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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
   
Location: Montana | Your preference and which one, in your opinion, fits a wider horse. The Marlene Eddleman (McRae) is the Special Effx flex tree and the Martha Josey is a wide tree. Both of similar vintage (one was made in 2001, the other in 2002). I haven't tried either model, but need something to ride a particular horse in that has wider shoulders and not a whole lot of withers. Thanks in advance!
Edited by mtcanchazer 2017-02-12 8:33 PM
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | I've heard nothing but bad things about flex trees and how they can pinch etc. |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | wyoming barrel racer - 2017-02-12 7:37 PM I've heard nothing but bad things about flex trees and how they can pinch etc. Thanks so much, good to know...I didn't know that flex trees can pinch, I have never owned one.
Edited by mtcanchazer 2017-02-12 8:59 PM
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | I've had 2 friends with one and both had trouble. I asked Meleta Brown about them and it sounds like they aren't a good idea |
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 Nothing Comes Easy
Posts: 2353
Location: Texas | You have to be careful with the Marlene McRae saddle, if left in the heat like a hot trailer, the tree will warp. My friend had this happen to hers earlier this year. |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Stride - 2017-02-12 8:25 PM You have to be careful with the Marlene McRae saddle, if left in the heat like a hot trailer, the tree will warp. My friend had this happen to hers earlier this year.
Thanks, I will check on that. |
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 Winner winner chicken dinner
Posts: 2047
Location: California | I was told by Marlene herself that her trees might not last more than 10
years depending on use and abuse. I loved my Marlene saddle but when she told me that I knew I wouldn't replace it with another of her saddles. |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | phillyincal - 2017-02-12 8:56 PM I was told by Marlene herself that her trees might not last more than 10 years depending on use and abuse. I loved my Marlene saddle but when she told me that I knew I wouldn't replace it with another of her saddles.
Yikes!  That's kind of a scary thought. |
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Member
Posts: 30
| I have had several of the Circle Y Marlene and love them (and am currently still riding one). The tree has never warped and it does not pinch. I would absolutely recommend them. I also ride a Circle Y Lisa Lockhart wide fit which is made on the same flex tree and love it too.
Edited by hlc84 2017-02-13 8:25 AM
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I had a 99 Marlene bought new that I totally loved...but I kept it in the trailer and the tree warped after a few years (definitely had a problem by year 6 or 7). Didn't know that could happen, and she wouldn't admit anything at the time. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 599
| I loved my special effx when it first came out!!! Def not a saddle build to last. The nails ended up coming out - apparently common because the rubber tree? You can find nice older Eddlemans on a wood tree. That's probably a better investment if you're wanting a Marlene saddle (but I don't know if they fit wide). |
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| I have owned a Circle Y Eddleman for years now and have had no issues whatsoever with it. I cannot speak to the Cactus ones. Here is a really good video that explains the trees. It's not what you may think. :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBuiOj7L3wE
Edited by turnthree 2017-02-13 10:54 AM
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Folks on-line