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  Discussion on Air panels on saddles - how do they work?
Author Message
Member:
Canderso

Posted on Monday, Dec 30, 2002 - 8:17 am:

I am curious about those saddles that have air rather than flocking. What happens as temperature changes?

Wouldn't the volume decrease (deflate) at lower temperatures and increase (inflate) at higher temperatures?

I expect the rider and horse's body temperature would regulate this over the period of work, but how does this affect warm up? Do you notice anything?

Cheryl
(yup, slow day at work!!!)
Member:
Liza

Posted on Monday, Dec 30, 2002 - 10:32 am:

Hi Cheryl,

If you are talking about the "Cair" panels, they are actually not filled with air but made up of several layers of gel and other material.

We have been fortunate to have access to one of the best saddle fitters around, Ray Morris. He is from NZ, but comes to NC about 4-6 times a year for clinics and fittings. Works with vets concerning lameness issues and saddle fit also.

Anyway-to make a long story short..I bought one of the new air panel saddles thinking it would be good. When Ray came to fit my saddle, the first thing he did was take it out. Apparently it is similar to gel pads which constantly move pressure points. You may think your horse is moving better in the begining because the sore points have moved, but over a period of time it just makes things worse. If your saddle is stuffed properly with wool flocking, placed in the corect position on the horse (which few people know)and wide enough for him/her (which they rarely are)then it is the best you can do.

Depending on how much riding you do, the flocking can be readjusted anywhere from 1 to 4 times a year.
Member:
Horsepix

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 30, 2003 - 1:48 pm:

I have had no problems with the Cair pannels as long as the tree is properly fit for the horse.

Can I ask what kind of saddle you're using? One of the things I have found is that the Bates Caprilli saddles, readily available in the US don't fit most of the horses here. The tree is to narrow and even changing the gullets doesn't help. Cair pannels or not, your horse's back will still be sore if the tree is too narrow.

The Bates saddle that I've had the most luck with it the Maestro. The tree has a wider twist and was designed to fit most horses.

There is much more to saddle fitting than the type of flocking used (be it wool, air, gel, etc). If the tree doesn't fit your horse's back, it doesn't matter what kind of flocking you have.
Member:
Gillb

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003 - 4:46 am:

Just my personal experience; I had a Bates cair panelled saddle (fitted by a 'professional') which was the worst fit my horse has ever had. It gave him loads of problems; he got so sore after riding he would nearly sit down when I ran my fingers over his back, and later came out in very hard lumps all over the panel area which have not gone away (nearly two years later).

After reading the advertising which claims that cair 'virtually eliminates all pressure points' I can only say that this saddle caused more problems than any other my horse has had.

I would never use anything other than wool flocking again.
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