If Wishes Were Saddles

Then I would ride.

March 1986, & I was reading a magazine while hanging out at the Malibu Endurance Ride ridecamp.  An article caught my attention.  It was the first of a three part series about Len Brown's long distance, multi-state journey on horseback.  Len went into detail on all the saddle fit & sore back issues that he encountered with his horses, as well as the fixes he did to make his horses comfortable.  At the end of his journey he decided to create & build saddles that would FIT!

The next morning I set off on my 50 mile journey through the beautiful hills of Malibu, CA.  At the lunch stop I had to ice my horse's back to keep it from swelling.  I'd been having ill fitting saddle issues for all of the 1985 season, & now into 1986.  I'd even had two saddles custom made to no avail.  They sored Wraff's back, creating pressure points that would swell.  By the Malibu ride Wraff had white spots behind his withers, & even a balding spot.  The best remedy I'd found was to cut holes in a foam pad so the saddle couldn't sit down on those now sensitive spots.  It was only a band-aid & I knew I had to find a saddle that fit, or get a new horse. I was pretty discouraged with Wraff's sore back at the end of Malibu.  It was then I made the decision to call & talk to Len Brown.

When I called Len that following Monday, & told him what I'd gone through with ill fitting saddles & sore backs, he promised me he could fit my horse.  That very day I sent the deposit so Len would begin making me a Brown's saddle, better known today as the Ortho-Flex Traditional.  My saddle arrived on Friday as I was leaving for the Tar Springs ride in June.  When I opened the box I was shocked.  After riding in a Steubben or a Stonewall, my new Brown's saddle looked huge.  How was I ever going to ride in it?

The next day I rode in that saddle for the very first time, finishing 50 miles WITHOUT Wraff having a sore or swollen back.  The successful result that day was amazing.  On July 19, 1986 I rode Tevis &, after 100 miles, Wraff's back looked & felt great.  I was in LOVE with my Brown's saddle.

Over the years I'd bought a few used Ortho-Flex saddles.  The ones that had originally had horns all seemed to be on the narrow side & didn't fit as well as my original saddle.  Those were quickly sold.  There were other models & I tried a couple of those with no luck.  I bought a 1987 Traditional from a friend, who later decided she wanted her saddle back.  It was a good deal for me because I traded her for a hotwalker.  In 2012 I bought a refurbished Ortho-Flex Traditional.  Its panels had been shortened & when a friend borrowed it because her saddle didn't fit her horse, I lost my #2 saddle.  In 2013 I was lucky enough to find another original Ortho-Flex Traditional & didn't hesitate buying it.  Len Brown had lost the original company & the new Ortho-Flex Co was nowhere near as good as Len's saddles.  They were imitations.  Not only that, the Traditional became a discontinued model.  While I had two of these wonderful saddles, I really wanted a 3rd.  It would be convenient for me to have a saddle for all 3 of my riding horses, each set up with booties (attached saddle pads) for an individual horse.

Two days ago someone posted on an Endurance Facebook page that there was an older Ortho-Flex for sale in Old Town Auburn.  Yesterday my friend, CCR, sent me a message asking if I'd seen the post.  Yes, I'd seen it but it was 65 miles away & I had a full schedule.  I did call to see if it was in fact an original Traditional.  It's number told me it was.  I thought about that saddle all night (it must have been calling my name) & today when I went to drop my hoof nippers off for sharpening, I decided to just drive on up to Auburn.          

 For 28 years my saddle has fit every horse I've ridden.  It's been a wonder saddle.  And now I have THREE!