While the 'other' brands ONLY started offering Reining saddles in recent years as 'ADDITION' to their regular line up, WE at Continental Saddlery specialize in Reining saddles and REINING saddles only, developed BY Reiners FOR Reiners
We're the "Reining authority"TM for a reason !!
The CONTINENTAL brand prides itself to be 'Handmade' as well as 'Handtooled', using only the best materials available today while still remaining an affordable, HIGH quality Western saddle. We use Grade A American leather by WESTAN Tannery. Our saddles are built exclusively on "Equi-Fit" (R) and "Equi-Flex"(R) brand trees by Steele Saddle Tree Co.
Why a flexible tree ?
As with ANY consumer products in general, TECHNOLOGY evolved throughout the years. We watch flat screen color tv's and no longer 10" black and white tv's - we drive technically advanced cars instead of daddy's 1958 Chevy Bel Air, the same goes for the saddle tree - it has EVOLVED into a NEW, advanced generation of saddle tree that is a FAR CRY from those conventional trees being used for centuries made out of wood, covered with hide or fiberglas.
Do I NEED a saddle with a flexible tree ?
Of course if you use your saddle mainly for heavy duty ranch work or steer roping THIS is not for you, but Reining is based on 'feel' and being felt by your horse.
The benefits of a flex tree are indisputable, a better 'feel' for the rider of the horse's movements, being a more 'active' rider instead of 'reactive'.
Bridging and pressure points being virtually eliminated by the saddle's/trees ability to conform to the horse's back as compared to a 'rigid' piece of wood placed on a horse's back.
Borderline fitting problems being solved with the ability of the bars of the tree to conform and 'give' just enough to avoid pinching AND bridging.
Why don't other saddle brands use it ?
We CAN'T really speak for the competition, but MOST other saddle brands do not specialize in Reining the way we do.
We DON'T build Roping or Ranch saddles but Reining saddles only ! Also building a saddle on a flexible tree requires a high level of attention on part of the saddle builder since the saddle can't be just 'nailed-together' in a production line style manufacturing but IS individually crafted by the builder.
