• This question is easy to answer. Experts tell us that approximately 80 to 90% – perhaps even more – of all horses have back problems. Unqualified riders may cause some of the problem, but the overwhelming majority are due to ill-fitting saddles. Some riders may think this figure too high, but this is probably because many riders are completely unaware of the problems their horses are suffering from. Saddle pressure is still often equated with the appearance of white hair, swelling, edema and dry spots.

• By the time these symptoms appear, saddle pressure limits may already have been exceeded and irrevocable damage already been done to the horse’s tissue. Saddle pressure begins much earlier. To recognize it (and to be willing to recognize it), the rider must observe the horse and judge its actions and reactions. A little prodding and probing of the horse’s body will give the best chance of finding and localizing problems. This procedure of physical palpation is far more advantageous than anything on the market. It is more accurate and economical than any computer measurement. It is easy too. It is hands on, right now, right there with your horse.

• Some riders choose not to acknowledge these problems, for if they did, they might have a troubled conscience – not to mention problems with animal welfare legislation. But there are also many that recognize that their horse has some sort of problem with its existing saddle. However, instead of addressing the cause, they soothe their conscience with a variety of products such as; wonder pads, gel pads, air-ride pads, layers of sheepskin, shock absorbers, and many other forms of "fixes." Clearly the rider is trying, even if the effort is halfhearted.

• To find a real solution, one must deal with the root of the problem. We begin with purely theoretical considerations about the effects of an inflexible object, like a saddle on a horse’s very agile back. Logically, how can we expect that a stiff object such as a saddle be able to fit a free moving horses back?

Let us take a close look at the dynamics of this rigid tree saddle.

When your horse turns, one side becomes shorter and the other longer. A conventional saddle cannot adapt to this movement, and this results in increased pressure at certain points.

A horse with its head lowered has a relatively straight spine. As with a horse that move down hill, more pressure is place on the front edges of a conventional saddle.

• But this is only the movement problem. Problems actually begin much earlier. They begin with the fact that horse backs come in an infinite number of shapes, with different shoulders, different withers, different muscle structure, etc. This is why the saddle industry has produced so many different saddle tree patterns (about 8-15), nearly all ready-made sizes. But will these ready-made tree sizes really fit your horse? Take a look at how many different horse types you can see in the pastures, regardless of whether they are all the same breed or not. Can you really believe a saddle or saddle tree manufacturer could provide for all that variation?

• Now that we have established the fundamental variation in horse backs, we still have the problem of how the shape of a horse changes with movement. And, finally, the same horse is continuously changing over the course of its life! As the result of growth, aging, training, conditioning, feeding, etc. its contours are constantly evolving.

• This last point alone means you need to alter a production saddle or acquire a new one six to twelve times over the course of a horse’s life. A very costly matter indeed.

• If all of this was not bad enough, another structural problem now arises, the pressure load on the horse’s body resulting from the rider’s weight. From medicine, we know that pressure of more than 105 grams per square centimeter [24 oz. per square inch] damages and can destroy organic tissue. Let's take a look for example at an English saddle: an average English saddle has a supporting surface on the horse’s body of approximately 440 square centimeters [27 square inches]. Now, we put another 75 kg [165 lb.] onto the saddle – the rider. This gives us a load of 170 grams per square centimeter [39 oz. per square inch]. Acceleration, gravitation, etc may at least double this value during movement, producing a load of 340 g/cm² [78 oz. per square inch].

• Let's repeat this sample calculation with a western saddle. An average western saddle has a supporting surface of 620 cm² [96 sq. in.]. Let's take our 75-kg rider again, giving us a load of 121 g/cm² [28 oz. per square inch], or 242 g/cm² [55 oz. per square inch] during movement. These values are valid for contact over 100% of the supporting area. As we know however, the horse alters its shape during movement, making this 100% completely impossible to attain. Even if you add at least 1/4 to the load, your calculations will still be very much skewed in favor of the saddle. Now, think back to that 105-gram [24 oz.] limit once again.
   

• So for review, any activity that involves concussion (jumping, posting, etc,) will effectively double or even triple the rider's weight. What is that doing to our pound per square inch? Are we causing damage? The only way to know is by palpation.

So What Is the Solution to All These Problems?

