Adjustable gullet saddles vs fixed size trees

Adjustable gullet saddles vs fixed size tree's is a question we are often asked at The Saddle Bank. What is right for you will be different to what is right for your friend. Therefore, it is really important to understand the differences and what they mean for you so you can make the best decision.

It is common knowledge that horses change shape throughout their lives. Young, immature horses just starting under saddle will fill out as they mature, older horses that have been on box rest or turned away due to injury will lose a degree of condition and muscle tone and certain breeds of horses are more susceptible to gaining and losing weight depending on the time of year. Such changes in a horse's condition will impact the fit of their saddle. For this reason many saddle manufacturers have now developed adjustable tree saddles so that  horse owners do not need to keep buying new saddles as their horse changes but can simply adjust the width of one saddle.

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What is an adjustable gullet saddle?

An adjustable gullet saddle means that it has a metal plate in the head of the tree which can be removed and replaced with a different size to alter the head. This differs to a fixed size tree as fixed size trees are build on wooden trees which have metal plates rivetted in place. These cannot be replaced.

There are several different types of adjustable trees on the market including changeable gullet saddles, Wellep Key saddles, Resin Tree'd saddles and wood or plastic spring tress.

One of the most popular adjustable saddles on the market today are those with adjustable gullets such as Kent and Masters, Fairfax, Thorowgood, Wintec, Bates, Arena and GFS Monarch. These saddles are quick and easy to adjust and do not require a specialized saddle fitter, so the only cost involved would be purchasing the actual gullet bars that you need. Different manufacturers have different width bars, but most are available from narrow to extra wide, with some going up to 4XW.

There is however a negative point to consider in regards to adjustable gullets and that is, you can only adjust the tree points and so the width of the front of the saddle, you cannot change the rails of the tree. We would also recommend that you seek advice from your local qualified saddle fitter rather than make changes to the saddle yourself, as getting the width correct is vital to a happy horse. 

Can a wooden fixed tree be altered?

The answer to this question depends on who you ask. If you ask us at The Saddle Bank, its a no. We do not like to adjust wooden tree's due to the potential damage which can be caused to the tree. A wooden tree'd saddle has a metal head plate rivetted into place. When trying to alter the size of the saddle it has to be stretched beyond the required size, as it will then spring back.

However, in doing so the rivets can pop off and cause the metal head plate to crack. This can be very dangerous as the metal can be very sharp and over time begin to protrude through the leather. This could injury your horse. If this happens it also does not provide enough support for the riders weight. The metal plate is designed to keep the shape and width of the saddle. However, if it is cracked it will give meaning it will not offer sufficient support.

You may be able to identify this issue in your saddle by turning the saddle upside down and flexing it at the points of the tree. If you can hear any creaking or squeaking this could indicate a damaged head plate.

Some saddlers, manufacturers and saddle fitters will adjust the width of your fixed size wooden tree for you. However, it can weaken the tree over time so do bear this in mind before altering your fixed size saddle.

Which one is best for you?

When trying to decide between an adjustable gullet saddle and a fixed tree saddle there are a number of factors you should consider.

How old is your horse?

If you have a young horse between 4-7 years old they will likely change shape between these years. Horses reach maturity at around age 6, but this can differ from horse to horse. Your horse will also likely start work between the age of 4 and 6 meaning that during this time they will begin building muscle. This means their 'condition' will change. That is not the structure of the bones but the amount of fat and muscle covering them. A saddle which you put on your 4 year old the first time you ride him, and the saddle you use on him age 7 will likely be very different as your horse will develop muscle and fill out as he begins to work more.

Therefore think about the age of your horse. If you have a young horse they are likely to fill out and change shape. Therefore, a fixed size saddle may need replacing quite often in these years.

A fixed size saddle could work well for a horse which has reached maturity and is in regular work.

How much are you looking to spend?

Next think about your budget and how much you are looking to spend on a saddle. Often (but not always) adjustable saddles are cheaper as they are made on plastic/polymer trees which are cheaper to produce. This is the case for brands such as Thorowgood, Kent and Masters, Cavaletti, Wintec, Whitaker etc. However, there are some more premium end brands manufactured on adjustable trees such as Bates, Fairfax and Loxley saddles.

An important thing to note here is that just because it is adjustable does not mean it will be able to ALWAYS be adjusted to fit. You need the correct tree shape for your horse as well as the correct width. As your horse grows and matures they may require a different tree shape to what they did when they were 4 years old for example.

Adjustable gullet vs Fixed size second hand or new?

Second hand or new is an interesting point. Some people love secondhand as they can save on the depreciation of the saddle and resell it on when it no longer fits without losing too much money. Other people prefer to be the first owner of a saddle and accept that it will depreciate instantly when buying new. It is the same with cars. As soon as you drive the car off the forecourt it has lost money. As soon as you ride in your saddle it is no longer new and will lose money.

However, what is right for someone else will be different to what is right for you. To learn more about saddle fit and how to recognise saddle fit issues, click on the image below.