Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

You are correct, Angie. The American-Flex saddles are made in GERMANY. Cathy 
Tauer of Hillview Farms, MN is the USA distributor.

And the other confusion for many people is that the flex-TREE saddles do not 
have panels that flex, but rather the tree itself flexes, which can cause 
pressure points on the horse's back, especially if the rider is heavy, tired 
or unbalanced, or all three.

The flexible-PANEL saddles have a rigid tree for rider support that is 
attached to flexible Delrin panels, whiich give a larger weight-bearing 
surface area for the load (like the backpacks the serious hikers use). The 
horse moves under theAF tree without touching it. And the spinal channel is 
competely open (With an American-Flex, you can literally see daylight from 
one end to the other).

The shoulder area of the AF panels are cut in FINGERS that flex in more than 
one direction, and the front mounting points PIVOT to accomodate high-narrow 
whithers or low, mutton whithers.  The front mounting points can also be 
RAISED as much as one inch on either side, to accomodate an uneven shoulder 
of the horse while allowing the rider to remain level and balanced with 
their riding weight. If the horse is rump high, both panels can be raised to 
level the riders weight. If a horse is very sway-backed, center SHIMS can 
also be added into the saddle pad to fill in.

The rear mounting points SLIDE on a channel to allow the panels to actually 
FLEX in the center when the horse rounds or flattens his back.

These features are what make the American-Flex different even from other 
Flexible-Panel saddles, and why the AF is able to fit more than one horse 
simultaneously. It is self-adjusting, moving system   that can change with 
your horse's movement, as well as their changing body condition over time.

I have been riding an American-Flex Cutback for three years , including our 
latest 100-miler, and would be a dealer for them, if I could purchase the 
required six saddles and the time to sell them.
The trial period to test a new AF is 2 weeks, and you can return it for a 
full refund (minus shipping) if you want to.

Terry
"May the Horse be with you"


Terry
"May the Horse be with you"



> From: rides2far@xxxxxxxx
> To: healthyhoof@xxxxxxxxxxx
> CC: anyone@xxxxxxxxxxxxx,ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx,Marinera@xxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [RC]   American-flex saddle
> Date: Sat, 9 Apr 2005 22:16:59 -0400
>
> > 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!
>
> I think you're talking about two different companies. "American" saddlery
> is right across the street from Big Horn, every time an employee gets mad
> and quits at one they walk across the street and work at the other. >g<
> American is known for a cheaper quality product, using cheaper materials
> but much the same style as Big Horn.
>
> I believe "American-Flex" is a totally different company.
>
> Angie
>
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