• A flexible saddle tree? This was out of the question, since it would not solve the basic problem of fitting the horse AND providing a stable seat for the rider. It should not be like sitting on a sponge. But that would be the logical consequence if the saddle tree were to actually follow the horse’s movement. Another effect would be a sagging of the tree, which would in turn concentrate the weight on certain points especially the spine The final point against the flexible tree was that it would not have a large enough supporting surface to meet our – or rather the horse’s – needs.

• An adjustable saddle (bars & gullet)? Well yes, not such a bad idea but here again it would still be subject to the basic constraints of fitting it to the horse. Also, any adjustment reaches a limit at some point, not to mention that in this case the "normal rider" is always dependent on assistance from others (saddle dealers). In addition, we did not want something that is calibrated but something that changes continuously. First, because there are almost infinite variations among horses, but also because these variations are gradual and not divided into standardized sizes. These comments also apply of course to these interesting variations of "saddle systems" that work with individually added padding.

• Custom made saddles? On the basis of all these considerations, we rejected the idea of custom-made saddles from the beginning. Even a custom-made saddle can only in the best-case scenario, fit the horse 100% in a standing position, and then only with respect to the horse’s present state.

• A treeless saddle? Also not such a great idea. With this, there is no need to take the traditional fit parameters into account. But there remains the problem of uneven, selective weight distribution. And the added problem of the pressure load on the spiny processes, because a treeless "saddle" cannot keep this area clear.

A saddle in which the supporting surface is independent of the saddle tree, automatically conforms to the greatest variety of horses, is able to adapt to the horse during movement, and is large enough to distribute the weight over an area that is more than sufficient.

Thus the purpose of a saddle...  To offer the rider support while distributing the riders weight over a large surface area.

• Finally, let us repeat the calculations we have just done of the load per square centimeter [inch] on the horse’s back. Our saddles have an average supporting area of 2088 cm² [324 sq. in.]. This means that the calculations result in values of 35 or 70 g/cm² [20 or 40 oz. per sq. in.]. And since our panels join in the movement, we don’t need to make any reductions in the supporting surface. We are obviously far below the 105-gram limit. As you can see it is it is actually quite easy to build a saddle that is truly horse friendly.

• In this section, we present the "inner lives" of our panels in simple sketched form. The illustrations are partially schematic, intended to merely show you the basic principles of our construction. We have omitted representations of the padding, etc. The operational principle is based on simple exploitation of the laws of mechanics and physics and is essentially quite simple and logical. Nevertheless, the application of these simple physical laws to saddle construction has required many years of intensive development work.

With the panel now perfected, the mounting insert or how it is connected to the saddle tree is critical in the articulation of the panel.  The insert design of the System X operates as a true ball and socket or ball bearing.  This combined with the specially designed radius of the washers including the oil impregnated bronze washers used in the rear slot assembly, delivers pure fluidly of motion to the panel so that it can conform to the different widths of the horse. The panel thus independently produces the classic fit parameters like gullet width, flair, twist, rocker, etc. The flexibility of the material also helps it to further nestle against every curve.

State of the art technology

In the front area,¹ the panel is built in the form of slats. This permits an extra soft shoulder rotation. The slats extend as far as the withers area,² so horses with extremely wide withers never feel too much pressure on this area.

The second layer of the panel³ overlaps with the slats from the first layer. This permits a transfer of the forces to the subsequent layer and also a simultaneous distribution to the center of the panel.

The remaining course⁴ of the panel construction guarantees an optimal distribution over the entire surface. The distribution thus takes place in several "stages." In this way, we for example prevent leverage on the panel from causing excess pressure on the opposite side for horses with very wide shoulder areas. This gives us an even fluid distribution of forces. Through the choice of different material strengths for each layer, we also avoid the possibility of partially appearing pressure points.

Also developed is a particular design for each layer in the rear area⁵ as well. This special shape guarantees an optimal weight distribution over the entire panel – even in the middle.

The Saddle Trees 

Having a great panel and mounting system does not, by itself, assure that a saddle will perform correctly on your horse or mule. We took great pride in finding a saddle tree maker who would custom make each of our saddletrees to our panels specifications. Remember that a traditional rigid saddle tree is designed to offer the rider support and attempts, at the same time, to distribute the riders weight evenly over the horses back. However, in our case, the Evolutionary Saddles' ä  tree is designed to offer the rider support and then is especially designed, not for the horses back, but for the System X panel.  It is this panel that will bend and flex enabling the saddle to distribute the riders weight evenly over a moving horse's back. Having a saddle tree too thick, too straight and too narrow - not to mention crooked –would not allow the System X to perform properly.  Having a tree too wide, too heavy, and weak also raises havoc with the rider and life time performance of the saddle

The saddle trees are designed for the panel and the panels are designed for the horse. 

