Saddle reflocking how often?

huskydamage

huskydamage

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Had some stuff done to my saddle about a year ago and got it reflocked at the same time. Now it's rubbing my horse. She did lose alot of weight this winter but is putting it back on now. I will be getting the saddle checked again but would the flocking have gone wrong in this space of time? Or is it just the weight loss? If more the latter I'd be inclined to just ride bareback until she puts weight back on rather than re-do the saddle (and probably again). Just wondered is it normal to have to re-flock it again after just 1 year? I have had the same saddle and horse for 10+ years with no rubbing at all and only had it re-flocked once and now 1 year later its' rubbing so bit skeptical
 
New flocking packs down over time, when I've had a full reflock or brought a brand new saddle in the past I've always been advised to have it rechecked and topped up after a couple of months but I tend to find that they've needed doing after approx 6 weeks so after a year I'd say it's definitely time to have it checked & topped up.
 
Horses can change shape in two weeks, seriously. If your saddle is rubbing then your horse has changed shape, flocking settles 90% within a couple of hours' riding. You should either have your saddle checked at least every 6 months, or know how to spot when an issue is arising. Horses losing weight usually means they have got narrower or at least dropped a little in front and the back of the saddle may lift up and down in rising trot, or swivel from side to side causing rubbing. So, the flocking will have settled somewhat, it's not "gone wrong", but it's probably more down to your horse changing shape. Monitoring weight, at least from how high the girth goes, will help you keep ahead of problems.
 
I get mine done every six months. You want flocking to be soft and over time it does pack down.
 
I get mine checked every 3 months - horses change weight/shape so much over the season competing and during winter and summer. Usually flocking topped up or changed every other visit but sometimes each visit.
 
I am having mine checked every 3 or 4 months at the moment as my horse is young and changing shape. My saddler also said he had made the flocking quite soft deliberately as I had been having problems with the saddle slipping forward, so I do need to keep an eye out for it settling. After a year I would imagine yours does need checking and possibly some adjustment.
 
Same here, could well be the flocking so worth a check. I tend to get mine done every 6 months, more often if there is a particular reason too e.g. weight or muscle change, change in performance etc.
 
Micropony said:
I am having mine checked every 3 or 4 months at the moment as my horse is young and changing shape. My saddler also said he had made the flocking quite soft deliberately as I had been having problems with the saddle slipping forward, so I do need to keep an eye out for it settling. After a year I would imagine yours does need checking and possibly some adjustment.
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How much does a saddler usually charge for coming out and how much is reflocking ?
Thanks.
 
I think its quite variable.... Mine charges about £45 to come out and assess (price drops a little if more than one horse is checked) and then extra for flocking. Mine charges depending on how much flocking is needed. Last time it was an extra £10 but think I've paid £20 before when more was needed.
 
My Schleese has had flocking added or taken away to refit over the years, and now I have had it for 4 years it is recommended that it is reflocked.
 
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