Broken Tree

[mauifarrier]

I sure do appreciate your website resource, as I've already said other times before. Thanks, Rod & Denise!

Tom, you have us so curious now as to what this saddle looks like, could you please entertain us with a photo EVEN IF you DONT decide to work on it?

I had a request the other day to entertain a saddle repair where the horse was tied to a tree and bolted forward hanging the horn & fork up on a branch, tearing the rigging apart. It was a Carl Ammerman barrel saddle, which retails at $2,000 or less. I advised they ask the "Manufacturer" about repairs first. Also pointed out there may be tree damage due to such a strain on the saddle.

A wise saddlemaker once told me to avoid doing any changes or repairs to saddle rigging because of liability. The rigging is what holds the saddle onto the horse, so if you're the "last person who touched it" and the rider/owner gets in a wreck, they may hold you liable.

You may have more "fun" building a saddle from scratch than trying to fuss with a mass produced saddle full of glue, nails, & staples. Once you've built a saddle you'll also feel much more familiar with saddle repairs. However, the materials cost to build a saddle may add up to more $$ than your friend wants to invest if she's used to buying production line saddles.

Best wishes!

[TomG]

I won't get a chance to get out there for pictures for a while, unfortunately.

She did send me a message and said she thinks it's a Flex tree... Anyone ever heard of that? She was not sure of the make or maker of the saddle.

Tom

[mauifarrier]

I won't get a chance to get out there for pictures for a while, unfortunately.

She did send me a message and said she thinks it's a Flex tree... Anyone ever heard of that? She was not sure of the make or maker of the saddle.

Tom

Oh boy! That could further complicate things. Not to categorize them as good or bad, but flex trees are made by many different manufacturers and of varying types of materials.

Ralide Blue Colored All Polymer tree. www.ralide.com

Steele "Equifit EVO" Wood tree with Brown Polymer bars & groundseat http://www.steelesaddletree.com/evo.html

Fits better (wood fork & cantle with black rubber bars) http://www.dynamitehorsemansupply.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=315

If you do a search on this forum for "rubber bars" "Flex tree" etc you'll be able to read up on it.

[TomG]

Thanks

I think I just need to find her someone she can send it to for repair.

I don't mind taking on a learning project, but I think this might be too much to cut my teeth on

But I'll keep reading and learning

Thanks

Tom

[RidersChoiceSaddleCo]

Tom, If you can send me a photo of the saddle and/or the makers name. I can quote you a price on replacing the tree. More than likely the saddle was made here locally. We may even have a tree in stock to fit it.

[TomG]

Tom, If you can send me a photo of the saddle and/or the makers name. I can quote you a price on replacing the tree. More than likely the saddle was made here locally. We may even have a tree in stock to fit it.

I'll write the owner and see if she will send me the info. She's kind of drop off line for some reason.

Thanks

Tom