How to tell if saddle has a broken tree?

FallenAngel · 03-05-2007, 09:08 PM

How do you tell if a saddle has a broken tree?

Sue B · 03-05-2007, 11:38 PM

Place your hand against one side of the pommel and pull the opposite (diagonal) side of the cantle. There should be no movement along the lenght of the bars. If there is it will generally bend slightly where the break is. In a very rare case, the break may be near the front of the tree where it isn't that obvious. To test for this....simply grab each side of the saddle where the tree comes down/in front of the pommel. Put pressure on this area in an outward or toward the back of the saddle movement. It should also be stable and not give or bend significantly.

There is one consideration to all of this. If it is a western flex tree...when doing the diagonal push/pulls.....the bars will torque slightly. However, this is not the same as what a broken tree does. I have also seen one case of a flex tree that "over-flexed". This was not a stable tree and was not one that should have been used on a horse as it had potential to harm it.

The other thing to check on a western saddle would be the horn. While some horns appear loose on older saddles...simply check to make sure if it is the covering that is loose or if the entrie horn is moving. Generally, this doesn't happen without some sort of visable damage to the horse that would clue you.

FallenAngel · 03-07-2007, 06:30 AM

Thanx Sue B!

shymare · 03-11-2007, 06:49 PM

Ummm...could you put that in dummy language? I don't know the parts of the saddle. *is ashamed*

Sue B · 03-11-2007, 11:23 PM

Check out these links:
http://www.equusite.com/articles/bas...shSaddle.shtml
http://www.equusite.com/articles/bas...rnSaddle.shtml
The swell on the western saddle is also comonly refered to as the pommel.

arabianlover · 03-12-2007, 11:27 AM

lay it on the ground, but your knee in it and pull from the horn/front if it gives then its prolly broken!

03-05-2007, 09:08 PM	#1
FallenAngel Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chilliwack, BC Posts: 3,794 Images: 276 Blog Entries: 10	How to tell if saddle has a broken tree? How do you tell if a saddle has a broken tree?

03-05-2007, 11:38 PM	#2
Sue B Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,824 Images: 6	Place your hand against one side of the pommel and pull the opposite (diagonal) side of the cantle. There should be no movement along the lenght of the bars. If there is it will generally bend slightly where the break is. In a very rare case, the break may be near the front of the tree where it isn't that obvious. To test for this....simply grab each side of the saddle where the tree comes down/in front of the pommel. Put pressure on this area in an outward or toward the back of the saddle movement. It should also be stable and not give or bend significantly. There is one consideration to all of this. If it is a western flex tree...when doing the diagonal push/pulls.....the bars will torque slightly. However, this is not the same as what a broken tree does. I have also seen one case of a flex tree that "over-flexed". This was not a stable tree and was not one that should have been used on a horse as it had potential to harm it. The other thing to check on a western saddle would be the horn. While some horns appear loose on older saddles...simply check to make sure if it is the covering that is loose or if the entrie horn is moving. Generally, this doesn't happen without some sort of visable damage to the horse that would clue you. __________________ Save a Horse - www.saveahorse.org December 13th - National Day of the Horse September 19th - International Talk Like a Pirate Day www.talklikeapirate.com

03-11-2007, 06:49 PM	#4
shymare Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,353 Images: 46	Ummm...could you put that in dummy language? I don't know the parts of the saddle. is ashamed __________________ "Men have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it - You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed." ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

03-11-2007, 11:23 PM	#5
Sue B Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,824 Images: 6	Check out these links: http://www.equusite.com/articles/bas...shSaddle.shtml http://www.equusite.com/articles/bas...rnSaddle.shtml The swell on the western saddle is also comonly refered to as the pommel. __________________ Save a Horse - www.saveahorse.org December 13th - National Day of the Horse September 19th - International Talk Like a Pirate Day www.talklikeapirate.com

03-12-2007, 11:27 AM	#6
arabianlover Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New Pal, Indiana Posts: 861 Images: 238 Blog Entries: 8	lay it on the ground, but your knee in it and pull from the horn/front if it gives then its prolly broken! __________________ check out my photography at www.give-me-envy.deviantart.com

03-07-2007, 06:30 AM	#3
FallenAngel Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chilliwack, BC Posts: 3,794 Images: 276 Blog Entries: 10	Thanx Sue B!

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