Technical Features

The Tree

 

 

🧬 Our Signature Saddle Tree Technology

 

Flexibility Where It Matters. Stability Where It Counts.

At the heart of every Maxflex saddle lies our proven flexible tree, developed and perfected over the past 17 years. This innovative design combines adaptability, durability, and support — ensuring comfort for both horse and rider.

 

🛠️ Engineered for Dynamic Fit
Crafted from a special polyurethane, our tree offers just the right degree of controlled flexibility, allowing it to adapt to both straight and curved backs — providing an excellent fit for a wide range of horses.

 

⚖️ Weight Distribution, Perfected
Each tree is reinforced with steel springs, allowing it to absorb and evenly distribute the rider’s weight, reducing pressure points and enhancing performance, comfort, and long-term soundness.

 

💡 Why Riders Trust It:

  • Used successfully for over 17 years

  • Flexible enough to adjust, yet stable under load

  • Works beautifully with our wool-flocked panels and modern saddle shapes

  • Supports both horse comfort and rider biomechanics

Maxflex: Where innovative design meets timeless craftsmanship.
Your ride starts with the right foundation.

 

The Custom Gullet

🔧 Custom Gullet System by Maxflex

Precision Fit. Complete Freedom.

 

At Maxflex, one of our greatest innovations — and points of pride — is our fully customizable gullet system. Just like a perfectly tailored shoe, a custom gullet forms the essential foundation for comfort, performance, and willingness in your horse.

 

💡 More Than Just Angle Adjustment
Unlike many saddle systems, we don’t just adjust the angle of the gullet — we go further. Thanks to the unique flexibility in the head of the tree, we’re able to fully adjust the width as well, shaping the gullet to match the exact contours of your horse’s withers and shoulders.

 

⚖️ Why It Matters:

  • Fits narrower or broader withers/shoulders with precision

  • Enhances freedom of movement and eliminates pressure points

  • Promotes relaxation, comfort, and willingness to work

  • Supports evolving musculature as horses develop or change

🐎 A Custom Gullet = A Happy Horse


It’s the first step toward true comfort — a subtle detail that makes a profound difference in your horse’s performance and wellbeing.

Maxflex Saddles: Where every detail is shaped around your horse.
Because comfort is not optional — it's the beginning of everything.

 

 

 

The Seat

 

  

🪶 Superior Seat Comfort by Maxflex

 

Where Cushion Meets Craft.

Every Maxflex saddle seat is sculpted with meticulous care, using high-quality foam designed to maximize rider comfort, no matter how long you're in the saddle.

 

 

Once shaped on our flexible tree, the seat is expertly finished with top-tier Argentinian leather — known for its luxurious feel, durability, and natural grip.

 

🖤 What You’ll Feel:

  • Balanced support that relieves pressure

  • A smooth, supple surface that invites you to ride longer

Maxflex Saddles: Built for performance. Loved for comfort.


Feel the difference — from the very first ride.

 

 

 

The Sandwich Panels

🥪 Sandwich Panels

(Not for eating — but your horse will love them.)

Every Maxflex saddle is built with our signature sandwich panel construction — a carefully crafted system of four specialized layers designed to provide maximum comfort, stability, and performance.

Let’s take a closer look at what makes them so unique:

Layer 1: Synthetic Wool

At the core of our panels is high-grade synthetic wool, chosen for its resilience, consistency, and adaptability. Unlike natural wool, it won’t shrink, clump, or lose shape due to moisture or humidity. It conforms smoothly to the horse’s back, enhancing weight distribution and long-term comfort — without compromising fit.

Layer 2: Exclusive Foam

Directly above the wool lies a layer of premium foam, adding a soft yet stable cushion between the horse and the saddle. This exclusive material ensures a smooth, consistent panel surface and significantly improves overall comfort for the horse, even during long or intense rides.

Layer 3: Net Structure

To preserve the shape and longevity of the foam, we add a reinforcing net layer. This prevents stretching or warping — a common issue with leather alone, which naturally shifts over time. The net maintains the panel’s structure and supports consistent performance under variable conditions.

