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RE: [RC] [RC] AF vs. OF - terry banister

Because no one had an American Flex saddle in endurance when I was saddle shopping, I did some research. The OrthoFlex saddle was the first flexible-panel saddle on the American market, using leather-covered wood trees and delrin for the panels. The OrthoFlex is a beautiful looking saddle. However, during its history, the company did put out some saddles with inconsistant, poor quality control and customer service, which is why some people either love them or hate them.
All the other flexible-panel saddles that came onto the market since then (Reactor Panel, American-Flex, Free 'n Easy, Timberline, Rocking R, Sommer Oakfield, and the JG Ranch Flex Panel saddles) use leather, wood and delrin, but in order not to infringe on patent rights, they all have different engineering of the panels, and attach the panels to the tree in very different ways.

I chose the American-Flex, because it is made in Germany, and I liked the technology put into the panels. What's inside the panels that you don't see is what is important - and different in each of the flex-panel brands. The German no-frills appearance and solid engineering is what you get with the AF, (and I ride without a sheepskin seat cover, and the extra-padded seat works just fine).
The machine laser-cut delrin panels of the AF saddle are triple-layered for progressive loading and weight disbursement over the large surface area, and fingered for optimum flex and adaptation to movement and growth. The company now offers a system VII that will fit even more horses, you don't need a technical expert to fit the saddle to the horse. I believe the OF does not have the machinery to laser-cut the panels and they are still single-layered.

The second reason I chose the AF is not because of the saddle, but because of the COMPANY.
It is my understanding that current Saddle Works Company just bought the OrthoFlex name from the previous owner, and the current saddles are not even the same product as the original OF. It is also my understanding that OF company is currently looking for a buyer.
Also, there are a couple unstable saddle companies out there that have filed for bankruptcy, but are still selling their flexible-panel saddles. In your reference to saddles imitating Tucker saddles for less, the same thing goes on with the panel-saddle market, but sometimes that can be an improvement. Also, in reference to Tucker, they were just bought out by Circle Y, so you will be seeing some changes there.

"the AF. Functionally, it should perform just as well as the OF. It just ain't as pretty and doesn't look
as comfy. Will it hold up as well as the OF? That is the question."

Cathy from Hillview Farms answered this for me in CAPS:

ALL SADDLES NEED TO BE MAINTAINED, MY Ortho-Flex LASTED FOR 13,000 MILES WITHOUT
THE PROPER CARE, MY NEW AM-F PANELS WILL LAST TWICE THAT, NOW THAT A COMPANY
TOLD ME HOW TO PROPERLY CARE FOR THE PANELS.

"A saddle should be thought of as an investment in your horses health and
well being. If it doesn't fit right, your horse will have all kinds of
problems, no matter how much the saddle cost."

SO VERY TRUE... WHAT EVER SADDLE YOU BUY, MAKE SURE YOU CAN GET A TRIAL
PERIOD ON THE REAL SADDLE, NOT A TEST SADDLE, AND ALSO ARE ABLE TO GET YOUR
MONEY BACK!!!!!!!!!!! THEN THE CUSTOMER CAN DECIDE IF THEY REALLY LIKE THE
SADDLE AND THAT ALSO SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THE COMPANIES CONFIDENCE IN THEIR
PRODUCT
Terry
"May the Horse be with you"

From: "oddfarm" <jsalas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "ridecamp" <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <whisperfeather@xxxxxxx>
Subject: [RC]   AF vs. OF
Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2003 14:44:59 -0500

I have several Ortho-flex saddles. I don't have an American Flex but I did look at them at the convention. They are made basically the same. However, the AF is cheaper. Why? In my opinion it is because the material is cheaper, and they don't have the nice touches that OF has. If you look at the AF website http://www.american-flex.com you can see that some of the saddles have the studs across the back of the seat and on some of the skirting. This, to me is not attractive. It looks like it was nailed together. http://www.ortho-flex.com/ If you look on e-bay, you will find a saddle that looks like the Tucker endurance, but goes for about $300. Then, if you look at the real McCoy Tucker, you will see why it is more expensive. That is the same kind of difference between the OF and the AF.

The leather on the AF felt fake. It wasn't soft, it was very stiff. I have purchased three OF saddles brand new, and they were never, ever stiff. The seat and knee rolls felt like butter and even the bore's hide, although tough to scratch, was very pliable. I have four that I bought used. Two with snakeskin that were made in the early 80's. Gaudy as they are, they are still in great shape.

I know the OF doesn't fit every horse, but neither does any other saddle. The quality of the OF is without a doubt, right at the top. Nice leather, stainless hardware, beautiful tooling, the works. I also have one that they only made one of. It was for GaWaNi Pony Boy. It is basically a cut back, with knee and thigh rolls. The skirting and flaps are suppose to be water buffalo hide which is also very soft. I haven't been able to confirm that, but the saddle, even though a proto type, was very well made and comfy too. Customer Service with the previous owner wasn't that great, but the company now, is really trying hard to make up for that. Overall, it is a very nice quality saddle.

I don't sell these saddles, and I'm not a rep. I just love them and that's my opinion. I am not knocking the AF. Functionally, it should perform just as well as the OF. It just ain't as pretty and doesn't look as comfy. Will it hold up as well as the OF? That is the question. There are lots and lots of very nice, quality saddles out there. Have you seen Annie George's saddles? That is a pretty saddle. But even a plain Jane saddle, if it fits and is comfortable will do the trick.

A saddle should be thought of as an investment in your horses health and well being. If it doesn't fit right, your horse will have all kinds of problems, no matter how much the saddle cost.

Lisa Salas, the Odd fARM
I am an e-bayholic and I can't stop!

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