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Sorry - the last time I looked at American saddles, they had the same "flex"
setup as Big Horn -- I'll make sure I check them out closer!

Linda

Linda Cowles
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lynne Glazer [mailto:anyone@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
> Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2005 12:34 PM
> To: healthyhoof@xxxxxxxxxxx
> Cc: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; Marinera@xxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [RC] American-flex saddle
>
> Linda, the American-Flex does NOT have a flexible tree, but 
> it DOES have flexible panels a la Ortho Flex.
>
> Lynne
>
> On Apr 9, 2005, at 12:42 PM, Linda Cowles wrote:
>
> > Hi Julie,
> > ?
> > I looked into selling American saddles... they aren't as 
> well made as 
> > Big Horn, but have a nice variety of styles.
> > ?
> > Julie, I'm posting this back to the group because it's good 
> > information for everyone. I'll be in your area more often now, and 
> > would be delighted to help you with saddle fitting.
> > ?
> > Folks, the problem with any "flex tree" type saddle is that it's 
> > essentially a fixed tree with semi-flexible inserts between 
> the cantle 
> > and the pommel. The amount of "flex" varies depending on the 
> > manufacturer. I have a bare flex tree (from Big Horn), and will be 
> > taking it to rides with me so that people can begin to 
> understand it's 
> > limits & applications.
> > ?
> > Saddle fit problems?usually occur 1) in the withers, 2) across the 
> > shoulder area, 3) the length of the back?or 4)from side to 
> side across 
> > the back.
> >  ?
> > The most typical fit problem is in the shoulder; TB's have a narrow 
> > shoulder (usually needing a semi-QH type tree), and stocky QH's and 
> > Arabs have a broad shoulder (typically fit with a Full QH Bar tree).
> > Other back?characteristics that impact saddle fit are a 
> pitched back 
> > angle on TB's (no fun to ride bareback!) as compared to the flatter 
> > back of an Arab or the very flat back of a stocky QH.
> >  ?
> > None of these problems are resolved by Flex trees. Flex 
> Trees DO NOT 
> > help saddles fit a wider variety of horses!!! To the 
> contrary, if they 
> > don't fit, they can cause even more damage to the horses back.
> > ?
> > A flex tree may have?some benefits if the tree fits a 
> particular horse 
> > well... but a treed saddle always has to be a very close fit.
> > ?
> > Later! Linda

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