Superior Saddlery — Andy Mashke
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Certified Used Saddles — David Solum
While a narrow tree gets most attention, a tree too wide creates equally serious problems — harder to spot because the saddle appears to sit low and level at first glance.
A tree too wide drops too low on the horse's back. The pommel sits low, the gullet may contact the spine under load, and the saddle rocks laterally with every movement. Wide-tree saddles are often overtightened to compensate — which creates wrong-location pressure without stabilizing the saddle.
A wide tree sinks lower than it should. The bars slip inward, the gullet moves closer to the spine, the pommel drops, and the saddle becomes laterally unstable — rocking left and right with every movement. The rider grips harder to compensate, the horse tenses in response, and both become progressively less fluid.
Pommel sits noticeably lower than cantle. The saddle appears to sit deep. Front bars contact the shoulder area. The saddle moves laterally when rocked by hand.
Under rider weight, the gullet channel may contact the spine. Check by running fingers under the gullet with a rider sitting in the saddle. Any spine contact requires immediate correction.
Feels unstable through turns and lateral work. Saddle tips toward the outside. Difficult to maintain a centered position.
Stiffness through the back, particularly laterally. Behavioral changes that are inconsistent because spinal contact is intermittent.
With a rider in the saddle at the walk, have a second person run their fingers under the gullet channel. The gullet should maintain three-finger clearance along its entire length from pommel to seat end. Any contact with the spine is unacceptable and requires immediate saddle replacement.
Adding pads does not fix a wide tree. A wide tree on a narrow horse continues to sit in the wrong position regardless of pad thickness. The only permanent solutions are fitting the correct tree width or replacing the saddle.
David Solum has been evaluating saddle fit problems for 40+ years. Call, text, or email him directly — he can advise on whether it's a fit issue, a tree problem, or a saddle you should replace.
See also: Free Saddle Tools · How to Fit a Western Saddle · Parts of a Western Saddle · How to Buy a Certified Used Saddle