Bates CAIR saddles

alicep

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16 March 2007
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hey guys what are your opinions on these saddles? i have an ex racer who has a bit of muscle wastage in the saddle area and really high withered. i currently have a thorowgood thoroughbred synthetic saddle which is great as you can change about the fish when needed but now i feel i want to be a big girl and declare myself bankrupt and have a real leather one!!!!
 
I personally do not like cair as you can not adjust it, I am a fan of flair and then also the Korrector pad
 
Hmm well i reserved judgement but just bought one for my 4 year old who is constantly changing shape. Now it fits him really well, and he is clearly comfortable in it. I wanted one so I could change the gullet size as and when. Mine is the close contact and seems okay, and is certainly doing the job for now. Think the cair system will really benefit your TB.
 
I bought one in April after a lot of research and saving!!! I'm very happy with it. Fab leather. My boy has changed shape and the saddle fitter is coming out 6th Aug to re-fit. At least the re-fitting is easy and doesn't mean another new saddle. I can reccommend my saddler, he was the only one who knew all about the Bates saddles and how to fit them. Many saddlers stock them but don't really know how to fit them. I bought the Bates saddle for the following reasons:
1. the horse is not mine and the saddle has to fit me and whatever horse for the rest of my life.
2. the horse changes shap two or three times a year.
3. the price of it!
PM me if you want my saddlers details. He's based in West Mids but travels just about anywhere. Takes his time with the hores, checks back etc etc.
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Hmm well I've just sold one and wouldn't get another to be honest, when I bought it it fitted beautifully but in the last year I had it adjusted by a saddler and we just couldn't get it to fit at all. My horse had muscled up and if the front fitted the back didn't and vice versa. I think like all saddles they fit some horses and not others but the way they are marketed makes you think they will fit any and everything.
 
ok well i now think my best bet is to let saddler come see her and give me his opinion. i have a limited budget but wouldnt mind 2nd hand in good condition as long as it fits. over here martin wilkinson and ian hastilow visit regularly so they are my only options as we dont have a saddler of our own!
 
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