Anyone had a broken tree fixed?

[kg8185]

Bought a used CWD through my local tack shop about a year ago, rode pretty lightly over that year (unexpectedly didn’t have a consistent horse to ride lol). Picked it up about a month ago to tack up and felt something under the pommel that was pushing through the leather, never dropped it or anything so not quite sure what would’ve caused it.

Long story short, called CWD rep and she said it’s either a broken tree or a rivet that popped loose, quoted me 1-2k to fix if it was a broken tree. Pretty wide range so hoping to narrow that down a bit if anyone else has gotten a tree fixed (worst case scenario) by CWD! It has some odd specs that really work for me so just trying to see if it’s worth it to put 2k into a $2700 saddle or spend some time trying to find a new one.

[Belmont]

Back in my day it was around ~$1,000 - $1,500ish to replace the tree, I’m sure its closer to $2k now.
99.9% of the time it was a tree replacement no “fixing”.
What year is the saddle? If its “too old” they will tell you they can’t fix the tree as they moved to new trees in ~2018ish. Also, when they replace the tree (especially depending on age) it will feel and probably sit different on your horse. The good is you pretty much get a brand new saddle (internally).

[MHM]

I had a tree repaired on a saddle many years ago. Or actually, they probably replaced the tree. It was not terribly expensive, but it was quite a long time ago by now.

The last time I tried to get it done on a different saddle a few years ago, I couldn’t find any place that would do it because they did not seem to stock the right kind of tree for that saddle. So I think the options might be more limited these days. Vexing.

[PNWjumper]

I had a tree replaced by CWD a few years ago. It wasn’t terribly expensive, IIRC, maybe $600? But the saddle came back and never sat right on a horse again. So I’m not sure I would waste time trying to fix a CWD tree. The mademoiselle I ride in now is not fitting like I would like, and I suspect that once again the tree is suspect. I’ve gotten four or so years out of it, so I just chalk it up to “time to get a new one” (which is why I will never buy a CWD new/at full price).

ETA - it could have been as much as $1k - I can’t remember exactly what it cost, just that it was cheaper than the $1500-2k I was expecting.

[kg8185]

It’s a 2019! Thank you for this info - very much appreciated!

[kg8185]

Interesting… I wonder what made it so expensive for my quote? That is a good point. I don’t own as of right now, just a lease so harder for me to toss out something that does fit me so well and is a good fit for the horse as well. Agree on not buying full price!

[Not_Your_Janice]

I paid around 1k 20 years ago to have a tree fixed on an Hermes saddle. Journeyman did the work and it was impeccable.

[IPEsq]

Is it a carbon tree?

[kg8185]

I don’t think so! It’s not a 2gs or a mademoiselle

[kaya842]

IME repairs quoted through CWD are like going to a dealer vs independent mechanic as in there is a mark up (sometimes quite a bit). IMO most times it’s not worth it to repair/ replace the tree as like other said it won’t ride the same. You may be able to get a bit of cash for it if someone is looking for saddles for practicing repairs, decor (seems weird but I’ve seen a few posts like that), or for other non-riding uses. Not enough to purchase a new saddle but better than nothing.

[StormyDay]

@kaya842

IME repairs quoted through CWD are like going to a dealer vs independent mechanic as in there is a mark up (sometimes quite a bit). IMO most times it’s not worth it to repair/ replace the tree as like other said it won’t ride the same. You may be able to get a bit of cash for it if someone is looking for saddles for practicing repairs, decor (seems weird but I’ve seen a few posts like that), or for other non-riding uses. Not enough to purchase a new saddle but better than nothing.

Chiming in to say people buy them for riding those horse simulator things. Since it’s not going on a real horse a broken tree isn’t a huge problem

[CobJockey]

I had an exceptionally good experience with a CWD tree replacement in 2021. I blogged about it here. They replaced both my tree and my panels on my beloved 2013 model for a total of $1,000, and it was only out of my hands for ten days, from a Monday to the Wednesday of the following week. Been riding in it ever since with no issues.

