Cair/Air filled saddle panels

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poiuytrewq

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Whats peoples opinion on these please?
Are they more or less comfy for the horse and how (or do you need too) do you add/remove air if required?
Thanks
 
I think Cair saddles canot be adjusted.
But saddles with the flair system can the saddler and put air in and out as needed , I have three dressage saddles on the flair system they are different sizes and I use them when I get a new horse , they wear them until they have developed then I buy them a flocked dressage saddle that "theirs".
I did have flair on a couple of jumping saddles but I disliked them so sold them .
I find comfortable enough but they are hideous if overinflated however I prefer to ride in a well fitted wool flocked saddle .
 
I had cair (which isn't adjustable), and thought they were OK, then I got my flocked saddle.... no comparison, both horse and I are a lot happier.
 
Had a cair saddle, hated it, but had flair put into another saddle and loved it. Think its down to the fact that flair is adjusted to a particular horse and cair is not adjustable. However, have now gone back to wool (new saddle) and am very happy with it.
 
No experience of Cair but my horse had a Flair saddle - never had any problem with it TBH and I couldn't really feel the difference to flocking - I imagine the overall fit and correct adjustment is more important in that respect? An over-inflated saddle would definitely be horrible - but so would an over-flocked saddle!

My horse never had any issues and I only got rid of the saddle because he changed shape over a few years so much it no longer fitted.

New saddle is flocked - not out of choice - it was just the saddle that fitted the best. I wouldn't go to the expense of replacing the flocking with flair as it feels the same to me so don't see the point - but I wouldn't have had any problem with buying a flair saddle again if it was a good fit for my horse.
 
All mine have cair and they go fab in them.....if they are fitted by a cair fitter ( as they are supposed to be) you shouldn't have a problem.
Would never have a flocked saddle again.
 
Pongwiffy said:
No experience of Cair but my horse had a Flair saddle - never had any problem with it TBH and I couldn't really feel the difference to flocking - I imagine the overall fit and correct adjustment is more important in that respect? An over-inflated saddle would definitely be horrible - but so would an over-flocked saddle!

My horse never had any issues and I only got rid of the saddle because he changed shape over a few years so much it no longer fitted.

New saddle is flocked - not out of choice - it was just the saddle that fitted the best. I wouldn't go to the expense of replacing the flocking with flair as it feels the same to me so don't see the point - but I wouldn't have had any problem with buying a flair saddle again if it was a good fit for my horse.[/QUOTE

The difference is an over flocked saddle does not fit the horse but it's perfectly possible for the air bags to be full of air and fitting the horse but riding on them is turely hideous
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Should have added horses who are very senestive to point pressure do not do well in flair saddles air always moves away from pressure this is I think why I was never happy jumping in mine I could feel the air moving as I landed over fences however this only seemed to me to be an issue at about 1.30 small fences seemed fine.
I parted with all my jumping ones as I said.
 
Should have added horses who are very senestive to point pressure do not do well in flair saddles air always moves away from pressure this is I think why I was never happy jumping in mine I could feel the air moving as I landed over fences however this only seemed to me to become an issue at about 1.30 small fences seemed fine.
I parted with all my jumping ones as I said.
 
I've seen pictures of the cair bags (for want of a better word) that have come out of a saddle, they were different sizes, different shapes and talking to the person that took them out, they were rock hard. They weren't made of a nice softish type rubber, it was a hard plastic.
 
Am on my second Flair saddle and I love the system. A friend of mine has a saddle with Cair and it's rock hard by comparison- certainly can't see the advantage in that and wouldn't want to ride in it! IME if the Flair is adjusted correctly- and the tree is the correct shape / size for the horse, then the Flair should never need to be 'pumped up' so far that it is rigid with no give in it-this would totally defeat the object. My horses have both gone really well in the Flair- one from backing the other as a newly backed youngster so I would have no problems recommending others to try. Having said all this, I have heard that some horses do not seem to like the Flair - also, I do not jump in mine.
What does puzzle me though thonking about all this,is how you would adjust a saddle with the Cair system if it's not adjustable like wool or Flair? Or am I not understanding something?
 
I had an bates saddle (cair?) fitted, horse was unhappy in it, got another saddler who diagnosed a burst air bag!!! She said it might not have been like that when last saddler fitted it and may have recently burst.
Personally would never trust one again! Plus, I think there are too many flair/cair "fitters" who may not necessarily be experienced and qualified saddlers.
(Sorry for shortish abrupt reply... iPhone!)
 
My Cair saddle is softer than any other flocked saddle I have had - and I can't feel any difference in it from a flocked saddle. But it's one of the new Bates ones which are much better than the older ones. It's the best fitting saddle I could find for my TB mare. Having said that, I had it fitted by a proper Cair trained fitter - I wouldn't have been happy fitting it myself.
However if you asked me whether I would have another Cair saddle......I still think I prefer flock - no idea why - I just do!
 
My cair saddle is also nice and soft, but like the last poster it's a Bates not a Wintec so maybe that makes a difference. There is some adjustability to the cair, newer Bates saddles can be adjusted by the owner using pads which go between the seat and the panel (so not against the horse) and make the panel deeper as needed, these can be bought from a tack shop. Even the older ones can be adjusted in a similar way, they just need to be done by a cair trained saddler. My horse goes very well in hers, her GP is flock and was made to measure and she goes as well in the Bates dressage with cair as she does in that.
 
I have a WOW dressage saddle fitted with the air bags and it is fabulous! It has made a huge difference to both my riding and B's way of going (until he went lame but that's a long and very different story and not saddle related!).
I had a saddler come out and fit it where we fitted and adjusted and I then rode in it. Whilst I was on him and then off she adjusted the air and although I'm not a professional it looked like it was fitted great. A friend also jumps him in it and I hack and have never had any issues, I completely love it. Had B not went lame I was due to get the saddler out to check and 're-fill' if needed as it would be one year since I bought the saddle and he had started to change shape. From my own findings it seems to be some horses and equally riders either love or hate the air systems!
 
What's the difference between Cair and Flair? And with either, can you adjust the "filling" in specific areas, ie if you need a little more in the front? :)
 
Flair you can have the panels adjusted by adding or taking out air, Cair panels are sealed but can have pads put in between them and the seat to give some adjustment in the depth of the panel and so the fit.
 
mainpower said:
What's the difference between Cair and Flair? And with either, can you adjust the "filling" in specific areas, ie if you need a little more in the front? :)
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In Cair the air in the bags can not be adjusted with flair the back and front of the saddle pumps up or deflated separately.
 
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