In 2024. I decided to have a go at making trees with the help of my good friend Dennis Lane.
Dennis was taught by Dale Harwood in early 1992. Dale Harwood learnt by watching Hamley’s Head Tree Maker Walt Youngman. Dale Harwood eventually made saddles for Ray Hunt.
My trees are made using Walt Youngman Method that Dennis has passed onto me from Dale. Dennis has adapted what he learnt from Dale over the last 30 years to have more control and be able to fit the shapes of horses in the Dennis Lane Equine Back Profiling System. We now know thanks to Colorado State University Study Dennis System covers 92% of the Ridden horses in the World.
I am of the belief the tree is the most important part of the saddle.
They are handmade made from wood then rawhide covered. They are made as symetrical as possible left to right. This is very important for balance of the rider and how it sits on the horse.
