Comments on: How Much Do You CAIR What’s In Your Saddle?

By: Jane @ THB

Jane @ THB — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 22:02:21 +0000

In reply to penni higginson. Hi Penni, this is a rebranding of the CAIR system. I'd recommend first talking to the store that sold you the saddle.

By: penni higginson

penni higginson — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 04:14:03 +0000

In reply to Jane @ THB. Hi, can flocking be done with HART? Horse and rider technology as I have an arena saddle. penni

By: Elaine Thousand

Elaine Thousand — Sat, 23 May 2020 23:44:14 +0000

I’m not clear on the message. Is the CAIR system bad?

By: Susan Walls

Susan Walls — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 05:50:08 +0000

Hi I also had a Bates Cair Saddle and did not realise the bags could burst . Unusually for my horse he bucked and bucked until I fell off . Broken pelvis, ribs and foot . They should put a warning on the saddle

By: shelby

shelby — Sat, 19 Oct 2019 23:43:38 +0000

In reply to Heather Moffett.

omg and I was
just about to order one of
these Wintecs with the easy gullet etc for my TB
thanks

By: JaneD

JaneD — Sun, 12 May 2019 08:59:22 +0000

Hi,
I would just like to add, if you buy a Cair branded saddle that claims to now be flocked do please check inside it.
I have just trialled one and upon inspection the air bags had been lightly filled with flock, thus just a thin foam pad (2mm) and an ex air pad (4 quarter pads, the older style I believe as now they are in twos), was all that would be supporting my weight on the saddle tree on my horses back. Oddly a little flocking was visible externally which leads me to believe who ever did this ‘conversion’ was attempting to convince a would be purchaser that it was flocked correctly. It would have caused awful damage if it had been used, so please do check the contents of that converted saddle before strapping it to your horses back.

By: Michele

Michele — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 00:12:17 +0000

In reply to Jane @ THB. Thank you for the info. I’ll take it to a saddle fitter. Michele

By: Jane @ THB

Jane @ THB — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 22:51:07 +0000

In reply to Michele Spano.

If you replaced the internal foam with flock in the panel itself, you’d have the same outcome. A good saddler can remove the insert altogether and refill the panel – ie the leather or synthetic material panel that sits against the horse – with wool flock. You’re then basically back to the traditional form of saddle.

By: Michele Spano

Michele Spano — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 16:31:46 +0000

Hi,

Do you know if you can remove the panels and then open them up? Could the panels themselves be reflocked with wool and then reinserted? Thank you for all the great info.

Michele

By: J Evans

J Evans — Sun, 20 May 2018 05:14:26 +0000

WOW! What an eye opener!

We had a 2004 Bates Caprilli, left front air panel deflated. I had no idea the then 9 year old saddle even had air bags. The saddle was lightly used. I kept after my daughter about being one-sided and dropping a hip and shifting the saddle. Chiropractor for her – all fine. Horse’s stride short on the left side. After the vet and chiropractor, I called a saddle fitter. Saddle fitter opened up saddle and showed me the air panel. Reminded me of a Ziploc bag that’s been heat sealed and the seal failed.

I was told that I either had to send the saddle back to Bates in Australia to have the bag replaced or to a saddle fitter to change it over to flocking. I was told the air bags generally last 2 years if you ride often, and that I should have all of the panels replaced if I went through the trouble of sending to Bates. The other option meant finding a saddle fitter or maker capable of rebuilding for flocking and that very few would be willing to gut the saddle to rebuild for proper flocking, complete with ports. Either way, it was expensive. Plastic, tape, staples and baggies just don’t sit well with my old school concept of a saddle tree and padding.

The horse had muscle injury to the shoulder from the blown bag which has taken quite a long time to rehab and numerous bills.

Conclusion: I am NOT impressed with CAIR and ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT BUY another saddle with air bags.