There is a lot of information about Flexible Panel Saddles out there, most of it old information based on other systems. Technology has improved as has the flexible panel saddle. Welcome to the next generation of saddle! One Saddle to fit every horse you ride!
What About the Rider?
The way the trees are constructed for the Evolutionary Saddle gives the rider a narrower seat which helps prevent hip and knee pain, while also providing a close feel to the horse.
The bars of this saddle are thin allowing the rider’s thighs to get closer to the mule or horse.
The trees are thin and functional when made to our specifications, being solid wood reinforced with layers of Kevlar coated with DRUAhideTM. This allows the trees to be made thin and much lighter in weight than traditional trees without compromising the strength needed even when used for heavy roping. These saddle trees carry a 10-year warranty.
But if desired, they are available with extra padding for incredible comfort during long hours on the trail.
Pain Prevention!
The unique way of mounting the rigging removes bulk from under the rider’s leg. Keeping your knees from becoming strained and hurting.
The stirrup leathers are generally narrower than found on traditional saddles. They are mounted on the tree in such a way as to allow them to twist and move easily. Which prevents knee, hip and ankle strain.
Our saddle models that use traditional one-inch leathers are designed so these leathers can be positioned forward, center and rear to give the rider additional leg positions. A feature not found on other saddles.
All of these features, plus the spring panels that absorb concussion provide much greater comfort for the rider – as confirmed by 20+ years of feedback.
Many people who have arthritis in the back, hips and knees say they can ride much farther and longer in these saddles than in traditional saddles.
Heavy weight riders see benefits in all areas due to expanded weight bearing surface area on the horses back, as the panels are sized in proportion to the seat of the saddle. Providing for a comfortable transfer of rider weight to the horse’s back.
Why is an Evolutionary Saddle a worth purchasing?
As consumers ourselves, we at Evolutionary Saddles LLC have purchased equipment from manufacturers, suppliers and saddle builders who make products for horses but do not OWN, RIDE or even FIT horses or mules – oftentimes with poor results.
We find the people we can rely on to deliver good products are the ones who have worked hard and take pride in providing equipment made or designed by people who own, fit and RIDE the equine.
Now, at last, we at Evolutionary Saddles LLC have the opportunity to take complete charge of making these incredible saddles from start to finish.
We are directly involved in every step of production and produce the best product built to OUR (and in particular, Cathy Tauer’s and Lara Kronberger’s ) specifications. You can be assured when purchasing our saddles and tack, that you are purchasing from horse people who are just like you.
All of those who are directly involved with providing the Evolutionary Saddles LLC brand of products, have raised the bar for other manufactures to follow.
Is the System X saddle just a “knock – off” of other flex panel saddles?
No, it is not a knock-off. This is an entirely new system and is not anything like the other flexible Delrin panel saddles.
True, this new system design is based on an older original idea and true. This system uses Delrin in the building process. The way the Delrin is cut, shaped, layered and assembled puts this panel in a class of its own.
To get into this classification, stainless steel rivets are used to hold the various layers of Delrin together. Creating the unique progressive loading for weight distribution.
Both the backing and the padding layers are cut to match all of the finger cuts in the Delrin panel. Allowing for complete panel performance.
The slide plate is of stainless spring steel. The oil infused copper thrust bushing provides a lower maintenance that the previous steel bushings. Then finally the bolt and mount that are made of steel as well.
This combination of materials attached to a specifically designed saddle tree for the best panel function. This is what makes this system so easy to use and maintain. In fact, makes it so different it is in a class of its own.
Is the System X Evolutionary saddle a synthetic, flexible saddle?
No, the Evolutionary System X is a high quality, all leather saddle with a solid wood tree. Which is guaranteed for 10 years by Precision Saddle Tree.
This system is sometimes confused with treeless, sport or other flexible saddles because the name indicates a flexible panel system. But this saddle is NOT a treeless saddle or a flexible tree saddle.
Why Nylon Webbing? Why Less Rivets?
We use nylon as it is stronger than leather. Nylon will not rot away and weaken over time as leather or polypropylene products do.
We sew both leather and nylon instead of using rivets. The use of rivets actually takes material away weakening the structure and in time rivets may pull through.
Copper rivets corrode over time and weaken leather so care must be taken if you have these on your tack. We do use rivets where they are the only way to attach metal or hard plastic to leather.
This is because we cannot sew through metal or hard plastic. We may use Chicago screws instead of rivets as they can be unscrewed and taken apart to replace worn pieces. Depending on their application we will add some Blue Loctite, to keep them in place.
Therefore, whenever possible we sew all nylon products, as that is the strongest and most secure way of securing nylon webbing. Additionally, the thread we use is also nylon. The use of any cotton or polypropylene thread will rot over time and fall apart.
Nylon, whether it be webbing, rope, thread or fabric material is the product of choice for the marine industry as it resists salts and damp conditions.
We use the best materials for the job at hand, do not be fooled into thinking that nylon is not strong.
Just look at your cars seat belts, as these are the same belts that take men and women into space. Also keep our troops safe within their parachute jumping harnesses. Yes that webbing is all 100% nylon, and it is sewn, not riveted.
What is Delrin and how does this make this saddle different?
Early in 1950 research director and chemist Frank C McGrew developed a tough and heat resistant material he called “synthetic stone.” During the years of development, which involved a patent dispute, DuPont patented Delrin® in 1956. Delrin® (Polyoxymethylene) is an acetal homopolymer resin that is a durable lightweight crystalline plastic, which uses a breakthrough in stabilization technology.
It has an excellent balance of desirable properties that bridge the gap between metals and ordinary plastics.
This Delrin not only has memory (which allows it to return to it’s natural shape), but also has a unique combination of strength, stiffness, tensile strength, hardness, dimensional stability, toughness, fatigue resistance, solvent and fuel resistance, abrasion resistance, low wear, low friction, creep resistance under a wide range of temperature and humidity conditions, with high fatigue endurance, corrosion resistance and mechanical resilience.
Due to these outstanding characteristics Delrin is popular for its versatility within a broad use of industry applications. Such as automotive, aerospace, electrical and medical applications.
This product is cut, assembled and mounted to a saddle tree of very specific design to allow maximum performance of the System X panel.
With over 20 years of feedback from earlier systems of panels and saddle designs. They have proven to horses to be so much more comfortable. In many cases horses quit displaying behaviors caused by pain from rigid tree saddles. Now perform better than with a traditional saddle that inhibited their movement.
Why does the saddle look like it is a mile in the air from some angles?
Let us assume that the saddles bars are CHEESE. Both the same size and length, depth and width…
Our bars are shaped so that they flair up to the very TIP of the top and most outer part – surface of the saddle bar. Which when viewed from the back give them the illusion of being higher off the back than they really are.
This flare up give the necessary room for those panels to flex underneath the saddle tree without impinging the movement of the panels.
From flat backed to a high rise in the croup horse. The panel will fit BECAUSE the bar allows it to. The bar can appear to look as if it sits higher off of the horses back. Especially if the horse has a flatter top line.