saddles again

[eahotson]

More specifically saddle trees.I intend to have any saddle that I buy fitted by a professional saddle fitter.Some saddles have traditional beechwood trees (the more expensive) and others have lightweight modern trees.All other things being equal is one tree better than another?

 

[sbloom]

There are as many opinions about the best way to saddle fit as there are horses...I'm a bigger fan of wooden trees, much more choice in shape, the amount of give is what I like (some plastic trees are very rigid for both horse and rider, hence the ton of foam in the seat of many) and they are more likely to have options for tricky to fit horses. There are some very good modern material trees out there, but the biggest factor is, if you have a "regular" shaped horse and no significant issues, the fitter - picking a good fitter and go with the brands they recommend and stock. if you have a slightly tricky proposition then you may need to look elsewhere and go for a specialist, whatever the tree is made from.

There are very few very bad or very good saddles, it's about whether the fit the horse.

 

[eahotson]

There are as many opinions about the best way to saddle fit as there are horses...I'm a bigger fan of wooden trees, much more choice in shape, the amount of give is what I like (some plastic trees are very rigid for both horse and rider, hence the ton of foam in the seat of many) and they are more likely to have options for tricky to fit horses. There are some very good modern material trees out there, but the biggest factor is, if you have a "regular" shaped horse and no significant issues, the fitter - picking a good fitter and go with the brands they recommend and stock. if you have a slightly tricky proposition then you may need to look elsewhere and go for a specialist, whatever the tree is made from.

There are very few very bad or very good saddles, it's about whether the fit the horse.

Thank you for that.The horse is a gypsy cob.Five years old,a mare,still growing and changing shape.She has a very broad back but she does have a wither.I may go for the wooden tree.Within reason I have a decent budget.