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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368
     Location: Ellensburg, Washington | What does the bare tree of a Merrill look like? I bought an older Merrill that I semi took apart to look at the tree and it looks like a regular fiberglass tree. It also has an initial or something on the seat, along with the seat being glued down. I talked to someone else who had a Merrill and their tree was white. What do the replacement trees look like? |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
       Location: Opelousas, LA | I sent mine off to get re-treed, it had the old tree and it looked like plastic and was white, was also broke in four places. When I talked to someone at the saddle shop they told me the new trees were the yellowish, fiberglass trees. I am still waiting on mine so I haven't seen the new tree yet, but they said it was very easy to tell the difference just by looking under the fender. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368
     Location: Ellensburg, Washington | So I guess I don't understand how the tree can be flexible if it is a solid fiberglass tree? Can anyone explain that to me? |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
          Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Is it a trade secret? Does no one know how the new trees work? I read something about the front bars being a nylon cast that flexes for the shoulders, but I would love to see/know how it works instead of merely being told it does. Didn't the old trees have like a clamshell hinge or something? I had one that was broken. |
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 If you knew me you would want to be me
Posts: 13645
       Location: Utah | From Threeforkssaddlery.com Freedom of Motion for the Horse: The benefits of the tree flexation frees up the shoulders, while the inskirt rigging displaces the cinching pressure and positions the cinch so that the horse has a full range of motion on his front legs. The new, improved tree now has fiberglass reinforced wood cantle, swells, ground seat & bars allowing for a more secure placement of the conchos increasing the strength. The front bars are molded separate using a nylon polymer. Also, with the new tree, you can even dally around the horn to pony another horse. The premise is that the bars in the front flex to accept the shoulder. When you cinch up, they will flex inward to conform to the horse. There is essentially no difference with fit for the horse and rider with the new trees. Balance for the Rider: How the tree fits to the horse and the seat to the rider, as well as the designed swing and travel of the fenders, gives the rider the freedom of balance to let them be where they want to be. Each saddle weighs approximately 25 lbs. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
          Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I need a pic or a diagram or something. That's not enough info for me. LOL |
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