noises within the seat area, visually look for excess wrinkles, feel for broken rivets or wood underneath and I lay the saddle flat on a table and look at it from the rear.If the tree has broken it usually gives unequal tension across the length and breadth of the seat which may make the seat look twisted. If all else fails and some have stumped me over the years, I drop the panel out and have a damn good look.
Oz