Neat picture.
We used to haul horses to the saddleshop and try trees in the parking lot, even getting on and walking around.
We could not do much riding, it was asphalt and a little patch of dirt on the side to barely trot.
I liked the modified association trees best for our horses and ourselves.
Why did we not think to take pictures?
Do you have pictures of the finished saddle?
Who is the maker of the tree? Do they have a website or anything? Always fun to learn more!
Never mind, I think I found it 
http://www.mcgowansaddlery.com/
Froglander got the link right, and I don’t think that tree is a saddle yet, but it’ll be something along these lines https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207283313026228&set=a.10206871265645301.1073741944.1386857247&type=1
The only comment I’ll make is that the narrower the horse is in the shoulders, the more the thickness of the pad will affect the orientation of the saddle. My current horse is quite a bit narrower than the last one, and the tree I’m going to be building off of for him is slightly downhill on his back on its own. Add a 3/4" roping pad and a little thickness for leather and shearling, and it sits level.
Likewise, I just finished a saddle for my wife’s Arab, and it sits a little nose down right now since the shearling is new and poofy. As it compacts, it will settle back to level.
Both are because the thickness adds direct lift under the rear flatter section, but more oblique lift in the angled gullet. In other words, less of the thickness of the pad lifts directly up in the gullet.
[QUOTE=aktill;8196277]
Both are because the thickness adds direct lift under the rear flatter section, but more oblique lift in the angled gullet. In other words, less of the thickness of the pad lifts directly up in the gullet.[/QUOTE]
This is an interesting observation and one that puzzles me for my own horse’s saddle fitting. His saddle fits pretty well so I don’t feel like I need a lot of extra padding. He’s a bit downhill, though, but with withers. If I use a 3/4" felt pad, then it is too much pressure in the shoulder area (I place the saddle behind the shoulders) and because it is too thick to really pull up into the gullet, it ends up smooshing him on the withers (even though it is a shaped pad with a cut-out - the cut-out never seems to be in the right place and the sewn-together part at the very front pushes down where the end of his mane is).
What I’ve ended up doing is going with this pad: http://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Toklat_WoolBack_Round_Barrel_UltraCell_Pad_Contoured/descpage-TWRBUCSP.html (actually the CoolBack version)
The way the pad is cut for the withers with the contouring and cut-back-ish shape seems to suit him more in the wither/shoulder area.
Have you ever had a similar experience with the pad thickness of the felt pads as I described? Mac is very clear about it, pinning his ears when I use that pad (thick felt) and standing quietly when I use the other (Toklat that I linked).
It would be nice to try the tree on without all that saddle in the way.
[QUOTE=Flash44;8196704]
It would be nice to try the tree on without all that saddle in the way.[/QUOTE]
I think I’d personally prefer to have at least a rigging on though lol. I don’t have as much faith in my own riding ability I guess, but I’m not cantering an unrigged tree.
I did sit on (and get my wife to sit on) the tree with just a groundseat in it, but I’m not sure there’s much point in sitting flat on the bars. Even then, the groundseat isn’t EXACTLY what the finished surface will be like if thick seat leather (or particularly any padding) is used.
[QUOTE=Pocket Pony;8196580]
Have you ever had a similar experience with the pad thickness of the felt pads as I described? Mac is very clear about it, pinning his ears when I use that pad (thick felt) and standing quietly when I use the other (Toklat that I linked).[/QUOTE]
He’s probably objecting to the gullet getting narrower, if I had to guess. I’ve never had a horse object that much to changes in padding, but I’m pretty consistent.
I do know that I’ve moved to fitting the tree with the pad in place rather than on a bare back though. On two horses, I’ve seen quite a difference in how the tree sits.
Here’s an example:
http://www.easphotography.com/Carly/NewSaddle/8.png
The finished saddle has floofy wool that seems to be compacting down quicker in the gullet than in the back. As such, it’s a little tipped down compared to the bare tree.
[QUOTE=aktill;8196727]
He’s probably objecting to the gullet getting narrower, if I had to guess. I’ve never had a horse object that much to changes in padding, but I’m pretty consistent.
I do know that I’ve moved to fitting the tree with the pad in place rather than on a bare back though. On two horses, I’ve seen quite a difference in how the tree sits.
Here’s an example:
http://www.easphotography.com/Carly/NewSaddle/8.png
The finished saddle has floofy wool that seems to be compacting down quicker in the gullet than in the back. As such, it’s a little tipped down compared to the bare tree.[/QUOTE]
So you’re saying that’s a tree that was fitted without a pad in a before-and-after shot? Did you make that saddle?
Do you have any pictures of fitting a tree with a pad?
I’d say I’ve had a similar experience with a bare tree vs. a finished saddle + pad.
[QUOTE=Pocket Pony;8196799]
So you’re saying that’s a tree that was fitted without a pad in a before-and-after shot? Did you make that saddle?[/QUOTE]
It’s the same horse and saddle tree in both shots, just with the finished product shown in the right photo. I made this one, yes.
Nope, 'fraid not. I can try to remember to get some with another tree, but my mind is a steel sieve sometimes so no guarantees when.
[QUOTE=aktill;8196724]
I think I’d personally prefer to have at least a rigging on though lol. I don’t have as much faith in my own riding ability I guess, but I’m not cantering an unrigged tree.
I did sit on (and get my wife to sit on) the tree with just a groundseat in it, but I’m not sure there’s much point in sitting flat on the bars. Even then, the groundseat isn’t EXACTLY what the finished surface will be like if thick seat leather (or particularly any padding) is used.[/QUOTE]
I have no intention of sitting on the tree on the horse! But having done the template cut out thing, it’s like a light bulb when you see a template really drape on the horse well. But there are factors other than the template cut out that affect saddle fit, hence my wish to see the bare tree on the horse.
[QUOTE=aktill;8196891]
It’s the same horse and saddle tree in both shots, just with the finished product shown in the right photo. I made this one, yes.
(snip)[/QUOTE]
good looking wood, Aktill
[QUOTE=AdAblurr02;8210831]
good looking wood, Aktill :)[/QUOTE]
Thanks! Rides well too, makes my current one seem lacking lol. Now I can finally start on one for myself.
