Saddles! Foam panels or wool flocking - that is the question!

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Maginca7

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Despite being assured that my old saddle fitted, I have come to the conclusion that it doesn't. Nice saddler been out but none of the jump saddles she had fitted me and the horse. She is not a fan of foam saddles, especially for hunting and I will hopefully be doing a few days during the winter with up to 5 hours in the saddle.

I have spoken to Sederholm and they have said that their double flap jump saddle is absolutely fine for hunting in.

Whatever the decision as to the saddle it will be fitted and the horse is quite clear on what he likes/dislikes. Is it worth trying the Butet and see or should I stick to a wool flocked Albion K2 or similar. Any advice very welcome as my head hurts!

Thank you.
 
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I ride one of mine everyday in a foam panel saddle and have done for years. And before that, my saddle was foam too. Noone back issues to be spoken of. Never thought about it as never had need to!

Go with what fits for the majority of work you aim to do on a regular basis imo
 
I have hunted in a foam panel close contact jump saddle. It's not the most comfortable seat for me, not helped by the horse himself bouncing around continually, but he's fine with the saddle.
 
I have both, and prefer the foam tbh. They do last a very long time, and can be replaced if need be.

I would go with the saddle that fits you both well, whether that be foam or flock :)
 
Thanks so much for replying. Seems a bit of a marmite subject... Currently have a wool flocked Albion to try and Butet have offered to send one down. Will see what the Albion looks like later. Arghhh!!
 
Give me old-fashioned wool-flock every day rather than foam (or CAIR).

You know what's what, it can be adjusted to fit, and should hopefully last a good long time!

Wouldn't touch anything else with a bargepole TBH. Was badly stung when buying an E-bay saddle which had CAIR. I didn't realise initially, but a good few months after buying it I got the saddle fitter out to check a fit on a horse, and she said the CAIR was as flat as a dab - it would cost more than the saddle was actually worth to replace it.
 
I wouldn't go for Cair or Flair but am keeping an open mind as to the foam ones and will see what the horse thinks. This is almost as big a decision as to what horse to buy in the first place. Not helped by the fact that i have 3 old saddles which i need to get rid of! Lesson to self - do not hold on to something thinking it just may fit next horse, especially if there is quite a large gap between horses!
 
I have both foam and wool saddles for my lot. It really comes down to a good fit for the horse. The ISH hunts all season in his foam panel pessoa and has never had any problems. But we do have the foam ones fitted to accommodate a 1/2 pad. Only one horse has a fleece under his wool flocked GP - but that's because he has an unlevel pelvis from a fracture as a yearling. The saddle is bespoke on him and fitted to accommodate the fleece.

With the exception for Cair and Flair which i also would not touch I go more for the fit of saddle to horse and rider than worry too much about whether it is foam or wool.
 
My personal preference is for wool as it's more adjustable but I suspect a foam one that fits horse and rider is infinitely preferable to a wool flocked one that doesn't.
 
Agree it's about fit. Foam can't be altered where as wool can. New saddle is latex and leather but being treeless is infinitely more "adjustable" than a normal non flock saddle. The horse much prefers it to the badly fitting flock one I had made for her!
 
I spent 23 years work in the foam industry.

Closed cell foam, which is what is used in saddles (there are lots of different types), is a very good insulator. It will not breath.

It also is not "everlasting". The cellular structure will break down with repeated use, and then it will become hard.

It is a great product, with 101 uses.

I would never have it in a saddle. Wool flock every time for me.
 
Don't have much experience with foam so can't offer advice there but I got my boy an Albion K2 Jump about a month ago and absolutely love it! I know it's adjustable so when he changes shape I won't need to get another saddle (fingers crossed!!)
 
Mine is foam purely because it was the saddle that fitted the horse the best. Does anyone know if you can have foam converted to flock or is that a recipie for disaster? Or th foam replacing if needed?
 
I like wool for its adjustability however I let the horse tell me their preference. I have a latex panelled close contact saddle which the horse loves and goes brilliantly in. Comparable wool saddles in fit and style did not meet her exacting standard.
 
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