Trees for Mule Saddles

[wyodan]

Hey you mule guys, what kind of saddle trees are you using to fit your mules? I have a mule specific saddle right now, and it has a pinch spot on her. I'm wondering what other trees might fit a mule hoping to find something that may fit her better. Thanks for the help.

 

[JA03]

I have run both mule trees, on a HR saddle and and old dale martin quarter horse tree. I will say, the medium HR fits my mules really well. However, full quarter horse tree will work when padded right. Take into account that there is no standardization between tree companies and my opinion is worth about nothing. Just my thoughts.

 

[Mike 338]

Mule tree here on an old DR Schrader mule saddle. For me, I set the saddle just a tiny bit further back on the animal to give the shoulder more room to move. Also, something that seems to me to have solved a big problem of chafing from the front cinch slipping forward, behind the front legs, is using a crossfire/centerfire rigging set up, which keeps the front cinch from slipping. Britching or a crupper is imperative as a they will not tolerate a saddle that slips forward.

 

[Banjomule]

I have a Dakota mule saddle, a Colorado mule saddle, and a HR saddle with the “fits better” tree for horses that I bought before they offered a mule tree. The Dakota is the narrowest of the three and will pinch at the shoulders a bit on my bigger mules. It fits my mammoth donkeys well though and would work good for narrow mules. The Colorado and HR both work well on my bigger quarter and draft mules. I really want to try a HR mule tree sometime!

I also agree with the comment that mules need a little more shoulder room so the saddle sits back a bit and i like 3/4 riggging on the front cinch.