Hello, I am writing this to inform potential customers of your panel systems and how great these panels really are. I am a working Cowboy on a huge SW ranch. I ride almost daily on many different horses and mules. The reason I was willing to try one of the conversions to Easy Slide system 9 panels was difficulty in fitting so many of these animals. The panels not only adjust to all these varied animals. They also give you a closer contact to the animal. I am very pleased. I have now been riding this converted saddle for about 3 years and it has performed very well. I rope cattle off of it; I ride alot of rough or green stock that does act up. I ride it while leading pack strings in the mountains. I use this saddle hard and it has stood up to the test. What I am trying to say is these panels and the way they mount to your saddle tree are tough and will hold up to heavy use. The only maintence they need is a squirt of oil every now and then. Also do not tighten the cinch on these saddles or any saddle more than necessary. You want your saddle to stay in place and that is all. To many people over tighten thier cinch and wonder why they have dry spots in the area above the cinch. The animal isn't to happy either. I have never had a problem of any sort that I can attribute to these panels. I am a very happy customer and recommend these panels to anyone and everyone. Thanks D.K.

Hi Cindy and Harold,

My saddle arrived today!!!! It is beautiful. Very nice workmanship. I like
the barb wire tooling. I took it on a short 40 minute ride this evening. The
seat felt good. My Palomino FT stepped right out and did a flat foot nicely
without a lot of urging. I tightened the back cinch strap (of the V
formation) by 2 holes on each side. This really keeps the cinch away from
his elbows. Does that sound like too much to you? The saddle seemed to sit
good on his back and didn't slip to the right like my other saddle was
doing. I used a thin blanket under it, but you did say that I can just use
it with the booties only??? Right? The booties with the merino wool are so
soft and clean. I hate to get them dirty. I will be setting the stirrups in
the next few days and then hope to take it on a long ride. The stirrups are
4 inches across the bottom. I'm used to 3 inches, but hoping that I will get
used to the 4, as they are very nice stirrups.

Of course, I won't know if it will solve the sore back problem I have been
having for a long time. I will just use it and see. I will keep informed in
the next 4 to 6 months. Thank you for the fast service, the "barb wire"
coasters, and free shipping. Come and ride in the Shawnee with us!

Rita G.

Cindy,
Just wanted to let you know the booties arrived super fast and I have used them several times already. They are very nice and I like how you did the extra material where the rigging fits. I used the saddle on Sunday on my Ruthie and the saddle stuck on her, even as I got off and on several times. She is usually like saddling a pillow!

We are going to the Black Hills in July and I am so glad I have the booties to use. So now, I even love this saddle more than I did, if that is possible!!

Thanks for such a good product at a reasonable price!

D.Raaf

From: "Carol C."
To: <cindy@eldoradosaddle.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2007 7:32 PM
Subject: thank you

Cindy and Harold-
I was so surprised and happy to get my saddle back so promptly, with
the panel changes made and the new saddle sox fitting just right. It is now
perfect for my horse. Thank you so much for your excellent work and
personal consideration. Carol C.

To: harold@eldoradosaddle.com
Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 4:35 PM
Subject: Love My Saddle!

Hi Harold,
Sorry it has taken me a while to get this email to you.
You had asked me to email about how well I like my saddle after being converted to the Amera-flex panels.

I am not a 'light weight' rider, and I was feeling sorry for my 'smallish sized' Peruvian mare whom I was riding. After hearing about the possibility of converting my Peruvian saddle to use the Amera-flex panels I was quite excited. All it took was a phone call to you at El Dorado Saddle, and I decided that this is what I wanted to do.
It was already warm enough to begin riding for the summer, so I was concerned that it would take a while to get my saddle completed. However, it wasn't but a few weeks after sending it to you that my saddle arrived back to me and was ready for riding. My mare had only recently been started under saddle, but I could tell she loved it....and I loved it, too. What more could you ask for than to have a comfortable ride on your horse and know that the horse is also comfortable. We have taken many long trail rides, ridden in a parade, and done many fun things using this saddle---all the while having a comfortable horse and rider. El Dorado Saddle was wonderful to work with, and I would give a great big "GO FOR IT!" to anyone who might be considering changing their saddle to an Amera-flex panel. Thanks for making riding more fun and comfortable!!
Sincerely,
Pam J.
Shawano, WI

To: cindy
Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 8:42 PM
Subject: Saddle has arrived in SD

Dear Harold and Cindy,
The saddle arrived on Tuesday and was waiting when I got home from work.
I was so impressed with the workmanship, the tooling and just about everything you did to the "Sugar Bear"! The only thing that makes me mad, is that it's like -10 degrees below zero and I can't try it out yet.
But they say it may get into the 20's this weekend and you can bet I will be riding in it then!
I also want to mention that my hubby likes the OFF Billet and will probably be ordering a couple more of those, or he will be stealing mine!!
Will send photos when we get a decent day and put it on Annie.

Thanks again for such fast service, I love it!
Dorothy R.
Strandburg, SD

To: cindy@eldoradosaddle.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 3:35 PM
Subject: Thank you!

