The difference between hoop trees and standard trees has been discussed here quite a bit, but I finally have a bare hoop tree (pulled from a saddle that was the victim of a most bizarre accident, which I will chronicle in the future). So I thought I'd take some photos so you can
really see the difference between the two. Keep in mind that the hoop tree is an XW, and the standard tree is roughly a medium, so the difference in width is quite dramatic, but I think you'll also be able to see the difference in breadth across the top of the pommel arch as well.
First, here's a standard tree:
And here's the hoop tree:
Now, here's the standard tree stacked on top of the hoop tree:
It's pretty obvious, isn't it? The standard tree is shaped more like a peak roof or a pup tent:
And would be more suitable for a back like this:
Whereas the hoop tree is more like a dome tent:
Or a quonset hut:
And does a great job of fitting a back like this:
