Foam CC Saddles Vs Flocked

[Firewell]

With a foam saddle do you have to have a narrower size than a flocked saddle because they fit so much closer?

We don't have any saddle fitters here so I'm having to fit a saddle myself. I also need a foam saddle because there are no fitters to adjust and maintain flocking. On top of that my TB has long high withers so saddles do have a tendancy to sit low on him and slip back.

At the moment I am considering a medium width Barnsby close contact jump saddle with foam panels. Pessoa with bayflex panels and XCH changeable gullet and an American brand Ovation CC with changeable gullet and a second hand equipe with a medium gullet (which I actually think might be too wide so I think I've discounted this one).

Any help?

 

[PorkChop]

I have foam and flocked saddles - both made by the same people - I much prefer the foam, you feel much closer to the horse.

I have foam jumping and flocked dressage and afaik they are both the same tree size - it is brilliant not to have to worry about having it re-flocked

 

[philamena]

How interesting, do people not use fitters so much there then?

Not totally on topic but my osteo suggests always using a wool or sheepskin backed saddlecloth with foam saddles because the heat and density are different from flocking, and she says long term use of foam without wool between can affect the muscles under the panels.

 

[Firewell]

Thank you. They do but the fitters only sell their brand and they sell new saddles mainly. We have a Stubben fitter in town (I don't want a stubben). Who fitted a brand new stubben dressage saddle on to the smallest fattest table top pony at the yard. It is obviously the wrong type of saddle for the pony and slips around but her poor owner spent 4k on this saddle because again... only fitter!

We have fitters for the higher end saddles CWD and County two hours away and they travel up but they are $5000 saddles and theres no way I'm paying that much for something that may/may not fit again in a year. They also charge $300 just to come up and again only do their brand.

We have a general guy in town but he's mainly western. I'm not sure he would be much help with an English saddle.

I'm starting to wish I had qualified as a fitter with the society of master saddlers before I left England. I would have TONS of work lol.

Luckily I know enough to see what obviously does not fit. For instance I can easily see my wool flocked Kieffers are now sitting too low and in need of adjusting/replacing. It's like trying to look into a crystal ball though buying a saddle without seeing it sat on the horse first!

 

[philamena]

Lordy, sounds like a nightmare! Poor ponies :-(

 

[Wheels]

Just something to consider, my horse didn't like foam panels, we got lots of shuffling about, a bit of bucking, unusual amount of spooking. Got the same saddle in wool flock and immediately well behaved horse

 

[wench]

Wouldn't it be worthwhile giving the "general" guy a ring? Worse he can say is no?

Eta is there anyone that does thermal imaging near you ?

 

[marmalade76]

How interesting, do people not use fitters so much there then?

Not totally on topic but my osteo suggests always using a wool or sheepskin backed saddlecloth with foam saddles because the heat and density are different from flocking, and she says long term use of foam without wool between can affect the muscles under the panels.

This. Foam saddles are also not ideal for heavier riders (though I know this does not apply to you!) or those who spend a lot of hours in the saddle, long hacks, out all day hunting, etc, and should be used with a decent amount of padding.

 

[Firewell]

That's Ok. I have a lovely sheepskin pad. He's being jumped in a borrowed foam close contact at the moment and he's going really well in it.
I did contact the general guy and I took my saddle to him to be reflocked. He kept it for 3 weeks and then rang me up and said he didn't have the wool to do It! I picked it up and he said he would call me when he gets the wool and that was weeks ago. He also doesn't come out to do fittings on English saddles. I have therefore assumed he is either really busy or he can't do it...
Don't feel too sorry for the horses here! Most of them are ridden in brand new CWD and Antares with Oligivy memory foam pads. I just cannot justify the cost of thousands and thousands but most people seem happy to throw whatever it takes at the issue!

 

[TheCurlyPony]

Hi

Try Kit,

http://pantherrunsaddlery.com/

She may not be near you but you can give you a lot of advise. Her website and blog is also very helpful. You can template yourself and send them to her. She is very very experienced, and really knows her stuff.

Hope this helps.

 

[VRIN]

A foam saddle does not have the option for adjustment like a flocked saddle. What happens as the horse muscles up or loses condition through the year? They don't tend to stay the same shape

 

[Scarlett]

I had 2 Barnsby jump saddles, same model and width, one flocked and one foam panel. They both fitted the same horse initially. The issue was that as he bulked out the flock one didn't fit but the foam one seemed to adapt to him.

I have ditched flock saddles and all 4 TB's are in a foam panel, all are still in med width trees - I have 2 older Barnsbys that I adore, an Equipe and am selling my Frank Baines as I have another Equipe arriving today. The foam panels do mould to the horse incredibly well and I find that one saddle does fit more than one horse. I have a couple of Ecogold numnahs with removable shims and a Le Mieux sheepskin with pockets and shims for when I need too. This seems to be the best way to encourage the horse to muscle up and I am careful about monitoring which saddle and pad each horse needs.

