We are no longer building saddle trees. We have two saddle fit videos available on our westernsaddlefit.com website. Western Saddle Fit - The Basics, aimed at riders, is available either on DVD or streaming on Vimeo while the six hour series Well Beyond the Basics, aimed more for professionals but understandable by anyone, is available by streaming on Vimeo. (We left this website up because we have had many requests to keep the information available.)

Pounding Trees and Finishing

Now for the time consuming and very boring chore of pounding trees.  We count on it taking two weeks for a tree to fully dry, depending on hide thickness and humidity.  And they get “babysat” that whole time.

The trees are dried on flat pieces of marble	and weighted to keep them from twisting as the rawhide dries.
Initially, the seams need to be pounded twice a day	so they lay flat.
As the trees dry, tensor bandages are used on the horns for part of the days to allow time for the hide to dry and yet keep the rawhide tight to the horn.	At just the right stage of drying, the nails are put into the seat.  Earlier and they can cause bunching of the rawhide.
There is a stage when it looks like the seams are as dry as they can get.  But they are fooling you.	That’s the time if you really get after them, they flatten out fully and stay that way.
The rawhide loses thickness as it dries, so the nails have to be reset at least daily.	And when you think you are done – you have to reset them again…
Once the nails have been good for a few days, the trees get two coats of marine varnish to protect the rawhide	and they are ready to ship.