ORTHO-FLEX SADDLES, LLC

Custom-Made Saddles 

with the Patented Flex Panel System.

"My Tastes are Simple, I'm always satisfied by the best!" - ORTHO-FLEX - The Best Saddles on the Planet! -

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About Ortho-Flex

The Ortho-Flex Flexible Saddle System will fit a much wider variety of horse's because our patented flexible panel system flexes in all directions and conforms to the shape of the horse's back.  This system also moves with your horse while riding, providing a fit and comfort for your horse equaled by no other saddle. 

Sizing the Rider...  

The Ortho-Flex panels will ensure your Ortho-Flex saddle fits your horse.  However, in order to provide you with a properly fitting saddle we will need a few of your measurements.  These include your Hip size (largest diameter), your inseam length to your ankle bone (inside of leg, not your pants size) and the largest diameter of one of your thighs.  We will also need to know if you want a regular, stitchdown, plush or ultra plush seat.  The different styles of seat have various amounts of padding which will in effect, increase or decrease a normal seat size.  The sizing will also vary depending on the saddle model.  We will take your measurements and build you a saddle that fits you as well as it fits your horse.

Directions:

Measure your hips, around the largest area. no fudging please ;-)

Measure one thigh, around the largest area.

Select the style of seat you prefer (regular, stitchdown, plush,  ultra plush or rumble)

Select the Model of Ortho-Flex saddle. Use the section of the chart directly under the model chosen.

Match your hip and thigh measurements to the chart for the style of seat you selected.

Your matching seat size for the saddle model and seat style you selected will be in the far left column.

Note: If your hips or thighs are in two different seat size groupings, choose the larger of the two seat sizes

All you need to know to get into the automatic fit zone is:

1. Do I need a short or regular length flexible skirt?

All short-backed horses, all gaited horses, and any horse with a deep drop behind the withers needs a short skirt. Refer to the web site for "Breed Fit Recommendations", developed by Ortho-Flex, to properly fit your horse breed.

2. Do I need a Regular, Full, or Wide tree for my saddle?

83% of all horses need Regular, 10% need Full, and 7% need wide. Refer to the Breed Fit Recommendation chart for guidance. Horses weighing over 1200 pounds, typically, need a Full tree and Draft type need a Wide.

3. Do I need adjustable rigging?
   
   The conformation of some horses, with extended withers, need a saddle, which can alter the relationship of the   seat position, to the girthing position. Similarly, a Roper needs the rigging yoke more forward to put the saddle back on the horse. To fit a diverse group of breeds, choose the Ortho-Flex "Flex-Fit Yoke Rigging" option.

Ortho-Flex devotes itself to creating designs that enhance the equine experience for both the horse and the rider!

Traditional saddles place a non-conforming rigid saddle tree, directly on the horse's back, which does not allow the horse to move under the saddle. Even traditional saddles, which have been custom fitted to your horse perfectly, still will not move with your horse, while riding, and the custom fit will no longer be custom as your horse gains or loses weight or ages. A non-fitting traditional saddle is basically rigid which restricts your horse’s movement. Your horse will quickly learn that it cannot extend fully or turn as freely under a traditional saddle. This situation, over time, will only cause pressure points, saddle sores and a non-cooperative horse. Ortho-Flex saddles eliminate this problem, adapting to your horse's shape automatically, though the use of specially designed flexible panels. The Ortho-Flex Flex Panels (skirts) bend and flex in all directions as you or your horse move. The flexible skirts also have a much larger contact surface area, which spreads the weight of the rider over a larger area and reduces the pounds per square inch transferred to the horse's back. Because the panels adapt to the specific shape of each horse and the movement of the horse or rider, tracings of your horse's back are not necessary to ensure your custom Ortho-Flex Saddle will fit your horse.

Patented Ortho-Flex Panel Systems: 

All systems are an engineered man made material. The shapes are computer aided designs and the different style components are designed to interact differently to accomplish the desired combination of support and flexibility on a variety of back shapes.

System 2 Standard Flex- Multiple layered skirt panels with interacting levels of material. Good for most applications and a normal length back horse except those with severe drop behind the withers. Flexes BI-directionally.

System 3 Improved Flex- Multiple layered panels with interacting levels of material. Good for most applications and a normal length backed horse, except those with severe drop behind the withers. The first and second layer of the system include specially designed "fingers", rather than solid shapes, which allow it to flex tri-directionally to accommodate the shoulder/wither area.

System 8X Extreme Flex- Single layer system panel for closer contact. The system includes specially computer aided designed "fingers", rather than solid shapes, which allow it to flex tri-directionally to accommodate the shoulder/wither area. Use with regular back length, those with severe drop behind the withers, and sway backed.

System 6 Ultra Flex "Short"- Multiple layer material with interacting levels of material. Good for most applications and a short back horse, those with exceptional gait/shoulder movement, and all but severe drop behind the withers. The system includes specially computer aided designed "fingers" on the front and rear end, rather than solid shapes, which allow it to flex tri-directionally to accommodate the shoulder/wither area.

System 8XS Extreme Flex "Short"- A single layer system for closer contact. The system includes specially computer aided design "fingers", rather than solid shapes, which allow it to flex tri-directionally to accommodate the shoulder/wither area better. Use with short back horses and those with severe drops behind the withers.

BI-directional systems flex right-left and front back.

TRI-directional systems flex right-left, front-back, and angular (X, Y, & Z axis)

Accessory Sizing:

Western Girths:  From about 3" behind the elbow, measure the full circumference of the horse’s chest (over the back of the withers & under the chest). Multiply this length by 40% and round up to the next even size for the "dropped" yoke. For a "Short" Yoke, add 6-8" to this total. Example: Horse measurement is 80" circumference X 40%= sz 32"  for "Dropped" or 38-40" for "Short".

English Girths:  From about 3" behind the elbow, measure the full circumference of the horse’s chest, over the back of the withers & under the chest. Multiply this length X 40% & round up to the next even size for the "Dropped" Yoke. For a "Short" Yoke, add 6-8" to this total. Example: Measurement is 80" circumference X 40%= sz 32" for "Dropped" Yoke or 38-40" for "Short".

Breast Collars:  Measure from front center of horse chest (where the hairlines intersect) to the D Ring on the front of the saddle. If the measurement is 25-32" use a Small; if 27-34" use a Regular. Adjustable straps allow some overlap.

Bridles:  Measure from the corner of the horse’s mouth, up the side of the head and behind the ears, to the nod (center of the top of the head).  If distance measured is 19-24" use small; if 21-26" use Medium; if 23-28" use Large. Adjustable features allow some size overlap.  If the brow band length (measured side to side over the eyes & below the ears) is 14-15 ½" use Small, if 16-17 ½" use Medium, if 18-19 ½" use Large. If measure for side to nod and brow size conflict, use larger size.

Saddle Pads & Booties:  Select a Pad size 2" longer (minimum) than the overall saddle length. See length chart at top of form. Patented Load Leveler has 2 moveable Velcro attached pockets w/3 shims for leveling anywhere on pad. The Booties slip over each skirt, like a sock, and replace the pad. Allows circulation on spine. For the Booties, choose the same length of the skirt (overall length) for the system type you choose.

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