Harold and Cindy,

Thank you so much for doing such a wonderful job of adding the flex panel to our Peruvian saddle. It fits our horse with an asymmetrical wither very nicely! Also, thank you Cindy for making the pad to fit perfectly and for getting the black fleece I requested to make it with, it looks really nice! We will likely be getting another Peruvian saddle and if so I will be contacting you again to do the same flex panel and pad.

Thank you again,
Lori S.

08/11/06

The biothane leathers are great! and thanks for getting them out so fast. Have a great day!

Marie

08/12/06

I am so very pleased with my new saddle. it works for all of my horses and all three are very diffent in shape and size. the saddle sox are a wonderful invention too. thanks for getting me a saddle so quickly.
Jan Goethals
Royse City, Texas

From: Equibroke@aol.com
Date: 11/12/05 08:48:47
To: cindy@eldoradosaddle.com
Subject: Re: squeaky saddle


I cannot thank Cindy & Harold of El Dorado Saddle & Tack enough!!! I bought an American Flex saddle (made in Germany) a year ago. For the first 6 months I was a very "happy camper". Then in the spring it started squeaking. At first it was just a "small" squeak so I oiled the saddle. Then it got very loud and irritating. I called Hillview Farms and talked to Cathy (she was my retailer). She made some suggestions but nothing worked. I e-mailed the manufacturer in Germany and his response was to send it to him (I would have to pay to ship it there and back at a cost of $700.00 which was out of the question as far as I was concerned). I sent the saddle to Cathy and she rode it (we figured out later that she didn't ride it long enough) and thought the squeak was the leather leathers so we switched to biothane and she returned it to me. Still squeaked. Cathy then suggested I send it to Harold & Cindy at El Dorado Saddle since they were familiar with the saddles and they probably could figure out the problem. I did this. Harold worked on it and saw some obvious problems which he corrected and returned the saddle to me. (I might add that he worked on it over the week-end and sent it out to me immediately because he knew I had an endurance ride coming up and needed the saddle). I rode 2 days at the ride and on the 2nd day I heard the start of a squeak returning. I called Harold when I got home and he had me send the saddle back to him. He did some additional work on the saddle and returned it to me (he did not charge me for the work or shipping the saddle). At that time he told me that if this did not work he just didn't know what else to do. I used the saddle and it still squeaked. I called Harold to thank him & Cindy for everything they had done and to let them know that it still squeaked and I guessed the only thing left for me to do was to either send it to Germany (if I could get the manufacturerer to pay for it....not likely) or let a very expensive saddle ($2800.00) sit in my tack room. Harold called me back a few hours later and said that he couldn't give up on it. He asked me to return it again and he proceeded to borrow a horse so he could hear for himself where the noise was coming from and then worked on it some more. He returned the saddle to me again (no charge again either for the work or shipping) and I am so happy to report that the saddle no longer squeaks.

I would (and already have) like to recommend to anyone that is in the market for a saddle to go to Harold & Cindy of El Dorado Tack. I have never received such customer service. Keep in mind.....they did not make this saddle, nor did I purchase it from them. If I am ever in the market for a saddle again there is only one place that I will go to and that is El Dorado Tack. Thank you again Harold so much for not giving up.

Connie M.

Date: 09/23/05 22:09:34
To: Harold@eldoradosaddle.com
Subject: I am WAY overdue in thanking you:

Hi, Cindy & Harold - I have to apologize for not getting back to you MONTHS ago to thank you for adjusting my retrofitted dressage saddle (it was giving me - and the horse - a "recoil" effect at the trot, so you moved the panels further apart in the back). We have been soooo busy all summer building/repairing everything in sight since we moved that I have barely had time to ride - and when I DID have time I was riding in my McCall that you had also retrofitted for me some time ago. But last night I finally did find time to round up my English girth & stirrup leathers etc. and got to try out my retrofitted Courbette DeKunffy.

Frisco LOVED it and my position felt so much more correct and secure than it did before you made the adjustment!!!

I'm thrilled with it and I REALLY appreciate the time you took to get it "just right."

I also checked out the new panels on your website. Those look pretty nifty too and I think the new design will really give you an edge over the competition (not to mention your experience, workmanship and SUPERB customer service!). If/when I need replacement panels (or need another saddle retrofitted) it is good to know you can still fill this (crying) need. Is it okay if I continue to refer folks to you for retrofits? Everyone who sees my saddles seems to be pretty impressed & intrigued. The retrofit option fills a huge need in the market for a cost-effective way to get a great fit without having to hock the farm to buy a whole new saddle.

Thanks again & best of luck with your new location & products!!!! Feel free to use me (and Frisco) as references!!!!

Still grinning,

Candy O.
Star, ID

Date: 08/16/05 20:58:34
To: Harold Walters
Subject: Re: Orothflex repair

Dear Harold:

Thank you for taking the time to explain the different types of panels that are available for my Orthoflex saddle. You did a wonderful job repairing my saddle and replacing the broken panel. My saddle looks brand new and you had my saddle back to me in no time! You really do a beautiful job and I would highly recommend you to any one in need of any type of saddle repair. You are definitely a craftsman of the highest caliber. Thank you for your help in getting me back in the saddle again.

