Flair users

ann-jen

ann-jen

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9 December 2004
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I have flair in my dressage saddle and it has been no bother at all until the saddle fitter came out a few weeks ago to see another horse so I thought I might as well get the saddle checked over while she was there. She looked at it and thought it could do with a little more air in the back and so she added 1 puff into the back and that was that.
The next time I rode in the saddle it was making a strange whooshing noise like there was air escaping from somewhere. When I took the saddle off the bags seemed full though. So I called the fitter back to check it anyway and typically when she came it didn't make a noise at all but to be on the safe side she emptied the bags and refilled them.
Even more typically the next time I used the saddle it started making the noise again. GRRRR! In my opinion the back left airbag seemed fractionally emptier on the horse with me in the saddle but obviously its difficult to check on board and I suppose it might be my weight twisting to look.
Anyway I rang the fitter again and she gave me some bull about oiling the saddle and then trying it again. It blatently isn't a creaky leather noise and last night was even worse with the noise.....but the saddle still appears to fit....my horse isn't objecting to it in anyway......but its blatently not right! So I know I'm going to have to ring the fitter again and insist that the saddle it checked again and probably be sent to the manufacturer to remove the panel and investigate. I'm so looking forward to this conversation LOL.
Sorry just letting off steam a bit and wondered if anyone else had problems - the air bags aren't empty so it can't have a mega leak but its obviously not right....just a bit frustrated and wondered if anyone else had experienced anything similar.
 
i trialled flair for a few weeks (fitted to horse by saddler) - horse seemed to like it at first then protested more and more about being ridden and ended up chucking me off! i felt the bags were leaking a bit too - saddler said nope... also felt ridges between the bags... saddler said normal...
so i gave up - at least flocking doesn't leak!
wink.gif

sorry - not much help but i was the same - insistant something was not right but saddler insistant it was
 
I've had loads of problems with flair saddles, from airbags deflating, to them moving completley. I've sold mine and now just have good old traditional flocked saddles. My horses go sooo much better in flocking anyway! If you do a search on here for the main brands of flair saddles (and flair in general) you will probably find plenty of people who have had similar experiances to you.
 
Thanks for the replies. I've been riding in flair saddles for years now and this is the first time I've suspected the airbag to be damaged in some way.
I've spoken to my saddle fitter again and she immediately agreed to send the saddle back to the manufacturer to be looked at so hopefully it'll be sorted soon.
 
There is an issue with the overlap of the front and back airbags in Flaired saddles for many horses. The answer I have found is to use a geleze, which is too thin to affect the fit but completely eliminates the "ridge between the bags" problem, which some horses find upsetting.

I don't think you could ride on an airbag which is leaking enough to cause a whooshing noise and not have it go flat. Mine will go flat if I ride on them and there is the slightest lack of seal in the end of the tube.

Can you let us know what the saddler says when they see it?

Thanks!
 
Would it be possible that the saddler hasnt closed the valves between the bags so the air is moving between the bags as you ride?
I can't think what else would make a sound like that.
Do let us know!! Hope you get it sorted soon.
 
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