I just purchased a CWD dressage saddle that has foam panels. My mare LOVES it! It has foam panels but I would like to get it wool flocked in the future to perfect the fit. Do most saddle fitters offer that service?
It depends on the fitters in your area. I’d suggest contacting your local fitters and asking abou tit.
Theoretically, it’s not that hard, you just cut out the foam and replace with wool, but I’m not a fitter so who knows I’ve been looking into getting my Pessoa flocked with wool and it’s been running around $200-$300. I also live in a small town so there’s only a handful of fitters around so I don’t really have many options.
Some fitters can do this. I’m not sure that I’d say “most.”
The tricky part is that depending on the construction of the panel, there might not be enough leather to properly stuff it with wool so sometimes they end up having to build all new panels. Sometimes it’s an easy swap. It’ll depend on your saddle and what shape you need the panels to end up in.
If maresy likes the saddle as is I wouldn’t mess with it. I believe foam panels are shallower than wool panels so swapping out would change the fit alot.
It is actually not an easy thing to do and normally you have to get new panels. Foam panels are generally constructed differently than wool panels. The panel depth is only one issue. If you can get it done for 200 to 300 please let me know who does that because that is an incredible price. It is also a different conversion than air panels which are actually something most saddle fitter should be able to do.
It’s not that difficult if there is enough panel depth to allow for enough flocking. If not enough, then there won’t be sufficient cushion so to speak. Many French saddles don’t have enough depth.
Foam to wool conversions are similar in cost to strip flocks and are usually around 300 or so.
My wonderful, straight up, not hurting for work saddle repair and fitting person told me she wouldn’t convert my Butet to wool - she doesn’t think it comes out well. My guy’s happy with the foam so I’m leaving well enough alone - and when he’s not happy (the panels are old), I’ll have Butet replace them. Til then, ain’t broke, not fixing!
Thanks everyone. Mare loves it so much that I may have to start a new thread for “how do I not get left behind with my warmblood mare with sudden huge movement” LOL!
My saddle fitter told me that he doesn’t do it because the space available for the foam is not enough space to put wool in instead.