Tree question
 

Hopefully within the next few weeks or so, my Ovation saddle will sell *fingers crossed*

So i've been looking at saddles once again.

A few of them I've been looking at say this " Laminated ply-bond spring tree"

What exactly does that mean? Does it flex a bit? or what?

Also, i've been thinking about getting a saddle (a collegiate) with the EZ change gullet system, but I dont want to be spending like 30+ minutes changing out the gullets (I ride 3 different horses)

If the Spring tree flexes a bit, would that be the better choice than the EZ change?

I totally thought you meant christmas tree....
God I'm dense =P

sorry about that.

This is the only thing I found:
" A correctly balanced saddle with a laminated ply-bond spring tree that offers a medium depth and wider French style seat with narrow twist for close feel over fences "

I would go with the collegiate or a wintec/bates. I have a wintec myself (bates is due in soon!). It doesn't take 30 minutes to change a gullet (more like 5-10), but here's the thing--you really won't need to change it all that much.
I leave mine on the medium-wide setting for my TB and my Paint, and just put a slightly cushy saddle pad on the TBs back. I have no back pain issues, and neither horse has a problem at all with being tacked up (and I ground tie because my barn isn't finished... no place to tie a horse! They'd let me know.) 90% of horses won't fit in anything under a medium, and the medium-wide is a good all-around fit for most horses. I really love having the flexiblity to change the tree if need-be--having a 1,000 dollar saddle that is always the same size is just too scary for me, lol! I usually change from medium to medium-wide as the show season continues and the horses build more topline--but the sweat patterns (and they) let me know when it's time to change.

Thank you so much!

I was orginally going to get a collegiate with the gullet because I know once Montana starts to lose fat and gain muscle, his shape is going to change, but I just had no idea what a spring tree was.

Now what type of saddle.. cc or the senior event.. hmmmm

I don't know much about collegiate saddles, but if the senior event is anything like a traditional eventing saddle, then they are made for your leg to sit a little bit more forward and for you to be up and OUT of that saddle!

CC are...close contacts. (what I have. :D )

Find a saddle place near you and try them out! Always worth it.

i'm going to go to the tack store across from where I work tomorrow to try saddles on and see how I like it and all.

I currently have a CC and love it.

The spring tree flexes only minorly, to absorb bounce, not to change the fit.

If your horses are relatively "normal" sized (not super wide), then you might consider a Courbette saddle with their Swiss E-Motion flex tree. It flexes from medium-narrow to medium-wide and is VERY comfy!

I have a wintec Pro-Jump for my daughter and changing the gullet wasn't that difficult. It took about 3-5 minutes once I got the hang of it.

I did previously look into the courbette saddles because I loved the concept of the e-motion tree, but most of them are out of my price range.

I'll see if I can get any deals on e-bay.

Vega and Gem fit well in my medium tree, Montana would need a slightly narrower tree, i think.

As long as it doesn't take a long time to change it, I'm fine. I've just heard that it takes a while and that you need 3 strong men to do it, so thats why I was a bit hesitant.