Sincerely, Anne H.

From: Susie
Date: 04/28/05
To: hrwalt@interlinc.net
Subject: Re: TAPADEROS

Harold & Cindy

The tapadero's are here. They are beautiful.

Thank you!
Susie

Dear Harold,
I got my saddle last week and I just love it!!! Thank you so much for adjusting those thigh block's, what a difference! My horsy is also really comfy with those new panels. The sweat patterns are great, no dry spots. As soon as I get a chance I will send you some pictures from my horse with the refurbished saddle. I am so pleased, the craftsmanship and materials used are just outstanding. Thank you again for such an super Job you done for me and my horse!!!!

Happy on the trails, Mady

Hi Harold & Cindy
Thank you for the update and website address. You converted a Rocking R Caliente for me last year (I think, time flys) and I am still very happy with it and more importanly so is my horse.

I was wondering if you ever made tapedero's? I have always wanted some to match my saddle. Nothing big, long or fancy, I am a trail rider. I just love a saddle with tapederos. Let me know if it is something you might do.

Thanks

Susie

Hello Harold

Got the saddle and it looks nice. I will be using it this coming weekend. I'm excited to ride it.
Thank you both very much!!!!

Al A.

I can't tell you how happy I am with the saddle you rebuilt for me - and my horse has never been happier - as soon as we put it on him & cinched him up & he took a few steps, he let out a big sigh of happiness & has never been "cinchy" or crabby about being saddled or ridden SINCE. You guys are GREAT!!!!!! I have recommended you & American-Flex to everyone I know. Hope you are in good health & that the New Year is the BEST EVER!!!

Thanks again!

Candy Eagle, ID

Hey you two !!!

I have over 20 hours in my tempe-all-around that you two fitted with the built-up stitch down seat. All is well. I'm sure glad you two could make it right for me. Thank you both for taking on the project. Great job !!

Al A.

So far, so good! My McCall western saddle was delivered yesterday. I am very happy with it ........... I must say that I appreciate VERY much that Cindy & Harold were kind enough to get the saddle back to me before the summer was over & also before they went on vacation. Harold called me during the retrofit and explained that he would need to build new skirts & remove the old ones. That probably would be good to let people know right up front (before they send their saddle in for a retrofit) as it does seem to be pretty much of a necessity for any "conventional" western saddle. I thought Harold did a VERY good job on the basketweave tooling and in matching the new leather to the original saddle. I also thought the price for THAT portion of the retrofit - $100 - was quite reasonable for the amount of work required. Despite my being somewhat disappointed in the cosmetics of the stitching, I am very pleased with how the saddle FITS and with all the other workmanship-related items. It was very gratifying to walk BEHIND my horse and see the panels flexing with his back. I hadn't ridden him the whole time my saddle was away being retrofitted. His back was sore from the "pre-retrofit" saddle, & I figured the time off would be therapeutic for him, though we continued to do groundwork. I was a little apprehensive climbing back on a relatively green 4- year-old after all this time, but he is a pretty mellow guy for his age & was QUITE agreeable about the whole thing, especially after he (apparently) realized that it was no longer inhibiting his freedom of movement. We're both smiling! (Of course we would smile MORE if we weren't in the middle of a record-breaking heat spell! - I highly recommend BABY POWDER for those hard-to- cool places on your itchy horses! I'd never tried it until this summer - got the idea when I saw a human baby obviously enjoying being powdered on a swelteringly hot day - now all the horses are BEGGING for THEIR powder too.) I took photos of the original saddle & when I find time I'll take some of the "post-retrofit" saddle - perhaps you can use them on your site. I noticed NO difference in how the saddle feels to ME - that is also quite gratifying! If anyone has concerns about how close one sits to the horse on an American- Flex saddle, I can now state with certainty that it is simply NOT AN ISSUE. It is no longer necessary to use a heavy pad so I feel at least as close to the horse as I did before, if not closer. I'd recommend this procedure (the retrofit) very highly (IF one's original saddle has sufficient room for the flex panels - which Harold said is not always the case on some narrower trees). I'm planning to have my dressage saddle retrofitted also (but I will probably have to save my allowance for a couple of weeks first!).

Thanks,
Candy O.
Eagle, ID

Hi Cindy,
So far, so good with the saddle. My horses are both happy, there is no bridging or loin rubbing on Hoss (he's the hard to fit one) I have been riding 2 to 3 hours, and yesterday rode for 4 hours and every time I take the saddle off (I used to dread that) his hair is flat, no loin rubbing and the sweat marks are good. I have been using normal padding nothing extra. He's walking out with his head low (this is a 3/4 arab) I was told he could never be shown western because he was to high headed, I don't show anyways, but...what a difference when the saddle fits.

Thank you
Susie