Synthetic V.S. Leather??

So I have been looking into buying my first saddle. Is there really a difference between synthetic and Real leather? Also what is the difference between a rawhide tree and a fiberglass tree? I mean as far as riding goes that is. Any other useful information that would be useful when purchasing a saddle?

First of all what discipline are you going for? To me that makes a huge difference.

I don't know much about the trees, others here do though so I will let someone else answer that one.

I prefer synthetic for english and leather for western. And the quality of leather makes a huge difference.

Well for right now it would be more for training purposes. But in the long run I will be doing reining
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Well I don't think they make synthetic reining saddles so I would look for a good quality leather saddle. Others will have to pitch in about tree.

I don't know if a synthetic reining saddle is available. I would think someone would have one, somewhere. My last two saddles have been synthetic. I will never buy leather again. The care required is not only not worth it for me, it's a pain in the behind. Why would I spend all that time on tack when I could be riding?

I am going to soon replace my bridle and will go with that plasticy-nylony type stuff. Really technical language there, I know. It looks like plastic, but its a special kind.

Ah - just looked on the 'net. I think it's called Biothane. My girl is going to get a purple one :)