Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

There is a big difference between flexible tree saddles and flexible 
panel saddles.  American-Flex is a flexible panel, not tree, saddle. 
Linda is right that no saddle can be expected to really fit a wide 
variety of horses' backs but most folks only want a saddle to fit one 
horse well.
Laney

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
>  
>
> *Linda Cowles*
> *Certified Hoof Care Provider*
> 707-869-8270 - Home
> 707-621-0240 - Cell
> HealthyHoof@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:HealthyHoof@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> *www.HealthyHoof.com* <http://www.healthyhoof.com/>
>
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>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>     *From:* ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>     [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On Behalf Of
>     *Marinera@xxxxxxx
>     *Sent:* Saturday, April 09, 2005 11:15 AM
>     *To:* ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>     *Subject:* [RC] American-flex saddle
>
>     If anybody on ridecamp is riding an American-flex saddle, I would be
>     interested in talking to them about it.  You can e-mail me
>     privately.  Thank you.   Julie Suhr 


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