Below are two examples of trees from another manufacture - look how inconsistent the trees are!  To thick and the panel will not perform, too thin and you don't have a saddle tree that will last.

After a very diligent search for perfection we were led to The Precision Saddle Tree Company.

  Using modern technology not previously employed by the saddle tree industry, Precision Saddle Tree Manufacturing is able to deliver quality and uniform trees. They use only the best material. Tradition is disregarded when these superior, modern materials are available. Precisely engineered designs and hands-on production ensure quality saddle trees that last a lifetime.
About The Precision in the Precision Saddle Tree. 
Precision Saddle Tree Company uses Three-Dimensional Scanners and Computer Aided Design (CAD) software to engineer parts that are cut on Computer Number Controlled (CNC) Machines. This equipment allows parts to be produced that are precisely the same each and every time. The right bar is a mirror image of the left bar. The right side of the swell is identical to the left side. This unmatched precision allows the tree parts fit perfectly together (i.e. without the use of fillers), providing greater strength and the highest level of consistency in the industry. Once these precision parts are cut, a jig is created for each tree style. These parts are then assembled in this jig to deliver the same precision to which the parts were cut. 

The saddle trees are made with Ponderosa Pine followed by a fiber glass strainer or ground seat and then two different type tree coverings are applied. The first covering consists of hand-laid fiberglass that is wrapped on the horn, swell, bars and cantle and topped with a clear coat resin.  The second covering is made using a product called DURAhide™, which is sprayed over the fiberglass. 

What is Fiberglass?  Fiberglass is a woven cloth that provides great strength and durability when layered with a resin to form a hardened composite.  This cloth is applied by hand and has greater tensile strength than steel wire of the same diameter, at a lower weight.

 What is DURAhide™?  DURAhide™ is a polyurea elastomer that is specifically formulated as a high performance coating designed to prevent damage from moisture, corrosion, abrasion, weather and wear.  This material is not only an effective sealer, but adds strength to your tree.  DURAhide™ carries a tensile strength of 2300-2500 lbs psi @ 75F.  DURAhide™) withstands temperatures from minus 50 to plus 350 degrees Fahrenheit

In conclusion, Precision Saddle Tree Company is a stable company who is able to offer the best saddletree in today’s industry and that carries a lifetime warrantee.

NOW FOR:    CATHY'S DINING ROOM TABLE TEST
We dare OTHERS to COMPARE!

Variable Girth System: These saddles will come with he dropped cross-center fire ring rigging, allowing you to have Full, 7/8th, 3/4, centered and anywhere in-between. This lightweight strong nylon lock n’ slide rigging eliminates bulk under your thigh and allows you to adjust your girth placement up to six inches in all directions and you can moderately adjust your rigging up and down to match your girth and pad length. Saving the expense of purchasing multiple cinches.  You have it all plus some, with this 6,000 lbs, test strength per inch rigging.  Also available upon request will be the performance rigging that will have just two adjustments for girth placement, but will allow lateral support for cutting cow horses and barrel racers.   

The Slide and LOCK rigging. With over 6,000 lbs., test strength on each nylon strap! Standard on all saddles.

Added to the nylon rigging we have a cosmetic leather rigging flap on those saddles that use a fender.  This allows for the fender to move smoothly forward and back.  This flap adds 12 oz to the total weight of the saddle.

