Dressage Saddles Bates Isabell Werth

[Caritas]

I have been looking for several months for a saddle that suits my horse. My saddler left me with an almost new, Bates Isabell Werth with Cair that my horse absolutly loves. Now, if I am completely honest I tried the Amerigo with a different saddler and loved it and the horse went well in it too. Now back to the Isabell, I think that it puts me in a good position but find it quite hard and "Bottom Numbing", is this because it has cair or because it is almost new and it will soften with use or will I just get used to it. It is definately not too small for me before anyone asks? I have never had a saddle with air before as my horse bronked when we put a Bates Innova on him so was quite sceptical when we tried it but as I said to my suprise, he loves it and goes well in it. Also, what do you guys think of Cair and does it help minimise back problems? Many thanks

 

[KatB]

Havent you already posted this?! I have a jump saddle with Cair, and love it. However, I dont think it makes much difference TBH to good flocking. As my physio said, compacted air is harder then flocking.... but my boy goes well in it.

Sure your boy would tell you if he disliked it, and I certainly cant complain about the quality of Bates saddles.

 

[Tierra]

Cair shouldnt make a saddle feel harder to you. How / what the seat is made of can make it feel hard though.

I dont use cair, i use flair and you can feel a difference between that and conventional flocking, but its not in how the seat feels, if you know what i mean.

I'd guess if the seat feels hard, it either needs wearing in or its just a saddle with a hard seat

(Dont have experience with them so cant comment).

Flair certainly helps minimise back problems but cair.. i dont know. Havent ever had any interest in reading about it

 

[vanessahook]

I personally have had a very bad experience with the saddle you describe. It was great for about a week, it was the first Cair saddle i have ridden in and thought it was very comfy and put me in a great position. However, it soon started slipping forward and crossing the spine in anything faster than walk. Obviously all saddles fit different horses differenlty but my horse has had to see the physio as her whole back was in spasm.