EquiVisions Farm is proud to be an authorized dealer of:

Sports Saddle® Saddles

Comparison of Traditional, Rigid, One-Piece Saddle Tree 

and Two-Piece, Independent, Sports Saddle® saddle Tree Parts:

With independent Sports Saddle® saddle  tree parts, the front section works with the horse independent on the rear tree section thus reducing friction and heat build-up to a minimum. This also helps to automatically keep the rider in rhythm with the horse making it easier for the rider to stay in balance with the horse and more able to aid and cue the horse when showing or training.  The rider is able to maintain close contact at all times making it easier for the horse to handle the rider's weight.

 

 

 

With a rigid tree, the horse's shoulder blades must work or slide several inches under the tree when in motion, especially at an extended trot or loping circles, etc., causing friction and heat build-up which leads to soreness and galling. 

The rider, sitting on top of the saddle tree, has no close contact with the horse.

 

 

 

The Sports Saddle® saddle two-piece tree lets the horse flex and move freely.  The rider keeps complete contact with the horse.  The rider sits on a soft rubber pad directly on the horse and their center of gravity is much closer to the horse.

 

 

 

 

A one-piece tree remains rigid, does not flex with the horse The bars dig into the horse's shoulder on hard turns and can also put excessive pressure on the horse's kidneys.  The rider sits on a hard saddle tree one to two inches off the horse's back.  Their center of gravity is therefore higher.

 

 

 

Sports Saddle® Saddle Construction

Because the saddle is made with two independent tree sections, it allows the saddle to flex as the horse moves, trotting, loping, turning, etc. The two independent tree sections are made of wood and are covered with fiberglass for added strength.

The saddle is made up of three main sections or parts:

  1. Front tree section.

  2. Rear or cantle tree section.

  3. Main body or pad section that rests on the horse's back, is under the front and rear sections, and connects the sections together.

The rider sits between, not on the two tree sections, directly on the saddle pad section. There is no rigid saddle tree under the rider. There are no bulky riggings, buckles, or rings to rub your legs or the horse.

The stirrup and rigging straps are made of heavy weight treated nylon. These straps are embedded in the center of the pad sections of the saddle, so the straps are padded from both rider and horse. The pad section is made of a closed cell neoprene foam material that does not absorb moisture. The same type of material used in scuba-diving suits.

Many people when they first start riding cannot afford a good quality saddle and they end up with a cheap, poorly made, ill-fitting saddle that is uncomfortable to both horse and rider, doesn't put the rider in the correct position on the horse, and does not keep the rider in balance and rhythm with the horse. The end result is the horse gets sore and acts up. The rider gets sore and galled, is not comfortable and secure on the horse, and perhaps is even thrown or falls off when the horse moves suddenly.

Often times the person then gives up riding altogether, when if only, they had a comfortable, well-balanced saddle they felt secure in, they would have kept riding and enjoying horses for the rest of their lives.

The Sports Saddle® saddle was originally designed to be a saddle for people just starting out with horses and for people that rode only occasionally. It was hoped that with the comfort and security they experienced with the Sports Saddle, they would enjoy riding more.

The unique design of the Sports Saddle® saddle has many people using it to train their you horses for such events as western pleasure, reining, barrel racing, dressage, endurance riding, etc.

Let us know what your needs are. We can custom build a saddle just for you. It is possible for us to position the rigging and stirrup straps to fit your particular needs.

Email us at: cheryls@equivisionsfarm.com 

Call us at: 1-888-577-6677