You may hear some other flexible panel saddle makers claiming that they have licensed the right to build their saddles using the Ortho-Flex patented design from Ortho-Flex.  This is an UN-TRUE statement.  Based upon factual and legal documents, the patented Ortho-Flex design was never licensed to anyone.  EVER!!  This has been researched, documented and verified.  Verbal statements supposedly granting such a right are NOT legal nor are they valid.  Never trust another saddle maker making such a claim.  To be assured you are actually buying an authentic, quality flexible panel saddle, buy only an Ortho-Flex saddle.

Ortho-Flex DOES still build the original, patented, panel system design - with some improvements and enhancements.  This is today referred to as the System II panel system.  In addition, this design was modified to provide added flexibility in the withers area of the horse and was named the System III panel system.  Further, the System III was modified to allow that added flexibility in both the withers and the rump areas.  This is called the System VI.  The System VI was especially designed for short-backed breeds, such as the Paso Fino, Arab and Morgan, to name a few.  And the latest innovation, the System 8XS - unbelieveable flexibility!!!  Each of these systems can be enhanced with the new "Wide" feature that adds an additional 1" to 1-1/2" to the overall width of the saddle.  This makes the saddle a better fit for larger bodied horses.  With these panel systems and features, the Ortho-Flex panel system can fit most horses properly.  NOT - all horses.  You will never hear Ortho-Flex claim to fit every horse.

The Ortho-Flex panel system design was conceived and patented by Len Brown from Nevada, Missouri.  The good old USA!  You may hear other saddle makers imply that this design originated in some other country.  If this were accurate, then the US Patent Office would not have issued a patent to Mr. Brown.  Some other flexible panel saddle makers use this story to try to lend credibility to their own saddles, that are made in a foreign country and imported to the USA.  Rest assured, your Ortho-Flex saddle was conceived, designed, has been and still is, built in the USA!

The Ortho-Flex panel system design DOES NOT require adjustment.  Over the design and enhancement history of the Ortho-Flex panel system, an adjustable panel design was attempted that allowed the front & rear of a saddle to be raised and lowered by adjusting the screws holding the panels to the saddle tree.  This design was discarded because the adjustments provided only minimal benefits to the rider and no benefits to the horse and the integrity of the attachment point of the panels to the saddle tree was compromised.  It was proven that this design was prone to failure.  Ortho-Flex has since focused on building the seat better in order to accommodate the rider while maintaining the comfort of the horse through slight modifications to the panel system design.  Once again, you DO NOT need to adjust the Ortho-Flex saddle panel system.  If another saddle maker tells you that you have to adjust an Ortho-Flex saddle, point out that this adjustment voids your Ortho-Flex Warranty.  Competing flexible panel system saddles that do require adjustment should be considered inferior and unreliable due to what was learned during Ortho-Flex's attempt at this design.  We feel you would be wasting your money on one of these saddles.

Ortho-Flex builds ALL of their own saddle trees, performs all of their own leather cutting and tooling and assembles each saddle right there in their manufacturing facility in Warren, Arkansas.  Ortho-Flex actually has so much capacity in their 80,000 sq.ft. facility, they could build products for other saddle makers, if they wished to.  Therefore, when you hear a competitor make a claim that Ortho-Flex does not do their own work, this is a FALSE statement.  Rest assured, with the dedication to you and the quality of their product, Ortho-Flex will only produce saddles from their own facility.  Right where they can control the entire process.

