Choosing a saddle tree for your horse

We all know how crucial correct saddle fit is, but as horse owners the whole process can, quite frankly, be mind boggling.

At Jeffries Saddlery, we’re passionate about saddle fit for so many reasons. First and foremost, it is essential for the health of the horse’s back and the longevity of their ridden career. A saddle that fits correctly is designed to distribute the weight of the rider over the muscles of the horse’s back, without creating unnecessary pressure points across the spine and scapula, allowing the horse to move freely and fluidly.

This, along with the right training, helps the horse to move more correctly and develop more evenly, improving posture and enhancing their ability to carry the weight of the saddle and rider.

A well-balanced saddle will also support the rider, helping them to stay in tune with the movement of the horse for better harmony between horse and rider.  

Every saddle fitting journey starts with a tree - back profile and tree selection.

We've developed an innovative range of four saddle tree options, that form the basis and beginning of every saddle fitting journey.

Whilst we mostly consider ‘width’ when talking about saddle fitting, it is also important that the saddle suits the profile of the horse, something which can vary greatly between horse breeds (and indeed horses of the same breed) - the tree will play a pivotal part of this.

The tree should fit relatively flush to the contours of the horse’s back, accommodating the wither, the shoulder (allowing it to move freely) the width of the back and also the flow/shape of the back from front to rear. Our four tree options are designed to fit differently to suit various back shapes.  

We always recommend using a qualified SMS saddle fitter to help you navigate your way through our saddle range, however here’s the lowdown on what you can expect:

The Liberty Tree: Ideal if you have a native breed who will benefit from the spacious, open head and flatter rails of the Liberty tree.

The XP Tree: Suited to the broader Traditional breeds, the XP tree offers optimum fit for horses with an incredibly broad, flat back and low wither.

The Sport Tree: As the name alludes, this tree is perfect for sport horse types such as TB’s. The flattish rails, narrow head and twist make this the ideal choice for those finer framed horses.

The Extra Tree: Carefully designed for the middle-weight Warmbloods, who present a broad frame and prominent wither that can be difficult to accommodate with a regular saddle tree.

All four tree shapes are available in jump, GP and dressage styles, both double and mono flap options.

Locate a saddle fitter here.