What is a Saddle Tree?
(a) A saddle tree is a rigid frame that is generally made of wood and covered with rawhide or fiberglass. It may have metal bands bolted to it to keep the sections properly attached to one another. The tree is placed lengthwise, front to rear, inside the saddle. The purpose of the tree was originally to assist the jousters to stay on their horses. It was well known that the fella’ who stayed on the longest, was generally the winner of the match! So, the framework was to “lock” the rider onto the back of the horse. In today’s world, is it necessary to “lock” us onto the horse’s back? No!!! We do not have cumbersome armor, nor do we have 20’ long jousting spears both of which are awkward and can easily cause the rider to come off balance. It goes without saying, that “centered riding” was NOT a known skill during the days of Genghis Kahn or Attila the Hun! The big problem with these rigid frames is that they do not bend or flex. The horse does both….all the time, with each and every step
