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Here's a "heads up"!!....
As most of you know, getting good trees these days is tough. If any of you are "do it your selfers" or, are just looking to make a "spot-on" Texas or Hope saddle (CS or civilian type saddle) to have someone else "finish" for you, here is an excellent pattern "original" tree for sale on ebay.
This is quite likely a fairly early (1870's - 80"s) catalog "Morgan" or perhaps a catalog Texas" saddle but it has the great features of early horned saddles such as the horn and pommel (a feature that is NOT being reproduced well at this time). The low cantle is more Morgan style but that does not detract from its usefullness.
Your taking a bit of a chance fitting it to your horse but it appears rather flat in the bars so would likely work for most Walkers, warm bloods, most grade horses etc. but (be ware) NOT likely a quarter horse. Course, it would require new rawhide and finishing but if you can get it for $175 or less its still a good deal. AFter buying it, rawhiding, finishing, etc. you would have no more into it than buying one outright from the usual makers- perhaps even quite a bit less. Or, "don't" have it re-rawhided but finish it "as is" for a real cool "in the field" look. Most important, these wooden horn trees of the correct shapes are nearly impossible to find. If you got the need or desire and the cash....I recommend you jump on it!
PS: if you want suggestions on "how" to finish it (depending upon your impression) drop me a line. Be glad to help.
Ken R Knopp
As most of you know, getting good trees these days is tough. If any of you are "do it your selfers" or, are just looking to make a "spot-on" Texas or Hope saddle (CS or civilian type saddle) to have someone else "finish" for you, here is an excellent pattern "original" tree for sale on ebay.
This is quite likely a fairly early (1870's - 80"s) catalog "Morgan" or perhaps a catalog Texas" saddle but it has the great features of early horned saddles such as the horn and pommel (a feature that is NOT being reproduced well at this time). The low cantle is more Morgan style but that does not detract from its usefullness.
Your taking a bit of a chance fitting it to your horse but it appears rather flat in the bars so would likely work for most Walkers, warm bloods, most grade horses etc. but (be ware) NOT likely a quarter horse. Course, it would require new rawhide and finishing but if you can get it for $175 or less its still a good deal. AFter buying it, rawhiding, finishing, etc. you would have no more into it than buying one outright from the usual makers- perhaps even quite a bit less. Or, "don't" have it re-rawhided but finish it "as is" for a real cool "in the field" look. Most important, these wooden horn trees of the correct shapes are nearly impossible to find. If you got the need or desire and the cash....I recommend you jump on it!
PS: if you want suggestions on "how" to finish it (depending upon your impression) drop me a line. Be glad to help.
Ken R Knopp
