Does anyone know of a good tree maker?  I want one who will hand make a tree to my specs.  I want a beartrap/widowmaker style saddle with the big huge swells.   Sadly, they don't make trees like that off the rack. I need someone who hand makes trees like they used to do...when a saddle was really a saddle.  Anyone got any leads for me?

Amanda

Their only business is making Saddle trees.  Most of the custom saddle markers in my area use their trees.  From what I hear they make one of the best trees available.  They are rawhide wrapped wood trees.  But you can expect a significant wait to get one.

HERCULES SADDLE TREE CO INC

1101 MURPHY LN
MOAB, UT  84532-3249

take a look at http://www.steelesaddle.com/

I really havent' had much luck, but if you want a heck of a beartrap saddle, check out southerntrailssaddle.com they have a roper with 23 inch swells and a 5" high back.  They are making mine in draft horse bars (they have cutout templates that they will send you, you put it on your horse and take pics, and they can work with the bar angles and such to get a good fit) They are using Wickett & Craig leather (which is good stuff from what I've been told) and they can do whatever you want with tooling or rigging, color, seat size, etc.  For the price, I think its a good deal.  They have been super nice, I'm just saving up some disposable cash and selling my bob marshall saddle to pay for my new beartrap saddle.

Amanda

It's a 15 inch endurance/trail model.  It's all black endurance leather with a horn, fenders, cheyenne roll, contrast trim, breakaway stirrups, and an extra firm laminated skito pad with felt bottom.  It's in great shape, here's the ebay auction number if you want to look at it.  Just copy and paste the number into the ebay search box and it will pop up my auction.

170406730688