I have an older TB who came to me cold backed, even with a well fitted flock saddle and a sheepskin he was uncomfortable being tacked up and mounted, went to a foam panel old Barnsby CC saddle and he was instantly better. My super sensitive mare was transformed by the purchase of an Equipe saddle. I've also now bought an foam panel dressage saddle.

I used to roll my eyes at folk who used foam panel saddles with a pad and put them on more than one horse but now I can see why it works. The saddles are so much more adaptable than flocked.

From a rider point of view flock saddles seem so bulky now - I recently tried an Albion CC that was flocked. I wanted to love it but there was just to much saddle between me and the horse.

 

[lucemoose]

my TB x was in a foam lemetex and it was very well suited to him.

 

[mega spoilt ponies]

My saddles are bespoke and the panels are flocked with Composite felt, foam and sponge- they are brilliant. I wouldnt use wool flock now

 

[sbloom]

Hi

Try Kit,

http://pantherrunsaddlery.com/

She may not be near you but you can give you a lot of advise. Her website and blog is also very helpful. You can template yourself and send them to her. She is very very experienced, and really knows her stuff.

Hope this helps.

Kitt is a great great fitter and has become a great online friend/colleague of mine, I can highly recommend her for long distance fits. Anyone who fits a Stubben to a flat backed pony needs shooting frankly and I say that as a pony specialist!

 

[leflynn]

I had 2 Barnsby jump saddles, same model and width, one flocked and one foam panel. They both fitted the same horse initially. The issue was that as he bulked out the flock one didn't fit but the foam one seemed to adapt to him.

I have ditched flock saddles and all 4 TB's are in a foam panel, all are still in med width trees - I have 2 older Barnsbys that I adore, an Equipe and am selling my Frank Baines as I have another Equipe arriving today. The foam panels do mould to the horse incredibly well and I find that one saddle does fit more than one horse. I have a couple of Ecogold numnahs with removable shims and a Le Mieux sheepskin with pockets and shims for when I need too. This seems to be the best way to encourage the horse to muscle up and I am careful about monitoring which saddle and pad each horse needs.

I have an older TB who came to me cold backed, even with a well fitted flock saddle and a sheepskin he was uncomfortable being tacked up and mounted, went to a foam panel old Barnsby CC saddle and he was instantly better. My super sensitive mare was transformed by the purchase of an Equipe saddle. I've also now bought an foam panel dressage saddle.

I used to roll my eyes at folk who used foam panel saddles with a pad and put them on more than one horse but now I can see why it works. The saddles are so much more adaptable than flocked.

From a rider point of view flock saddles seem so bulky now - I recently tried an Albion CC that was flocked. I wanted to love it but there was just to much saddle between me and the horse.

This, I went from having my saddle altered every 3 months and not really fitting and then every 6 months a new saddle due to shape changes, now I am 5 months in with my foam panel cc saddle and I can pad it to suit as needed and horse is much happier in it, it even fits his friend too (another TB, both high withered and sensitive). I have 2 sheepskins (diff thickness) and a prolite with pockets and a thicker/thinner numnahs as needed and I so far so good!

 

[Scarlett]

This, I went from having my saddle altered every 3 months and not really fitting and then every 6 months a new saddle due to shape changes, now I am 5 months in with my foam panel cc saddle and I can pad it to suit as needed and horse is much happier in it, it even fits his friend too (another TB, both high withered and sensitive). I have 2 sheepskins (diff thickness) and a prolite with pockets and a thicker/thinner numnahs as needed and I so far so good!

Isn't it great? I use the thicker options in winter and thinner in summer. Had zero back issues, physio commented on their clean backs at last visit in Dec.

My fitter has said that the newer saddles, specifically the Equipes as that's what we were talking about, don't carry the same warnings re using thick pads, not riding for any length of time, rider weight etc as the foam used is so much better than in the older saddles. I certainly feel a difference between the old Barnsby panels and the Equipes. I'd imagine the same could be said about the modern Butets, Prestige etc.

Also many of the modern saddles have adjustable trees. They can be altered slightly by a fitter to help the fit. I had one of mine narrowed by 0.5cm to alter the balance on my mare, made a huge difference and it didn't need adjusted again.

 

[Rocky01]

I know there are some fitters in the US who will suggest saddles based on templates. Might be worth you doing a proper template, have a look at this one, http://advancedsaddlefit.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Advanced-Saddle-Fit-Website-Measuring2.pdf

send it to the saddle fitter and see what they recommend. If she's likely to change shape get a shimmable pad if you don't have one and tell the fitter you have it and what make it is.

Hope this helps.

 

[Firewell]

Thank you everyone so much for your help! Lots of advice thank you, and v helpful about the fitters who can take templates.
I have had a good poke of the saddles in the tack room and the high end saddles have such spongy panels. They feel lovely you wouldn't think they are foam. The cheaper foam saddles do have harder panels so I think the key will be buying a higher quality saddle second hand saddle rather than a cheaper new one.
Thank you

 

[Scarlett]

Would highly recommend an Equipe if you can find one. They seem to really suit Tbs, horses love them and are lovely to ride in.