Does anybody have an airfilled saddle?

[cyberchick]

And what are your thoughts on them? I am looking to get a second saddle in the new year as at the moment I am riding all the time in my jumping saddle and it's really not helping me on the flat as you can imagine.
I once rode a friends horse that has an air filled saddle and it was one of the most comfy saddles I have ever sat on but i'm not sure if it was because of that or the make of the saddle or th horse in general was a smooth ride.
What are your thoughts on these as I don't know a lot about them to be honest.

[Gillian]

I have one and I love it. It may have been my imagination, but after I got flair fitted to my saddle, Nycha seemed to go much better. She's always had a sensitive back and I think the air filled saddle worked for her as well as me. Would recommend it from my experience. It's also easy to adjust I think if your horse changes shape.

[Partner]

My horse is very sensitive and hated it.

Suits some and not others - like most things.

They did not do so well in pliance testing for weight distribution.

[black crow]

Im guessing you mean the Cair/Flair saddle systems?

Only the pannels are fitted with air pockets, but it can really help. [I'll referance the Cair system, not Flair, as the last saddles i used with 'air flocking' were Wintecs, i.e Cair system]

The big arguement is, with flocking, it can get quite hard and lumpy. With air pockets, this isnt a problem. However, flocking has air inside it which can be compressed, the airpockets in the CAIR systems cant be, so its a question of what is harder or the horses back, often being a pocket of air is technically harder.

Personally, i have found it varies from horse to horse. Some who have had sensetive backs have seemed to go better with the Cair system, yet there have been a few who havent liked it and have worked far worse due to the saddle being unforgiving. The air can move, so it can rotate the weight to different parts of the saddle, and also be quite hard if the rider is quite heavy or isnt a very balanced rider. All things that need to be considered if you do get something like this.

I have a Cair fitted saddle for Spud, and it really has made a big difference for him. It must never be mistaken as a way to fit a saddle, however with the Cair system, his saddle fits him very well and has never given him a sore back. You can get most saddles converted to the Cair system, or buy one with it already installed. I have found some horses dont like them, so i would deffinatley get it professionally fitted and see how you and your horse really respond to it. From my experience, quite a few horses like the system, so it seems a good buy if it works for you.

Would deffinatley reccomend.

[Gillian]

Is Cair the same as Flair basically?

[black crow]

Basically, yup!

I think the designs are slightly different, but Cair is specialised only to Wintecs and another brand. Flair is the system for all others saddles :D

[Gillian]

Ah ok, I see! Yes, my saddle is an Ideal event (I think!!) so that must be why it was fitted with the Flair system.

I had it re-inflated when I was starting to ride Nycha again as it was flat as a pancake. Not surprising after 7 years I suppose! :lol:

[cyberchick]

Interesting, Cair, Flair, meant nothing to me. I must be an old fashioned girl who has always had a good bit of flocking lol.
I have never paid any attention to it before but now I am starting to look, the first thing I remember was how comfortable this particular saddle was. It must have been Flair (thanks for telling me that so I won't sound stupid) and all my saddles are prof fitted but William is a sensitive chap so I a little concerned about what you say about the weight distribution so a little more for me to look into I think.

[Katie Morag]

I have just got the wintec cair 500 for Mo & she loves it.

[casper_cb]

I thought Cair was fixed air pannels, i.e. can't be added to, altered, where at Flair you can pump the up or down to fit the hose much more easily!

I have a Sue Carson saddle and LOVE IT!!!

[Katie Morag]

I don't think you can pump up the Cair saddle, nothing about that on the leaflet that comes with it. You can change the gullet size though.

[amandaco]

ive got a wow with flair
ned seems to like it.
takes some getting used to though.
my older horse is mega sensitive and we had a period of a few weeks where she wasnt sure if she liked being able to feel my every movement!lol

[Katie Morag]

ive got a wow with flair
ned seems to like it.
takes some getting used to though.
my older horse is mega sensitive and we had a period of a few weeks where she wasnt sure if she liked being able to feel my every movement!lol

Oh now that's the saddle I would love to get.

BTW you the cair saddle has fixed air panels. Noted this when I changed my gullet on it the other night.