This is a current hot topic of conversation among people looking for social media guidance on how saddles should fit their horse. Often these people have the very best intentions to try and help their horse friends to be more comfortable, and to better select saddles without being sold something that they neither need nor want.
The problem is the answer is far more nuanced than long vs. short. Short isn't evil or good. Long isn't better or worse.
No singular solution in saddlery will work for all horses, all shapes, all work purposes, or all riders.
It Depends
"It depends." It depends on a lot of factors, like horse use, fitness, purpose, rider skill, rider goals, saddle construction, panel shape, and overall tree fit.
Tree points account for a maximum of 10 square inches of contact with the horse. The other portions of the tree account for at minimum 60 square inches of contact. That means tree points might matter some, and some horses might really care about the difference, but almost all horses care more about the other 60 square inches.
The rails of the saddle, the pitch of those rails, the material of the tree, the shape of the tree point ends, the angle of the tree points, the width of the tree, the balance the saddle creates for the rider... all matter far more to the horse and the overall stability of the saddle than the singular issue of tree point length.
So, What Are We Actually Talking About?
All tree points are within the range of a couple inches. Can a couple inches make a HUGE difference to a horse? Yes, it can. Does it make a huge difference to all horses? Nope.
Are short tree points better? Not always. Are long tree points more desirable? Sometimes. Do all saddles need to have these options available for consumers to choose from? No. Does the horse get a vote? Gosh, I really hope so!
The best answer to this question is: Let's see what your horse thinks.
There are very few brands that offer "long" tree points. But all tree points are small when it comes to the overall size and shape of the horse. By definition we are talking about a very small area of the overall horse's body that is in contact with the tree point.
Do I believe that the tree points need to be the proper angle to allow support along the proper body structures of the horse? ABSOLUTELY! Is there a common or "normal" measurement for that area and shape of the horse? NOPE!
What Actually Matters More
While tree point length may matter to your horse or to you, it doesn't matter as much as other factors like rail pitch, tree shape, curve, or width. And all of those things are dwarfed by proper clearances over sensitive areas and maximized contact with appropriate support areas.
So, do I offer long and short tree points? Yes, I do. Do I make this the sole focus of my fittings and my saddlery business? Never.
I ask the horses for their opinions and provide comparisons and options to help the rider and the horse select a saddle that works for them both based on the totality of factors.