Myth:  "Older" model Ortho-Flex saddles are better than the "Newer" models

The Ortho-Flex panel system for saddling was conceived and the subsequent corporate identity came about in 1981.  Mr. Len Brown came up with this concept in order to correct a problem he found with his own horses that were developing painful pressure points on their withers and backs due to ill-fitting saddles.  Mr. Brown worked out his design and then tested the design on a 3000 mile horseback trip.  Satisfied with the new "flexible panel system" after this trip, Mr. Brown applied for and received a patent for this design.  This patent also applied internationally.  Now, he had to build saddles with this new panel system.  A manufacturing facility was needed.  Thus, Ortho-Flex was born in Nevada, Missouri.  Len Brown worked out the manufacturing aspect and started developing a dealer network in the US and Internationally.  Ortho-Flex kept growing.  More expansion was needed to meet the demand for the saddles.  A deal was reached to move the manufacturing facility to Warren, Arkansas, where it is today, into an 80,000 sq.ft. building.  Things were going well except, expenses were increasing beyond what the company could bring in.  The banks that had lent Mr. Brown the money to move and expand were beginning to demand repayment.  Mr. Brown was unable to do so.  The banks foreclosed upon the assets of Ortho-Flex.  The company looked like it would go completely under.  A gentleman named Acie Johnson learned of this impending loss of jobs in Warren, Arkansas - a town near his childhood home.  He contacted the banks and built an agreement to take over the assets of Ortho-Flex and manage the company himself.  The papers were signed on Sept. 11, 2001 (a day we all remember for other reasons).  Mr. Johnson had already built several other successful businesses over the years and set to the task of re-building Ortho-Flex.  During the last few years of Mr. Brown's ownership, the quality of the saddles manufactured had dropped significantly.  They had begun using low-quality leather and adherence to any quality standards was not in evidence.  Mr. Johnson corrected these problems.  Returned to purchasing only the highest quality leather and materials (ALL from the USA) and brought the overall product quality back to the high standards it should have been at all along.  Today, Ortho-Flex is the largest, custom saddle maker and provides one of the most innovative products in the equine industry.  Committed to quality and customer satisfaction, you will find no better builder to purchase your saddle from and you will find NO ONE else that can provide you with the Ortho-Flex innovative, patented, flexible panel system!

Ortho-Flex is made entirely of US materials, custom to your specifications and put together entirely at the Ortho-Flex facility in Warren, Arkansas.  Good 'ole American Dead Cows!!!  Ortho-Flex uses the highest quality materials in their saddles in order to deliver you the best product that will last a VERY long time.  We understand the investment you are making in one of our saddles and we want to be sure you are satisfied with the quality and longevity of your investment.

Ortho-Flex is continually working to improve and enhance the features of their patented, flexible panel system for their saddles.  These innovations are typically the result of feedback from their customers and dealers.  Improving the panels, modifying the saddle designs and creating completely new saddles are the mark of a company that is always striving to maintain their industry leading position.  Stay in touch with T Bar K, your authorized dealer to learn about any new features that become available!

Ortho-Flex designed it's flexible panel system primarily for the comfort of your horse.  The goal was to alleviate the painful pressure points on the horse's withers and back created by the design of the traditional saddles and the way their saddle tree's sit on a horse.  The flexible panel system removes the saddle tree from contacting the horse's back and places the flexible panel itself there.  This way, instead of the movement of the horse rubbing against the fixed form of the saddle tree, the panel system resting on the horse's back moves with him and flexes with him.  The horse is much more comfortable.  An added bonus is that your weight while sitting in the saddle, is now distributed across the entire panel instead of a few specific points on a traditional saddle.  Once the horse's comfort was achieved, Ortho-Flex worked to design a seat that provided the most comfort possible to the rider.  This was achieved through several advances in seat technology and changes to the position of the seat padding.  All of the saddles offered by Ortho-Flex incorporate neoprene padding in the saddle seat and each can be upgraded with additional neoprene to place the needed comfort in your seat.  Have a seat in one of our saddles and you will see why these saddles are so comfortable.

Ortho-Flex does not offer a financing plan for the purchase of a saddle at this time.  However, the purchase of a custom saddle from Ortho-Flex entails payment of 1/2 of the purchase price of the saddle at the time of the order and then the final 1/2 of the purchase price just before shipment to you.  There are typically several weeks between these two points.  At the time this page was published, that time period is approximately 8 to 10 weeks.  And recently, Ortho-Flex introduced a Lay-a-Way plan that allows you to pay for your saddle across 12 months.  Another innovation is the new Trade-In policy.  Check these out if you need to consider these options!

Ortho-Flex encourages it's dealers to act professionally and with the highest integrity.  In adherence to this policy, Ortho-Flex wants YOU to decide to purchase your new custom saddle.  You will not be pressured, pushed or made to feel uncomfortable during your decision making concerning the purchase of one of our saddles.  Our dealers are always available to answer your questions and they will work together with you to reach your purchasing decision.  We will give you FACTS, not conjecture or opinions, about our saddles.  You will be allowed to make your own decision.  We understand that this is an investment for you and it is one we hope you decided to make for a new Ortho-Flex saddle.

Back

Created exclusively by T bar K Web Design

Copyright April 11, 2008