keplerts Report post Posted January 20, 2013 My local tack shop gave me a saddle tree yesterday that I never heard of before. I am hoping someone on here knows something about it. The maker is: AQL..... at least that is what is written on the tree. The swell and cantle are fiberglass covered wood and the bars are a black resin or plastic that flex. So I'm guessing it is a flex tree. I did a search for AQL trees but found nothing. Over all it seems to be a decent tree. Any info would be great! Thanks, Tom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denise Report post Posted January 20, 2013 What you probably have is a Steele flex tree: http://www.steelesaddletreellc.com/STL.html They also have a "Fit To Be Seen" system of blue shapes they send out to people to try on horses to see which of their bar shapes and styles will fit best: http://www.steelesaddletreellc.com/FTTH3.html They have letter designations for the different types. There isn't an AQL on their website, but I bet if you contact them they will be able to tell you if it is theirs and, if so, what the fit designation is. There have been some threads on here about flexible bar trees and buidling on them. They have their issues. http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=4947 http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=34686&hl=+rubber%20+bars#entry216278 We also did a post on our blog about a flex tree we duplicated, making a solid tree instead because it was soring the horse. Maybe in looking at the pictures you can see if yours is made the same. Ours had GT on it, for their LT or gaited horse shape. http://www.rodnikkel.com/content/index.php/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/checking-out-a-flex-tree/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keplerts Report post Posted January 20, 2013 Thanks for the reply, Denise! You are correct! What I have appears to be the Steele Flex Tree. The only difference from the one in your blog is that mine has a built-in ground set. Do you think the would make the bars less flexible? I sat in on mine two wide back, low whithered Arabians and didn't think it fit them very well. I really want to make my own all-round ranch saddle and when they gave me this tree I thought great! But, I guess you really do get what you pay for ) Thanks again for your insight and quick, informative reply. Tom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denise Report post Posted January 21, 2013 The built in ground seat would make the tree by itself less flexible. Whether the saddle would be less flexible than a finished saddle with a properly built ground seat is very questionable (though the links above discuss how difficult it is to build a groundseat in these without affecting the amount of rock in the bars.). You say you want a ranch saddle. Are you thinking of roping on it at all? When you see how much you can make the tree bend with just some pressure on fork and cantle, imagine what will happen when a cow hits the end of the rope, especially pulling forward. Even a really good horse will only tolerate that a few times before he starts objecting to being roped off... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keplerts Report post Posted January 21, 2013 I thought I would maybe try some roping. But mostly I would be doing team penning and sorting, trail riding, and some Extreme Cowboy racing. After reading some on your web site and blog I know this tree is NOT one I would want to be using for that kind of riding. Again, thanks for your insight. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denise Report post Posted January 21, 2013 You're very welcome. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
