I guess indeed that you like or don't like your Ortho-Flex saddle. I am
myself using the Endurance Cutback for over half a year now and untill now
I can only be positiv about it. I even brought the saddle with me while
visiting the United States and riding Karren Beason's horse April on the
Poetry Fantasy Flight 50. The saddle fitted her just fine and didn't give
any trouble at all. (Except when I was trying to get it "handcarried" on
the plane, as it didn't fit into the overhead bins!).
I normally ride my very slim Achal Tekkiner Love over Gold with this
saddle. He had backproblems a while ago and by training he changed a lot
and the saddle I had been using until then needed a gelpad to avoid
problems.
When I go on longer rides with my, at the moment still too fat, partbred
Arab Bechir, I prefer riding the Ortho-Flex. It fits him and I just love to
ride it. The Prestige saddle I am using on him is OK too, but the
Ortho-Flex is just more comfortable on longer rides and when nobody is
riding Love over Gold I can use the saddle on other horses too.
It also fits to our partbred Anglo-Arab Ixoyron who differs in conformation
from the other two. He is normally ridden by my husband with a tolt
(Islander) saddle. He also loves to take the Ortho-Flex when it is
available.
As we fitted the same saddle about a month ago on a 2 year old pure Arab
mare, it appeared that the saddle was too long to fit her. The saddle is
about 16", but the flexible panels are rather long.
Why I bought it? It is useable on many different types of horses, which
gives me the opportunity to use one saddle with all my three horses. It is
expensive but I prefer buying a good, expensive saddle over buying a less
good, cheaper saddle which saves my purse but not my horse's back. The
Ortho-Flex is quite heavy, but as I am a featherweight it helps me getting
towards the 75kg limit for FEI-rides. Still 8kg to go!
Well, this is my opinion. I know a lot out there share it and others don't.
I heared a lot of complaints on the net lately on service from Ortho-Flex
saddle Co. I haven't faced them (yet). Just a fax and it is on its way.
Maybe it's my luck I am a faraway customer as the brand is becoming more
popular in Europe too, they perhaps try to keep us happy here to extend
their sales. Who knows!?
Greetings from The Netherlands,
Desiree Hanen
(Still... it takes Love over Gold & to finish is to win!)
>>> Laura K. Trouse <szerelk@mail.auburn.edu> 10/12/95 05:02pm >>>
This is the second time I'm trying to use this computer which I'm slowly
learning to get along with. So, hope this gets where it's supposed to this
time (it didn't last time).
I'm very curious about Ortho-Flex saddles. Everything I've heard about
them is either VERY good or VERY bad. It seems an aweful lot of people who
have them, sell them. If you have one do you like it? If you sold one, why
did you sell it?
Currently I'm riding in 2 wonderful custom saddles, but I'm always looking
for something that will be better for my horses.
Laura Szeremi-Trouse
Auburn,AL