We use a wooden tree, wrapped in rawhide and sun cured. The bars follow the shape of a gaited horse's back. A "trotting horse" uses a tree with a "twist" in the bars to follow its back shape. Gaited horses do not have a back that needs a twist in the saddle. Here are pictures of the trees for our western style and our tereque style saddles. Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the picture. Trees are guaranteed for THREE years under normal use. Abuse voids the warranty. I have also included a picture of a Wade tree for comparison. The wade tree is not ours.

Western Tree (SSS type saddles)

Tereque Tree (TAS013, TAS016 etc)

SSC001 Tree

SVC001 Tree

GAEND1 Tree

Wade Tree (not ours)