Saddle fitting

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Christmas Crumpet

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Further to my "I feel so guilty" post earlier about how although having had my new saddle fitted for the horse 3 months ago and it has started rubbing and giving him white patches I wondered how reflocking works. My horse has grown all over and now got a great top line and his shoulders have got so much more depth.

For example, if the saddle is pinching below the withers how would reflocking help or wouldn't it? Surely it would make the saddle fit even more snugly. Where does reflocking help the saddle fit? In what cases is reflocking recommended or a new saddle recommended?

I'm quite prepared to buy him a new saddle and thankfully have enough savings to get one.

Just interested in any information anyone has!!
 
Dont forget they can take flocking out as well as putting it in. If it only needs relatively minor adjustment then removing a bit could make all the difference.
 
It would be fab if it only needed DEflocking!! Sadly though I think that the fat racehorse prob. needs a new saddle. Since finding white patch have been riding bareback. THankfully he's fat enough now that I don't feel like I've been chopped in half when I get off!!
 
Sometimes saddlers recommend stripping out old flocking that has compressed and gone hard. Re-flocking the saddle with new, soft wool can make it fit the horse more comfortably. My friend is a Master Saddler, she believes strongly in "soft" rather than firm flocking. In fact she wasn't too keen on my new Austrian saddle because the European made saddles are often flocked firmer than UK made one's.
 
If it's now a bit too narrow (which is quite likely, if he's muscled up) then no, there is nothing you can do about it. Taking out flocking at the front (unless it's over flocked) will just make the points unpadded. Putting more in will make it narrower.

Reflocking is fine for lifting the front a little, lowering or lifting the back a little (within limits) and changing the 'rock' (curvature) slightly. It should also be done for second hand saddle going onto a new horse, so it 'beds' down to their exact shape. Flocking will shift about and bed down to minamise pressure points if it's good flocking. It shouldn't be soft and springy, as that causes 'bounce' but it should have enough give in it to absorb impact. Old or poor flocking (esp synthetic flocking) doesn't bed well and is prone to balling up (and causing pressure points)
 
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