Okay guys I'm new here. I'm getting ready to start my first saddle. It's going to be on a ralide tree. Atleast that is my plan. The tree came in today and I tried it on two very different animals. A fairly round backed mule and an old Arab cross mare. What concerns me is that the ground seat contacts the spine on both. The mule isn't near as bad as the mare. Anyway the question I have for those that have used ralide trees, have you ran into this? And if so, what can I do about it. I realize that when the skirts are on it will sit alittle higher. But I would think there is something here I'm missing. If all the ralide trees in production saddles put pressure where it looks like this one will, I can't think you could use any of them. Other than getting a wood tree, what are your thoughts on this? Thanks