Saddle fitting help required

[carolinec]

Hi Heather

According to the Wintec site CAIR is "There are two independently sealed Air Cushions within each Saddle Panel. Air being a fluid medium will constantly adapt to the horse’s working muscles"
It doesn't say that the panels are stuffed with anything, they are supposed to be cushions filled with just air. I don't know if I will keep the saddle long term or not but so far Pip seems comfortable in it or I wouldn't be riding in it at all.

[heathera]

I think it's what is meant by 'air cushions' that is the debatable point. The two stripped down ones that I've seen have been foam with air blown through it to create air bubbles - hence cushions with air in or air cushions.

If he seems happy and the panels have a 'squidginess' to them rather than feeling solid and hard then go with it but keep an eye on his back muscles and watch out for them going hard at all.

[zeldalithgow]

I always thought they were filled with air, I had to have a real good look on the Wintec site to find this. Thanks for letting us know that Heather

Air is captured at atmospheric pressure in an open-celled foam and sealed in the Air Cushion. Once the air cushion is welded the open-celled foam becomes irrelevant, as it is the air trapped in the cushion, which is doing the work

Taken from this page www.cairpanelsystem.com/whatIsCAIR/howItWorks.htm

[Debbie]

As another shiatsu practioner, I'm going to echo Heather. I was seriously not impressed with the CAIR system.


The thing I was not impressed about was the ungiving nature of the panels. The Cair saddles I encountered felt extremely hard, and lumpy in places and certainly not giving. I found it was the pony's muscles that were doing the giving (and atrophying).

Some of the new synthetics are brilliant and we can't learn new methods and materials unless they are tried for awhile; however, you need to be aware that foam does break down and change, and that air can be hard when inflated to a certain point. It can be very ungiving rather than "fluid". Combine that with bits of harden foam (which can happen over the course of months or years) and it leads to a recipe for disaster.

Clearly if it is working for your pony, and you are both happy, then carry on, but as with any saddle, keep an eye on their back. Feel for any hot spots or tender parts prior to saddling up and again after a hack.

[carolinec]

At the end of the day, ALL saddles have their positives & negatives don't they?

I have heard numerous stories about badly fitting flocked saddles, treeless saddles and now CAIR. It's all about personal choice and ensuring that your horse/pony is happy.

[zeldalithgow]

Indeed they do Caroline Maybe one day the perfect saddle will be invented

[AliandDolly]

i have no experience of the wintec wide other than on cobs at my old riding school but Dolly has a Barnsby hunter/showing saddle in a 5 width which is the widest they come in, When she first came to us it was perched on her with alot of clearance at the wither, as she lost weight it fitted her perfectly..... now she has lost alot of weight it is far far to big for her!!

aliix

[carolinec]

That's what I'm worried about Ali, buying Pip a saddle now that doesn't fit once he's slimmer & fitter.
He seems happy enough in the Wintec for the time being & I'm saving up for a new saddle (and a professional saddle fitter).

[mickey]

It's a minefield and what suits one wont necessarily suit another.. Becky has a stubben jumping saddle that I didn't think was the best of fits. I spent over 1k on a prestige saddle, fitted and adjusted to her and she made it very clear she wasn't happy after a few months. I've ended up back with the stubben and a prolite front riser which she is happy with!
Oz has 3 saddles- a whitaker jumping saddle which is similar to the prestige in that the tree can be widened or narrowed by a couple of sizes each way using a heat machine and the more traditional dressage and showing saddles.
Since getting his whitaker it's had to be widened as he's matured so for me it had to be adjustable if it was expensive.

[SuzieP]

Emily is right, saddle fitting is a minefield.

I have to say though, that you are a very caring owner, Caroline and it's clear that Pip's wellbeing is at the forefront of your dilemma. You're not hung up on a type, make or style of saddle - just what is right for Pip and as comfortable as possible for you. If he's going OK in his Wintec for now, then that's great. Relax and enjoy xx

And when you've saved up for a new saddle, we'll all help you spend your money LOL

[AliandDolly]

im doing the same saving up to get Dollys saddle adjusted or buy a new one, she is ok in it at the moment she only objected when i played with raiser pads but once they went she was back to normal..

ahh it is a mind field getting a saddle to fit however a good gadget that my friend hired a while back is the impressions pad it fits under the saddle and you ride in it and see where the pressure focuses on the horses back. www.western-saddler.co.uk/plipinfo.shtml

alixx

[carolinec]

Thanks Ali that's really interesting.
I've heard of the pad but not of anyone hiring one.It might be worth it just to put my mind at rest about Pip's saddle.

[SuzieP]

That pad looks interesting - thanks for posting Ali.

[cutemangurdi1]

Maria- thewesternsaddler- is a very good fitter and full of good advice if you want to talk things over. I'd thoroughly recommend her.

[harveydales]

Yes, that's interseting Ali. We should consider hiring one to put our minds at rest about Dolly.