Equiscan Shoeing Saare Saddles The Hay Company Educational Clinics Articles Clinic Dates Appraisal and Auction Services Contact Us Email	Sharon Saare Saddle Bare Tree Fitting Service and Sales Sharon Saare Saddle Representatives Sharon Saare Saddle Information page 3 Models My original interest in saddle production was directed towards endurance. However, as riders from other disciplines recognized the importance of correct fit, my business has expanded dramatically to include western and english saddles. We offer a large variety of single and double rig western saddles, padded and hard seat, plain and tooled, silver conchos and matching breast collars, etc. Our G seat is a favorite of gaited horse owners as well as all breed riders dealing with downhill horse problems. It is available in all models. Our special Mounted Police saddles are durable and time tested with some models in use over a dozen years. Ask for separate information on English models. Trees I use only Mountain Yellow Pine wood trees to give support that simply does not exist in traditional English and Australian models. Our trees are fiberglass covered for extra strength. The question most asked about our multi size tree system, "If I get a saddle that fits one horse, can it be used on others?" The reality is, any tree only fits one body type, but nobody ever tells you that. There is no such thing as a universal or one size fits all tree. That is purely a myth sprinkled with a heavy dose of wishful thinking!! Horses simply have different shaped backs. I currently use seven different trees with many variables to accommodate those different shapes. For instance, if a horse has a flat slab shoulder, the last thing you want is a tree with lots of flare at the front of the bar as you are reducing bearing surface. If the horse is bunchy shouldered, then, yes, flare is desirable . . . but there is no single answer for all horses!! Our trees, like shoes, fit specific body types and are identified accordingly. This greatly enhances exchange and resale ability! You should think of a saddle on a horse's back very much as a shoe on a person's foot. Pressure and fit in both situations have much the same effect. If one size fit all, there would only need to be one size shoe for all people. Obviously, that is not the case!! Originally, my saddles were designed to fit only very narrow, high withered horses because in the 1970's there were so few saddles on the market for them. However, after the pleasure trail riders discovered my saddles, and other uses developed, we provided more options. The gullet and bars now come in: A width Prominent on Thoroughbred type withers--well defined goes on narrow Arabs and Paso's, those with shoulders that blend into their sides. B Width Horse has well defined withers, but is a dab thicker set, and shoulder may be more prominent. This works for many Arab's, Morgan's, Tennessee Walkers, Foxtrotter's, and some Quarter Horses. C Width Accommodates a wider backed horse, but still of the breed type . . . just a thicker set. Used more on Arabs, Morgan's, and Tennessee Walkers. The above trees work best on horses whose backs slope away from the spine. The following are for flatter backed horses. CC Width Like the C tree, but better for horses that are flatter over the back and loin. Also good if horse is slightly sway backed or bunchy shouldered, or whose croup is higher than withers. D Width For the really thickset horse. Some of these individuals have good withers and top lines, some are very flat over the withers . . . all are broad over loin and back. It is the angle of the bars that makes this tree work. Ideal for Quarter Horses, and many of the new thicker Arabs, and quite a few of the BLM Wild Horses. E Width For the horse that is very broad backed but requires shoulder flare. F Width For the horse that is very straight backed but requires shoulder flare. There is a real problem with assigning trees to breeds in that all breeds have all sizes and types of backs. Type is far more relevant than breed. When ordering, indicate the height and weight of your horse. For best fit, either order sizing trees from the shop, or better yet, have your horse personally fitted by one of my trained fitting specialists. Also, if your saddle needs change, you can trade your old Sharon Saare saddle in for a new one!! Saddle Pads "No Slip" Pad Try my endurance and pleasure trail riding pads! They are perfectly contoured to go with my saddles. Covered with high quality wool over a wool felt filler that wicks moisture, they are much cooler for your horse!! And they don't slip!! They are washable--just turn the hose on them, scrub with a brush, and drip dry!! "Happy back" Saddle Pad Outside it looks like a regular English, western, or endurance pad except that an intricately sewn wool blend outer pad conceals the plastic encased FloliteTM cells. The Velcro sealed pockets allow for replacement of worn cells and trouble free cleaning. FloliteTM--which has the consistency of mayonnaise--flows away from points of high pressure. That process tailor-makes the saddle tree's bearing surface for each horse. Many horses will benefit from this refinement, but it is a must for hard to fit horses. The Happy backs actually achieve what the foam and jell pads try to do but can't! Beware of "Look-alikes" My saddles are the most copied and imitated distance saddles in the nation. Many of those copies come from Tennessee. Back in the early 1970's when I was with Big Horn Co., the major difference between saddles from Tennessee and others was simply a lower labor and factory cost. But, saddles coming from Chattanooga today bear little resemblance to those of that earlier time. At this stage of the game, the major concern of many of those manufacturers appears to be trying to "out cheap" each other. The loser is the consumer. Today, models produced by some companies are distortions of my original design. That, plus poor quality materials, plus the fact that those saddles are simply stapled together, leaves most purchasers quite dissatisfied. There are other copies "out there", most use Argentine or Mexican leather. Many of the trees are plastic. Most plastic tree molds were made years ago and few fit today's horses. While at this time, I do have several authorized dealers throughout the nation, my saddles are generally found in tack shops, however, once in a while, one may show up . . . For your protection, all of my saddles carry my name. Look for it!! If a tack shop says it's a Sharon Saare Saddle, ask them where it came from. If it was shipped recently--new--from Tennessee--It's a fake!! Go to Sharon Saare Saddle Information page 4 Go back to Sharon Saare Saddle Information page 2
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