western saddle trees

[rockllews]

Hi guys, A quick question- on a western saddle, how can you tell what material the tree is? Between the leathers of the back jockey and skirt on an old used saddle I picked up yesterday, it is a solid creamy white material- plasticky/smooth feeling but could it be the fiberglass coating? If I understand construction correctly, even if it was a wood tree, the wood wouldn't be visible but would be coated or covered with something...

Also, do you know how long ago synthetic trees came into the scene? This saddle is old but I can't find a saddlemaker/year on it....

Thanks.

[Blue Dawn Kennel]

Not sure if this link will help but might get you started somewhere. http://www.western-saddle-guide.com/saddle-tree.html

I know that synthetic saddles have been around for around 20+ years and I'd think that synthetic trees were made before the saddles. Here's another link you might check out as well. http://www.kieffer.net/cms/content/view/218/25/lang,en/

Robbi

[rockllews]

Thanks Robbi. I've used that first site quite a bit recently actually- it has some good basic info when you're a newbie to western side of riding. Chelsea

[Kiki's Mom]

creamy white = PROBABLY a rawhide covered wooden tree.
Yellowish/amber looking = synthetic/plastic tree also known as Ralide

[SeniorCoot]

My older saddles and custom ones are all rawhide over wood trees- last one i bought was from New Braunfels Tx-- Low assoc- many newer less exp saddles use fiberglass or other molded stuff--been a while since i stuydied up on this but it's real interesting subject when you get into it.