[GraceLikeRain]

Personally, I’d be hesitant to sell a tree with a broken tree in fears it would get circulated and end up back on a horse. At a minimum I’d paint pen “broken tree” on the gullet and maybe also cut the billets. As someone who purchased a tree with a broken tree point I always wondered if along the way someone found out via a fitter and turned a blind eye to try and recoup some money.

[MHM]

@GraceLikeRain

Personally, I’d be hesitant to sell a tree with a broken tree in fears it would get circulated and end up back on a horse.

That thought crossed my mind as well.

[IPEsq]

Couldn’t use it on a simulator without billets though. Right?

[MHM]

How many people actually use simulators? That doesn’t sound like a market with a very high demand. Or a need for a very fancy saddle, I would think.

[kg8185]

This is true - maybe someone would! Probably worth a post on FB. Was thinking about doing that anyway and offering it as a super low price if someone did want to fix it. Or fix it and if it didn’t ride the same, sell it fixed anyway for what it’s worth. Either way I’m likely looking at a new saddle unfortunately ):

[StormyDay]

@GraceLikeRain

Personally, I’d be hesitant to sell a tree with a broken tree in fears it would get circulated and end up back on a horse. At a minimum I’d paint pen “broken tree” on the gullet and maybe also cut the billets. As someone who purchased a tree with a broken tree point I always wondered if along the way someone found out via a fitter and turned a blind eye to try and recoup some money.

Ugh that’s horrible! The broken tree written on it is a good idea. However I’m pretty sure they need the billets. Every once in a while I see someone wanting a high end saddle for one of the simulators

[StormyDay]

@MHM

How many people actually use simulators? That doesn’t sound like a market with a very high demand. Or a need for a very fancy saddle, I would think.

I’m not sure how many people have the ‘real’ ones. But, people make their own all the time. It’s not too hard to make one and it’s a good way to practice (especially teaching position and such) without actually using a horse.

[Jackie_Cochran]

To start I have not ridden in a saddle with a broken tree.

I have ridden a good amount on my Home Horse.

I do not think it would be that pleasant a ride even on a simulator. The HH can shift so suddenly when I get off balance that the last thing I need is my saddle “making a comment” about it.

IF I was rich I would just go straight ahead and buy around 6-8 (or would I need 10 to 20 saddles to fit all the lesson horses I ride?) saddles that fit me with different tree widths or configurations. I would not bother with adjustable tree saddles at all.

I ride the lesson horses with a Pegasus Butterfly Claudia jumping saddle. Every time I even think of maybe trying to ride in it on my HH my body starts screaming “NO, NO, NO!!!” The front of the tree in this saddle is hinged 3-ways and on a horse it took me a while to learn how to ride in it balanced. Luckily these lesson horses were extremely patient with me throughout this process, including the “rebel without a cause” sourpuss of a QH who was very definite about anything he considered abusive to him in any way (his protest was a scowl, and as the situation got worse his face got uglier and uglier, then he balked, then he started backing up for a good distance without any orders from me.) This horse’s reaction to me not being perfectly balanced in my new expensive (for me) saddle was the reason that I still ride in it years later on all the lesson horses.

I will not get up on my HH in a saddle whose tree is iffy and moving under my seat in strange ways. I do not need the irritation of the added sound effects either. I did use my Spanish Potrera saddle with a leather tree on it for a while, but that saddle is SOLID even though the front of it will eventually conform to the horse’s back. I might even feel safe if I put the EZ-fit treeless saddle on my HH, another treeless saddle that is stiff enough not to flop around on a horse’s back.

If the saddle on the HH gives you inacurate feedback about your position and movements in the saddle your body may learn habits that the horse you ride may not like at all.

Just my humble opinion of course.

Yes, I use my 50+year old saddle on my HH. This saddle is in good condition, tree and all. If I ever run into another horse that it will fit I will cheerfully ride a horse in it. I would have no problems using a 100 year old saddle on it if the saddle had a solid tree and the panels were firm, even an old fashioned English hunt seat saddle, the ones without knee rolls or much substance under my leg.

But then with my MS I have horrible balance anyway and on the HH I need something that will keep stable under my seat. There is no way to use a girth on the HH, therefor the saddle does not need billets, the saddle stays on by friction and the rider’s weight.