Our Custom Saddle Trees

We can build on a tree by any maker you wish if you would like to provide your own.  If you would like to go through the custom saddle fitting process, we use “Steele” trees due to their many fit options.

George Steele the great-great-grandfather of Ed Steele, came to this country in 1840. In 1848, after raising enough capital, he moved to Nashville. During the Civil War, he built trees for the Confederate Cavalry. At the capture of Nashville, his entire operation was confiscated and all his machinery moved north. He was then deported back to England because he was still a British subject having not gained his American citizenship. After the war, he returned to the same property near Nashville. Five generations later,  Ed Steele is still building, manufacturing, and designing trees.

Ed’s father taught him the production side and his Grandfather taught him the design side. Ed has taken all of this knowledge and transformed it into what we have today. He understands that the horse must be comfortable along with the rider. Ed brings five generations of tree building and design but still learns everyday. He does not assume to know it all, and Ed is constantly striving to improve his product.

Our Steele trees are built out of southern yellow pine encased in fiberglass and resin for strength, durability, and weather resistance.

When choosing the tree for your custom saddle, we select to fit the needs of the horse and rider. It is important that both the horse and rider are comfortable with the fit. A  western saddle that fits one horse can very well serve for more than one if their backs are similar. However, the extremes are incompatible.