What Are the Benefits of a Flex Tree Saddle?

A flex tree saddle is designed to provide more comfort for both the rider and the horse. The saddle tree, or the foundation from which the rest of the saddle is built, flexes for more freedom of movement and a better fit.

  1. History

    • Saddle trees used to be made of wood and covered with hide or fiberglass, but their unforgiving nature resulted in injuries to the horse, not to mention poor communication between horse and rider. This inspired the invention of the flex tree saddle, which moves with the horse instead of against it.

    Function

    • The flex tree saddle is designed to move with the horse, meaning it gets out of the way of the horse's shoulders and hips.

    Benefits

    • A flex tree saddle is lightweight, provides closer contact with the horse and avoids aggravating pressure points along the horse's back.

    Material

    • While constructions vary depending on the manufacturer, most flex tree saddles are made from lightweight materials like high density polyethylene plastic.

    Considerations

    • Proper fit remains a concern even with flex tree saddles. The key is to make sure the flex tree saddle improves a proper fit as opposed to merely making a terrible fit acceptable.