Half-Breed Trees?

[JinxedDream]

My ultimate goal is to build a half-breed or stock fender saddle like the one I currently own. It's a no-name saddle, doesn't even have a stamp on it but is by far the most comfortable I've ever ridden in. It's also the first and only saddle I've found to fit my horse really well. Not bad for a saddle found slowly dying in the basement of the local tack shop (the owner didn't even know what kind of saddle it was and was just happy to see it go). I'd only make the saddle for my own personal use. I ride endurance/LD trail so comfort for both horse and rider is my major concern.

Anyway, I'm wondering where I'd find a suitable tree for making such a saddle? Also what sort of resources do you suggest I read? I know the Al Stohlman books are highly recommended for western saddle construction but what about other stock saddles out there?

I'm in no hurry. I'm still learning the ins-and-outs of leathercraft. I love restoring older saddles and from my dressmaker days, I have a good eye for seeming how the pieces fit together to make a final product. I also have a good friend that makes her living in the leathercraft trade, so I'm not completely out in the dark on my own here.

For refernce, my own saddle:

[rufusjames]

La Porte saddle tree and Chicago Stockyard are the only two stateside that I know of that make an Aussie stock saddle tree. I am sure there are other treemakers that could or do. I don't know of any. But I haven't looked for any as I have been happy with the trees from both La Porte and Chicago.

http://www.literidetree.com/Saddle_Trees.html

http://www.dhrss.com/saddles/tree-style/index.html

[JinxedDream]

Thanks! I'll definitely keep both in mind. Is the construction close enough to that of the western saddles that I can follow those methods?