Production Details: Distance, leisure and western saddles all have tab "girth keepers" for attaching the girth when the saddle is not in use. English and Endurance saddle models that have English rigging come standard with the girth and stirrup strap to hook up the stirrups. This way your shins will not get banged when carrying your saddle. You can choose (If available for your particular model) between the comfortable standard seat containing 1/2 inch of neoprene or select the soft-seat.  The soft-seat is comprised of two materials, first is the 1/4 inch of neoprene padding followed by 3/4 inch of thick foam that is ergonomically sculpted for the riders butt.  This special high density (HR #26) foam, not only has the best spring-back, but also the longest life expectancy (20 plus years) in the industry. There are some points to consider when deciding to select the Soft Seat option. First, you will lose some of the seat room. If you are between sizes use this to help gauge your seat size. Secondly when you select the Soft Seat, you will lose a bit of the "pocket" to sit down in. Lastly, with the Soft Seat, the saddle will have a bit of a narrower twist. The twist is the part that is between your upper thighs. Therefore, if you like a narrower twist, have bony buttocks or need a smaller seat size, adding the extra padding of the Soft Seat is key

Stitching and Edging: We strive to make every detail as perfect as the next.  We use twist thread #207 with # 24 matching needle and never less than 6 stitches per inch. We then make sure every piece of leather is edged, burnished, died and waxed.  Quality is just that.  QUALITY.

• Border Tooling: Sunset, Barbwire, Sidewinder, Cross-stitch,  Rope and Serpentine and Large barbwire.

Raindrop

Shoreline

Southwest

Mayan Rope

Aztec and Aztec Dot

Forest Floor

• Stirrup Hanger Bar:  All English and endurance saddles will come standard with a stainless steel hanger bracket that will accommodate both one inch and 2-inch leathers.  With 1- inch leathers the rider will be able to select between three different leg positions and two positions when using a 2-inch leather for exact leg placement.

Stirrups and Stirrup Leathers:  A full selection of stirrups are offered dependent upon the riders needs.  For saddles that do not have a fender, you can select either the 1-inch leathers, which are backed with nylon webbing to prevent stretching, or the 2-inch biothane leathers. Both come with buckles at the bottom and a leather cover to prevent unpleasant bruises on your shins.

Standard for Encased panels are Saddle Sox: These are great. Saddle Sox replace traditional saddle pads. Slip them on your panels like a pair of socks; ride them as long as you like, slip them off for laundering as you would a pair of jeans. Unlike saddle pads, they cannot become tight over the spine, they allow airflow down the middle of the saddle & they can’t wrinkle or slip off. Designed very thin, as no additional padding needed under the comfortable panels.

• Hardware: The hardware is all stainless steel unless brass is selected. Saddles come with all of the necessary fittings, (breast, crupper and accessory D-rings)  The type and number of fittings varies according to saddle model and rider request. Western saddles will all have strings as standard.  Silver is also available.

• The leather: In making our saddles we may use up to 7 various combinations of types and grades of leather, depending upon the model selected.  We use mostly drum dyed, vegetable (tree bark, leaves, nuts and fruit) tanned, chromium  (mineral) tanned and a combination of both vegetable and chromium tanned leather called “boot” or Latigo leather.  We use grade A – top grain or full grain leather - which has been hot stuffed or milled (the highest quality on the market) as much as possible – this includes the English bridle and garment leather.  The weights used in this leather range from 3 to 12 oz dependent upon where it is being used on the saddle.  This leather is purchased from USA tanneries, using USA grown cattle hides. Only the Garment leather is imported, as that process has now gone overseas.
   
  We order our leather in half-hides and use the various parts of the hide for specific areas on the saddle.  This includes hides from the back or crop, shoulder, neck, head, butt or bend, side or dosset and belly leather.  Each part of the hide reacts and performs differently and so we match varying performance qualities from one single half side of hide to the different parts of our saddles. 
   
  As for the color of leather, we have two color selections, a Havana or dark brown and Black.  These selections can be altered to offer the rider a two-tone saddle, such as a brown saddle with a black seat. Now, in many western saddles and tack, no dye is used and the leather is left natural with oils such as peanut, olive, animal fats etc., used to darken it to a honey or amber color.  However, these un-dyed saddles will continually change to a darker color when exposed to sunlight, cleaning, elements of the weather and the daily wear of riding. The saddle, in time, will not be recognizable as the same saddle color you purchased as every mud and sweat spot will show. The seat and leg area of your saddle will also become several shades darker than the rest of your saddle.  This inconsistency in color is unacceptable to us and therefore not offered in our line of saddles.    Click here for a photo showing five NEW saddles in this light oil color and how the same color can vary directly from the tannery.