Layer 4: Panel Shell

The final layer — the one you see and feel — is our durable panel shell leather. Specially selected for its softness, strength, and resilience, this leather fulfills the highest standards of comfort, robustness, and longevity. It’s supple enough for flexibility, yet strong enough to maintain the panel’s integrity through years of use.

Maxflex Sandwich Panels: Built for comfort. Engineered for performance. Loved by horses.

 

The Girthing System

 

 

🔗 Maxflex 2-Part Smart Billet System

Horse-Friendly. Fit-Focused. Built for Freedom.

At Maxflex, we’ve developed an innovative 2-part billet system that maximizes comfort, adjustability, and biomechanics — all while protecting your horse’s natural movement.

 

🔹 Part 1: The Double V-Billet Design

 

Our double V-billets ensure even pressure distribution across a wider area, significantly reducing pressure points under the saddle. Unlike traditional designs, our billets are not anchored to the gullet, which allows the tree head to maintain its natural flexibility. This means your horse’s shoulder remains free, encouraging full range of motion without interference.

🔹 Part 2: 4-Loop Flap System

 

We’ve added four smartly placed loops at the end of the flap to allow customized alignment with your horse’s girth groove.

 

✅ Custom Loop Configurations:

  • Horse with a forward girth groove? Use Loop 1 & 3 or 2 & 3

  • Saddle getting pulled backward? Try Loop 3 & 4 for stability

  • Mix and match for precision positioning based on your horse’s shape and movement

This smart design gives your fitter the flexibility to fine-tune billet alignment for optimal saddle balance and security, without compromising comfort.

Maxflex Saddles: Thoughtfully engineered for both horse and rider.


Because every detail matters.

 

The Spinal Channel

 

 

🧠 Maxflex Spinal Channel Design

 

Balance, Support, and Thoughtful Customization

At Maxflex, we understand that the spinal channel plays a crucial role in your horse’s comfort and long-term back health. That’s why our saddles are built with a standard 4–5 cm wide channel, which can be customized when needed.

 

🩺 Why Not Wider?
While a wider channel may seem like a good idea, it can actually reduce the effective weight-bearing surface along the horse’s longissimus dorsi muscle — increasing pressure in a smaller area. Our standard width allows for optimal distribution of the rider’s weight, reducing pressure points while maintaining spinal clearance.

 

🧩 Structure Matters
The "legs" of the saddle tree must rest properly on the panels. If a narrower twist is requested, we’ll carefully adjust the panel shape to ensure both tree and panel alignment remain correct — preserving both rider comfort and structural integrity.

 

🔧 When Custom Width is Needed
For extra-wide horses, we can adjust the spinal channel to accommodate their shape. This is done thoughtfully, with biomechanics in mind, and only when truly beneficial to the individual horse.

Maxflex Saddles: Designed with spinal integrity and long-term comfort in mind.
Because true fit goes beyond surface level.

 

The Winner of an Electronic Pressure Measurement Test

 

 

🏆 Independent Test Winner

 

Maxflex Saddles: Proven Pressure-Free Performance

In an independent pressure point analysis, Maxflex Saddles outperformed 13 other saddle brands — delivering the best results in pressure distribution and spinal freedom.

 

 

 

📊 The Test Setup:

  • 14 saddles tested

  • 2 different horses

  • 2 professional riders

  • Conducted using high-precision pressure mapping technology

✅ Maxflex = Zero Pressure Points
The Maxflex saddle showed no pressure points along the back — even under dynamic movement. The shoulders remained completely free, and the saddle maintained balance without pinching or shifting.
This exceptional result is due to the unique flexibility and rotation in the head of the tree, which allows the saddle to move with the horse — not against it.

 

🧠 Designed with Biomechanics in Mind

  • Wide, even contact area along the back

  • Zero interference with the longissimus dorsi, even at the 18th rib

  • Stable fit + dynamic freedom = a more relaxed, willing horse

🖼️ Visual Proof:
In the side-by-side comparison image, Maxflex (right) demonstrates complete pressure relief, while a competitor’s saddle (left) shows significant pressure build-up.

Maxflex Saddles: Independently tested. Scientifically validated. Loved by horses.

 

The Parts of The Saddle