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RE: [RC] American-flex saddle - Linda CowlesHi 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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