• Price, Performance, Quality: The saddle will come standard the amazing System X panels. The panels are made and assembled in the United States, as are the saddletrees. All those little details that were overlooked or deemed unimportant, using inferior materials by shoddy builders are a thing of the past. Tauer Manufacturing and Hill View Farms ® cannot be more excited and proud, for it is here that you will find the best quality functional saddle at an affordable price. Evolutionary Saddles™, are engineered to fit horses and mules. Automatically these saddles address gullet size, twist, flare, and rocker, while distributing the rider’s weight, allowing for complete freedom of movement for the back and shoulders. Regardless of shape or size, this system flexes to fit. So great this saddle is, that it carries a 30-day money back, horse and rider satisfaction guarantee.

Just how are those panels put on? To mount the panel, whether it is encased in a leather skirt with fleece on the bottom side or in the vinyl zippered encasement,  You will see a small hole or slit in the under side of the panel.  This is where an Allen tool is used to enter the panel to reach the bolt for the panel's attachment to the specialized mount that has been drilled into saddle tree.  This bolt is counter sunk and enclosed in the panel among the various layers of backer foam.

1.  Is the System X Evolutionary saddle ä a synthetic, flexible saddle?  No the Evolutionary System X is a high quality, all leather saddle with a solid wood tree, which is guaranteed for 10 years. This system is sometimes confused with treeless, sport or other flexible saddles because the name indicates a flexible panel system. But this saddle is NOT a treeless saddle or a flexible tree saddle.

2. Why do you use nylon webbing instead of leather (harness leather) or polypropylene webbing? And why do you not use rivets to attach the saddles' rigging? 

First, we use nylon as it is stronger than leather.  Nylon will not rot away and weaken over time as leather or polypropylene products do.  We will at times use polypropylene sewn in conjunction with leather to strengthen the final production areas where the overkill of nylon is not needed.  

Second:  We sew both leather and nylon instead of using rivets because the use of rivets actually takes material away  (as there is a hole pre-punched to put the rivet in) weakening the structure and in time rivets may pull through.  Copper rivets also corrode over time and weaken leather so care must be taken if you have these on your tack.  We do use rivets where they are the only way to attach metal or hard plastic to leather. We cannot sew through metal or hard plastic. We also may use Chicago screws instead of rivets as they can be unscrewed and taken apart to replace worn pieces. The down side of Chicago screws is that you must take care to add a drop of lock-tight-red so that the screw will not accidentally come apart and you loose a rein or such. 

 Therefore, whenever possible we sew all nylon products, as that is the strongest and most secure way of securing nylon webbing.  Additionally, the thread we use is also nylon. The use of any cotton or polypropylene thread will rot over time and fall apart. 

Nylon, whether it be webbing, rope, thread or fabric material is the product of choice for the marine industry as it resists salts and damp conditions.  We strive only to use the best materials for the job at hand, so do not be fooled into thinking that nylon is not strong.  Just look at your cars seat belts, as these are the same belts that take men and women into space and keep our troops safe within their parachute jumping harnesses.  Yes - that webbing is all 100% nylon, and it is sewn, not riveted.

3.  Is the System X saddle just a "knock - off" of other flex panel saddles? No, it is not a knock-off. This is an entirely new system and is not anything like the other flexible Delrin panel saddles. True, this new system design is based on an older original idea and true, this system uses Delrin in the building process, but the way the Delrin is cut, shaped, layered and assembled using advanced technology puts this panel in a class of it’s own. To get into this classification, stainless steel/nickel rivets are used to hold the various layers of Delrin together thus creating the unique progressive loading for weight distribution. Both the backing and the padding layers are cut to match all of the finger cuts in the Delrin panel – allowing for complete panel performance. The slide plate, as well as the washer are of stainless steel eliminating any rusting issues in the future, with the insert of steel allowing it to rust ever so perfectly securing a strong hold within the saddle tree. This combination of materials attached to a specifically designed saddle tree for the best panel function, is what makes this system so easy to use and maintain and, in fact, makes it so different it is in a class of its own.

