Saddle with broken tree

[Paint it Lucky]

Is it ok to ride in? I have been given one for free by a friend, it is quite old and tatty and you can feel that the tree is broken but otherwise it is a nice dressage saddle and fits my horse well. When I say the tree is broken, the saddle is still in one peice, tree isn't sticking out anywhere. I stuck a thick numnah under it today and rode my horse in it and he felt fine (not bothered), but do you think I shouldn't use it? Will it cause any damage to his back?

 

[WhiteHorseWendy]

I wouldn't use it

 

[kerilli]

No, do not use it, if you can feel the break, you sure as hell can guarantee that the horse will once he has x stone of your weight bearing down on top of it. a new tree will not cost a fortune. i would ride bareback rather than use it, honestly!

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Thanks Kerilli, how much do new trees cost to fit?

 

[Queenjude]

No, like the above posts say don't do it! I couldn't tell you how much a new tree would cost, sorry!

 

[teddyt]

No! Please dont use it. A thick numnah is not enough to ditribute the extra pressure from the broken tree. You can do your horses back serious damage with a broken tree. Ring your local saddler for a quote to replace it

 

[amzy]

I would never ride a horse in a saddle with a broken tree as it would be very painful for the horse, no matter what numnah you have underneath.

 

[trundle]

Please don't ride him in it. Either get the tree replaced (ring round some local saddlers for quotes for this) or just junk the saddle.

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Ok, Doh! Wasn't such a good freebie afterall then

Thanks everyone, I will see how much the tree would cost to be replaced though to be honest the saddle is very tatty so not sure it will be worth it. Oh well

 

[1275gta]

I had one fixed by a master saddler and it cost £80, I beleive a replacement tree is around £150 to £200

 

[Donkeymad]

hell no - absolutely not! Are you mad

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Yes

I know everyone says 'don't ride on a broken tree' but no one says why so just wanted to know. (I know it's probably obvious really but just wondered.

 

[teddyt]

The tree is the frame of the saddle. The job of a well fitting saddle is to distribute pressure as evenly as possible, as excess pressure and uneven pressure causes tissue damage. So if the tree is broken the pressure distribution is impaired and the actual tree itself can cause a site of intense pressure. No matter of padding underneath will help, a bit like the princess and the pea!

 

[boneo]

Take it to your saddler, and ask him to drop the panel, if the break is in the length, there is little you can do other than replace the tree, but if it is broken across the arch, it can be plated, and the break welded. When I was an active saddler, I repaired very many saddles this way, and all went on for years, often it might seem like a break, it might only be a sprung rivet. Take the panel off, and have the tree examined by a competant saddler, you might be lucky, and it won't cost you very much!

 

[milliepops]

As everyone else has said, don't ride on it. My dressage saddle has a broken tree, I was hoping it was a rivet but it's the arch. Mine is a bit obscure so I'm having a new tree imported for me, only £65. No idea how much it will be to have it put in though!!

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Thanks everyone

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

[ QUOTE ]
Yes

I know everyone says 'don't ride on a broken tree' but no one says why so just wanted to know.

[/ QUOTE ]

Because it will damage your horses back

 

[unicornleather]

It is going to cost more to put a new tree in it than it is worth,Oz