Twisted Trees in Saddles
This saddle has a significant red flag that signals it is time to retire to non-horse activities.
Can you see it? When looking down the seat of this saddle, you can see how the cantle points in a different direction then the front of the saddle. By looking at the stitching, panels, and symmetry of this saddle, there is some strong evidence that this tree is twisted.
Twisted trees can occur for several reasons, including being involved in a wreck, improper storage, poor construction (yes, even new saddles sometimes have twisted trees), or uneven pressure. A twisted tree is not repairable, besides replacing the tree. This saddle has had the billets cut, so it can no longer be used on a horse.
Inspect your saddle often! Symmetry in saddles is extremely important in our horsemanship journey of taking two crocked individuals aiming for straightness.
