American-Flex Dressage/Endurance Panel Saddle

In the pictures you can see the critical points of rigid saddles (1, 2). The vertical movement of the back as well as the bending of the horse will be difficult. When your horse turns, one side becomes shorter and the other longer. A conventional saddle cannot adapt to this movement, and this results in increased pressure at certain points. Therefore conventional saddles will always produce certain pressure points-at some time-at some point, depending on the basic shape of the saddletree. A flexible saddle tree? This was out of the question for us, since we did not see how it could solve the basic problem of the fit. At the same time, in our opinion, it is important to keep the saddle seat stable. It should not be like sitting on a sponge.

The American-Flex-Saddles finds a remedy. When placed on the horse’s back and carrying the rider’s weight, the panels follow the laws of mechanics and are forced to conform to the horse’s contour. This will result in flush contact over the entire surface with even pressure distribution, and even during movement the panels adapt to the constantly changing shape of the horse’s back. For realizing, we designed the panels with a multi-layered structure (4,5,8). Special reinforced and very flexible synthetic material inside the panels distributes the load over the entire surface and is optimal conform to the panel – even in the middle. horse’s contour – simple utilisation of the laws of mechanics. We have developed a particular design for each layer in the rear area as well. This special shape guarantees an optimal weight distribution over the entire panel – even in the middle. In the front area, the panel is built in the form of slats. This permits an extra soft shoulder rotation. The slats extend as far as the withers area, so horses with extremely wide withers never feel too much pressure on this area. The second layer of the panel overlaps with the slats from the first layer. This permits a transfer of the forces to the subsequent layer and also a simultaneous distribution to the center of the panel. This will result in flush contact over the entire surface with even pressure distribution, and even during movement the panels adapt to the constantly changing shape of the horse’s back (3,9,10).

With its articulated connection to the saddle tree, our panel can also conform to the different widths of the horse. The panel thus independently produces the classic fit parameters like gullet width, flair, twist, rocker, etc. The flexibility of the material also helps it to further nestle against every curve. A variable girth system and an adjustable system tops it off.

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