My hand made fiberglass lamination tree is my own design, not a copy of a Western
or English tree. The design is minimally flexible in that it is designed to yield
to pressures applied by the horse and rider movement, creating a stable balanced
platform and weight distribution structure. It is not flexible like a treeless saddle or a
tennis shoe. The tree is a figure 8 design where the rider sits in the center of the figure 8.
The flex of this unique tree enables the saddle to move independently in each of the
four quadrants of the horse's back. "The first time I sat in my SR Enduro, I really felt
left - right movement of my horse's hind end. It was amazing!" Naomi Preston,
TTEAM Practitioner & endurance rider.
The width of the tree under the rider is only 6", allowing for an anatomically
correct thigh curve placement right at the hip joint of the rider. The mechanics of the
tree put the rider into a dressage posture, through all gaits of the horse. The stirrup hang
has 3 positions, accommodating rider preference.
- Upholstered skirting provides soft weight distribution.
The tree seatpiece is mounted on upholstered skirting -- a combination of foam and
dacron instead of the non-yielding wooden bars or packed panels of traditional
saddles. This upholstery combination molds to the moving conformation of the horse's
back. It does not keep a static size and shape. It provides an excellent load distributing
platform to the horse's back, offering a greater square inch coverage than traditional
trees. The design of the skirts allows for the saddle to have unlimited refittings to the
changing initial horse, or any choice of horse at a later time. This seatpiece/skirting
combination, as a foundation, offers the rider a correct position on the horse; a level
saddle for correct weight distribution; and excellent full contact to the horse's back
throughout all movement.
- Custom fit to the horse's back by plaster casting.
The saddles are initially fit to plaster casts of your horse's back, or the general standard
of the market sizes: wide, medium, narrow wither, arab semi-quarter, quarter horse, riders
choice.
- Can be refit to same or different horse - extending use.
- Centered seat for balanced ride - 100% balanced posture.
- Foam padded narrow seat.
- Custom fit, anatomically correct seat.
The seat piece of the tree is made of components, and if needed, the finished shape of the
seat can be changed to later customize for the rider. It is not one solid piece the rider must
get used to. The seat is also finished in a quality chap leather covering and a foundation of
molding foam which will mold to the bottom of the rider in riding posture, thus customizing
the seat to you!
- Padded thigh rolls and 4" cantle for trail security.
- Firm grip handle or horn providing security for rider.
- Lightweight, ranging from 16 - 20 lbs.
- Free swinging fenders and stirrups - custom fit, providing
close contact to the horse.
The fenders are a traditional western cut on the Enduro, however, they are a leather and seat belt safety strap lamination. This provides for only one single layer of fender between the rider's leg and the horse, and allows very close contact of rider's legs to the horse. The fenders are designed for an easy twist to reduce fender-turning stress to the riders's feet, legs and hips.
- Load-Leveling Rigging, multi-positional.
The rigging is taken from the cavalry saddles, and is a multi-positional, self-load
levelling rig made of nylon strap covered with leather. The rigging is not in a "set"
position to the saddle and therefore the horse, but can be positioned for the better
rig position for the horse. The saddles can be set up for a western cinch or english
girth, and can be interchanged at anytime.
- Multiple D-rings and ties.
- Master Quality Leatherwork.
- Hand crafted of the finest leather available.
- Custom tooling, silver and buckstitching available.