Cair vs. Conventional Flocking

[CanadianRider]

Yesterday there was a saddler from the US at my barn during my lesson. He was at the barn doing saddle fittings and cair trials during my lesson. I was grooming my lesson horse and he was checking out the fit of a horse right next to me. The horses saddle ended having a few pressure points from uneven flocking. The saddler suggested that the owner, who is planning on getting a new saddle buy one with the Cair system. I listened in while he was explaining how it works and eliminates pressure points and distributes the weight evenly.

I came home last night and spent some time looking up Cair on the internet. My first impression was negative as I thought that when you sat in the saddle and copressed the air that it would get hard, but I guess so would wool flocking.

I was wondering what everyone here thinks of Cair?

[Tiber]

My pony used to be in a conventionallt flocked saddle but as she has slightly uneven back muscles it was uncomfortable for her and wouldn't sit straight. I got her a wintec cair saddle and she has really built up a lot of muscle under the saddle now - so much that the saddle is now too narrow and I need to look for another one for her...

[Sophini]

CAIR has a really bad reputation round our area as you can not adjust the air panels in the saddle just add more or less flocking around them - i know of a lot of people who have had their CAIR panels removed and gone back to an ordinary flocked saddle

I have used FLAIR saddles before with some great results - the horse has more freedom in their back and the paces and jump become a lot more extravagent and fluid. the difference with FLAIR is that there is no flocking and the saddle is fitted by adding or removing some of the air. They take a bit of time to get used to and some horses will buck a bit at first but i have found that overall they can be more beneficial then a normal flocked saddle

[andreaB]

i have a bates with cair & love it

[MeMe]

I havent met a single person or horse that likes it, some even started bad behaviour after having it fitted to their saddles bucking and all constantly.

One instance the Cair burst and the horse went mad and put the rider in hospital, I know thats prob very very rare, but all the same, I wouldent run the risk of it.

[galadriel]

The CAIR saddles that I've seen don't sit well. I dislike them intensely. They don't flare properly to the back or the sides; I've seen some pretty awful pressure points caused by the "one size fits all" that doesn't come *close* to fitting. Just because its air doesn't mean that the saddle is overall the right shape for the horse.

If there are pressure points in a saddle due to uneven flocking, then just get the darn thing reflocked. Uneven flocking is a Bad Thing.

[swerve]

I tried a Wintec Pro Dressage with Cair, but I felt like I was constantly 'bouncing', which made my horse uncomfortable and he hollowed and raised his head even higher than normal(he's 'looky' with a high headset). The saddle-fitter was impressed by the balance and fit of the saddle and really thought I should get it, but I rode in it about six or seven times(the one I tried belonged to a friend), and everytime I got in it I hated it. My lower back started getting sore while I rode in it, and Skye started sinking his back away when I approached him with it, and bucking transitions into canter.
I've also tried a Korrector saddle pad with the same result, minus the 'sinking away' when I approached with it.
I got the same saddle with flocking, had it fitted, and haven't had any problems.

[Naturally]

I personally love CAIR and also ride with a theraflex air pad as well as my Wintec Wide CAIR saddle.

However, whatever you choose, please consider that the saddle is about the horse not the human. Choose what fits him and will enable his muscles to maintain and not atrophe.

I recently had to move WAY out of my comfort zone and go from an Australian Stock Saddle into an All Purpose. I hated the mere thought of it, but when I realised how much better my horse was in the AP, I just had to bite the bullet and learn to adapt. It was easier than I thought just BTW.

Anyway, that's my main thing. I believe that CAIR or FLAIR is in the best interest of the horse, but even if it's flocked, it has to be about the horse. It's his back your riding on. ;)

[Cochise]

It's one of those things that either works for you and your horse or it doesn't. In my area, most people hate it. But it comes down to what is best for the horse really. In theory it sounds like a brilliant idea, and if you want my opinion, I steer clear because the system won't work for my horse, due to his shape of back. :)

[Naturally]

Genuine curiosity here Cochise and I am really interested in Saddle Fitting, but what is so different about the shape of your horses back?

[Stella2]

I have ridden my mare in Bates CAIR saddles (initially a GP, then a dressage) for 14 months. She has reamined comfortable. The muscle on her back has been building beautifully and I find it very comfortable too - So happy all around :)

[Cochise]

Genuine curiosity here Cochise and I am really interested in Saddle Fitting, but what is so different about the shape of your horses back?

I am no expert in saddle fit, in fact I am just relaying what my saddler told me :)
My horse has a straight back with a high wither, but the Cair just isn't a system that will work for us.

[Naturally]

Straight back and high wither can be a difficult combination. I'm really no expert either, but am on a steep learning curve with this one.

We are experimenting with using the Wintec Wide saddles at the moment and the Theraflex Air Pad. It's a combination of air on air, but it's increadible how it works. Once you adjust for the right amount of air in the pad, it put's you in the best seat position possible..i.e. right on your point of balance. It's doesn't matter what shape your horse is as the air pad takes care of that.

The Wintec Wide saddles have an extra wide tree, allowing for problem backs such as straight, because it gives the horse full range of movement and doesn't inhibit the muscles building. I've seen them on straight backed, high withered TB's, Arabs, and short and long backed QH's .

There is no way a conventional saddle fitter would fit this saddle to my horse, as it sits flat on his back without a pad, but when you use it with the air pad it's an amazing result, even with the weight of the rider! :o

Not trying to convert anyone here, just a recent experience that has been mindblowing and I thought worthy of sharing.

[Kanuma]

i dont like them, ive ridden stan in one before and will never do it again. i had his current saddle made for him and my saddler will happily reflock it for me if i give him some time.

[Cochise]

Interestingly enough, I had my saddler out today. The Wintec 2000 is out of here, he's changed shape so much, so I am selling it and the Wintec 500 dressage with an extra wide gullet looks good at this stage. I have the saddle on trial for a while, so we'll see.:) Both are in flock.

[varkie]

I have an Isabelle Werth dressage saddle with Cair, and my horse loves it. She had a back injury some time ago, and has recovered from this while in the Cair. I ride two horses in it, and both move freer & happier, and I find it very comfortable. I actually mistrust traditional flocking more than the Cair!