4.  What is Delrin and how does this make this saddle different? Early in 1950 research director and chemist Frank C McGrew developed a tough and heat resistant material he called "synthetic stone." During the years of development, which involved a patent dispute, DuPont patented Delrin® in 1956. Delrin® (Polyoxymethylene) is an acetal homopolymer resin that is a durable lightweight crystalline plastic, which uses a breakthrough in stabilization technology. It has an excellent balance of desirable properties that bridge the gap between metals and ordinary plastics. This Delrin not only has memory (which allows it to return to it’s natural shape), but also has a unique combination of strength, stiffness, tensile strength, hardness, dimensional stability, toughness, fatigue resistance, solvent and fuel resistance, abrasion resistance, low wear, low friction, creep resistance under a wide range of temperature and humidity conditions, with high fatigue endurance, corrosion resistance and mechanical resilience. Due to these outstanding characteristics Delrin is popular for its versatility within a broad use of industry applications, such as automotive, aerospace, electrical and medical applications.  At our manufacturing facility, this product is cut, assembled and mounted to a saddle tree of very specific proportions to allow maximum performance of this incredible System X panel. In western models of Evolutionary Saddles ä , the flat panel is sandwiched inside the skirts of the saddle. These skirts are mounted so that they spread the rider’s weight over a large area and flex to fit either a horse or mule, whether the animal has a very wide round back or a narrow skinny back. You can actually see the skirts flex as you ride. These skirts do not look different from traditional western skirts. With over 20 years of feed back from earlier systems of panels and saddle designs, they have proven to a horse so much more comfortable. In many cases horses quit displaying behaviors caused by pain from rigid tree saddles, and now perform better than with a traditional saddle that inhibited movement. The very same panels are on the English and Endurance saddles mounted beneath the rigid saddle tree. The difference is these panels are encased in a zippered pouch, which actually gives the panel a softer more flexible feel since there is no added leather skirt.

5.  The Evolutionary Saddles ä System X is designed to make the horse move more freely, but what about the rider? The way the trees are constructed in the Evolutionary Saddles gives the rider a narrower seat which helps prevent hip and knee pain, while also providing a close feel to the horse. The bars of this saddle are very thin allowing the rider’s thighs to get closer to the mule or horse. The trees are thin and functional when made to our specifications, being solid wood reinforced with layers of hand-layered fiberglass cloth then coated with expensive epoxy resin. This allows the trees to be made thin and much lighter in weight than traditional trees without compromising the strength needed even when used for heavy roping. This is why these saddle trees can carry a 10-year warranty. Because the saddle trees are anatomically designed to the rider’s seat they require minimal padding; but if desired, they are available with nearly two inches of extra padding stitched to a correct pattern for incredible comfort during long hours on the trail. The unique way of mounting the rigging removes bulk from under the rider’s leg, which again, keeps knees from becoming strained and hurting. The stirrup leathers are generally narrower than found on traditional saddles and are mounted on the tree in such a way as to allow them to twist and move easily, which also prevents knee, hip and ankle strain. Our saddle models that use traditional one-inch leathers are designed so these leathers can be positioned forward, center and rear to give the rider additional leg positions – a feature not found on other saddles. All of our saddles come with stirrups that have a special pad that absorbs concussion and reduces aching feet. All of these features, plus the spring panels that absorb concussion provide much greater comfort for the rider – as confirmed by 20+ years of feedback. Many people who have arthritis in the back, hips and knees say they can ride much farther and longer in these saddles than in traditional saddles. Heavy weight riders see benefits in all areas due to expanded weight bearing surface area on the horses back, as the panels are sized in proportion to the seat of the saddle, thus providing for a comfortable transfer of rider weight to the horse’s back. This shock absorption is the icing on the cake for the horse and we all are pleasantly surprised that this jarring concussion to the rider is reduced as well.

6.   Why is an Evolutionary Saddle ä worth purchasing? As consumers ourselves, we at Hill View Farms LLC have purchased equipment from manufacturers, suppliers and saddle builders who make products for horses but do not OWN, RIDE or even FIT horses or mules – oftentimes with poor results. We find the people we can rely on to deliver good products are the ones who have worked hard and take pride in providing equipment made or designed by people who own, fit and RIDE the equine. Now, at last, we at Hill View Farms LLC have the opportunity to take complete charge of making these incredible saddles from start to finish. We are directly involved in every step of production and produce the best product built to OUR (and in particular, Cathy Tauer’s) specifications. You can be assured when purchasing our saddles and tack, that you are purchasing from horse people who are just like you.  All of those who are directly involved with providing the Hill View Farms LLC brand of products, have raised the bar for other manufactures to follow.

7.   How did all this get started?  Our Journey - The Hill View Farms Story