Anyone got any views as to the benefits or cons of an air bag type saddle (e.g. flair) in comparison to traditional flocking? Is it really as good as it sounds or is it just clever marketing?
Flair Saddles vs Traditional Flock
- Thread starter KJW
- Start date
Come on guys, I need some answers because I want a saddle for my yearling so I can gallop around the fstubble fields in a pelham with a standing martingale on and jump hedges stabbing him hard with spurs and whipping him each step......
Not really, of course, but hoped that might help induce the odd response
Not really, of course, but hoped that might help induce the odd response
i think the main benefit of a flair over flocking is that much smaller changes can be made much easier, ie with some horses, their muscles change weekly if they are doing something new so a tiny change in how much air can be very beneficial, and quick, rather than getting saddle reflocked.
lighter aswel!
lighter aswel!
Advantages - lighter, more even pressure distribution, no lumps and bumps
Disadvantages - colder, more easily damaged, will put pressure on all of the area equally, whereas with flocking you can avoid an area if necessary, shorter lifespan maybe.
I think for both types the important thing is that the tree fits the horse, in width and the curve along the spine (nothing worse than a bridging or rocking saddle).
Disadvantages - colder, more easily damaged, will put pressure on all of the area equally, whereas with flocking you can avoid an area if necessary, shorter lifespan maybe.
I think for both types the important thing is that the tree fits the horse, in width and the curve along the spine (nothing worse than a bridging or rocking saddle).
We have both, I wouldn't pay any extra for it.
It does give the rider a different feel, I cant really explain it but you get used to it. Bit like driving a different car, dont notice after 5 minutes.
I cant say the horses are bothered, one has one of each.
Not as easy to get the saddler to adjust the fit although they can stick some suffing under the flair panels I believe.
It does give the rider a different feel, I cant really explain it but you get used to it. Bit like driving a different car, dont notice after 5 minutes.
I cant say the horses are bothered, one has one of each.
Not as easy to get the saddler to adjust the fit although they can stick some suffing under the flair panels I believe.
Come on guys, I need some answers because I want a saddle for my yearling so I can gallop around the fstubble fields in a pelham with a standing martingale on and jump hedges stabbing him hard with spurs and whipping him each step......
Not really, of course, but hoped that might help induce the odd response
Teehee, sorry, made me laugh!
Not very good at saddles other than to say I always wondered, what happens if the air filled ones pop...? Can you get, like puncture repair kits?
Yay, thanks everyone 
Am beginning to think that the advantages may not justify the price. And as Alejandra says, I guess the key thing is to find something that truly fits the horse which may well be traditional flocking.
DoeyL, I have no idea what happens if you pop an airbag whilst riding - knowing my flipping luck you probably go off like a released balloon! PHHHHHWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Am beginning to think that the advantages may not justify the price. And as Alejandra says, I guess the key thing is to find something that truly fits the horse which may well be traditional flocking.DoeyL, I have no idea what happens if you pop an airbag whilst riding - knowing my flipping luck you probably go off like a released balloon! PHHHHHWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
they're not air bags they're more like sponges haha
i've had "cair" (same difference) and yes you can put bits of flocking up over the cair but it just pushes the air to either side rather than just adjusting that 1 area, so unless it fits straight off and doesnt need adjusting, your best bet is flocking. which i learnt the hard way
Cair is slightly different to Flair - not sure of the specifics, but apparently a lot of horses that get on with Flair can't stand Cair. Worth mentioning in case no one else does - it came up a few times on previous threads and I hadn't been aware of the difference until then.
The difference between Cair and Flair.
Cair are sealed air bags you cannot alter the air in them.
Flair are adjustable air bags and they can be altered.
WOW saddles are good for alot of (but not all) horses who are continuallly changing shape.
No one has yet made a saddle to fit all horses, not even treeless.
Cair are sealed air bags you cannot alter the air in them.
Flair are adjustable air bags and they can be altered.
WOW saddles are good for alot of (but not all) horses who are continuallly changing shape.
No one has yet made a saddle to fit all horses, not even treeless.
had a flair n hated it n my new saddle fitter isnt that keen either if i was you id go for the trad
I have a WOW saddle which I think is brilliant. I am not sure if it is the air or the different style of tree that made the difference to my horse but I am a big fan
they're not air bags they're more like sponges haha
i've had "cair" (same difference) and yes you can put bits of flocking up over the cair but it just pushes the air to either side rather than just adjusting that 1 area, so unless it fits straight off and doesnt need adjusting, your best bet is flocking. which i learnt the hard way
The flair saddles are air bads. there are two in the front and two in the back and they are liteally pumped up. the cair system is totally different as it is mainly foam with a small level of air.
some horses dont like the flair system so you can actually flock the front and have flair at the back
Hiya
When I was ready to back my horse when she was 4 (she's now 6) I got a collegiate saddle which had been converted to flair. I thought this would be a really versatile as I could get the air and the gullet adjusted as she changed shape. However it was a complete nightmare!!! I had 18 months of saddle fitting issues. If she spooked and I was thrown one way it felt as if all the air rushed to the other side of the saddle and pushed me further out! I had lessons with a Grand Prix dresssage rider/trainer who said that I was trying to sit properly but the saddle was unbalancing me every time my horse spooked and when she tried it she couldn't ride in it either. I tried two different registered flair fitters but no joy - it just didn't seem to suit me or my horse at all even when air was adjusted (and both flair fitters had totally different opinions on how much air should be in there). I've since got two very old and comfy Ideal saddles with flocking. The first one I've never had a problem with and the second one I was told didn't fit and was recommended to buy a thorowgood cob saddle which I did. I've since had another saddler out and he said the other Ideal would fit it just needed to be re-flocked - which he did and so far no problems (I just wish I'd seen him first!!!). I asked him about Flair and he said that he has more problems with flair saddles then anything else. So in my experience you can't go wrong with a good old fashioned bit of wool flocking and a decent saddler of course!
As far as cair goes as they are sealed air pockets I can't understand how you would be able to adjust them if you need to, I would think that wool flocking would be softer, bed down to suit horse shape and can be adjusted a certain amount by re-flocking by a saddler.
When I was ready to back my horse when she was 4 (she's now 6) I got a collegiate saddle which had been converted to flair. I thought this would be a really versatile as I could get the air and the gullet adjusted as she changed shape. However it was a complete nightmare!!! I had 18 months of saddle fitting issues. If she spooked and I was thrown one way it felt as if all the air rushed to the other side of the saddle and pushed me further out! I had lessons with a Grand Prix dresssage rider/trainer who said that I was trying to sit properly but the saddle was unbalancing me every time my horse spooked and when she tried it she couldn't ride in it either. I tried two different registered flair fitters but no joy - it just didn't seem to suit me or my horse at all even when air was adjusted (and both flair fitters had totally different opinions on how much air should be in there). I've since got two very old and comfy Ideal saddles with flocking. The first one I've never had a problem with and the second one I was told didn't fit and was recommended to buy a thorowgood cob saddle which I did. I've since had another saddler out and he said the other Ideal would fit it just needed to be re-flocked - which he did and so far no problems (I just wish I'd seen him first!!!). I asked him about Flair and he said that he has more problems with flair saddles then anything else. So in my experience you can't go wrong with a good old fashioned bit of wool flocking
and a decent saddler of course!As far as cair goes as they are sealed air pockets I can't understand how you would be able to adjust them if you need to, I would think that wool flocking would be softer, bed down to suit horse shape and can be adjusted a certain amount by re-flocking by a saddler.
newrider.com