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You can learn more about a saddle in five minutes with a real saddle maker than in five hours of scrolling. Tonight we’re talking with Reed Veit of Reed Veit Saddlery in Roundup, Montana, a young craftsman building custom saddles and tack for horses and mules and doing it the hard way: one tree, one hide, one careful decision at a time.

We get into what a saddle tree actually is, why the bars and angles matter so much, and why the best trees can take months to show up at your shop door. Reed breaks down how custom saddle building really works, from covering the tree to shaping a rig that fits a specific animal. If you’ve ever wondered why a saddle that “looks fine” can still roll, pinch, or leave your mule sore, this conversation connects the dots with plain language and real shop experience.

Then we tackle the question we hear nonstop in the mule world: do you need a mule saddle? We talk mule conformation, narrower backs, lower withers, and why some folks get away with a horse saddle while others fight tack problems forever. We also swap opinions on steep-country setups like britching versus a crupper, including the safety and pressure-point trade-offs that riders don’t always think about until something goes wrong. Along the way, you’ll hear why the mule community is so tight, plus stories about clinicians, friendships, and the odd way mules can change the whole direction of your life.

If you want to reach Reed, he’s on Facebook and Instagram at Reed Veit Saddlery, and you can also call him at 406-654-7669. If you enjoy the show, subscribe, share it with a mule friend, and leave a rating or review so more folks can find Harness Up.

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