How Can I Build a Saddle Tree?

A saddle tree is the wooden base of a saddle, designed to give the saddle its shape and evenly distribute the rider's weight over the horse's back. Building a saddle tree is not an easy process, and probably not one you should expect to be able to successfully pull off without specialized training. However, such a task is within the realm of possibility, and provided with the correct materials, you can build a western saddle tree with a few days' work.

Things You'll Need

  • Wood (ponderosa pine, cottonwood, poplar or birch)
  • Nails or wood glue
  • Polyurithane
  • Paintbrush
  • Rawhide
  • Rawhide straps
  • Shellac
  • Bandsaw
  • Plane
  • Tacks
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut the rough shapes of the four tree pieces from the lumber. The front of the tree is called the fork, and contains what will eventually be the saddle's pommel. The back piece is the cantle, and the two pieces running along the sides are called bars. The bars should be fairly flat, oblong, and somewhat curved near the bottom. The fork needs to be cut from a large block of wood, due to its shape. The cantle should be roughly in the shape of a three-quarters doughnut. See Reference 2 for photographs to compare your pieces to.

    • 2

      Plane the pieces into shape. The bars need to have a bit of a curve to them, so that they are at a steeper angle near the front of the saddle than toward the back. This will protect the horse's withers from undue pressure. The space between the bars at the front of the saddle is called the gullet. This should be between 6-1/2 and 7 inches wide: approximately the width of the horse's withers 2 inches from the top. Smooth the fork and cantle, and make sure that the pieces will evenly connect together.

    • 3

      Attach the four pieces with either nails or a strong wood glue. See Reference 2's images for the relative position of the pieces on the finished saddle tree. Paint the tree with a coat of polyurethane, and allow it to completely dry.

    • 4

      Drape the tree with wet rawhide and trim the hide to fit. Tack the hide into place. Stitch the hide with rawhide straps, starting with the tree, then the cantle, and finally the bars. Tap the stitches every day until the hide has fully dried, to ensure a smooth seam. Shellac the finished saddle tree.