Is there a trend among some fitters to reflock panels to be super squishy? Kind of like a down pillow that has lost its filling? I have noted this in some saddles recently and am wondering about it. In one case it made the saddle ride really, really close to the withers and compress a lot in the back so I wanted some more education in case this is a new technique. Didn’t seem right to me but what do I know?
Doesn’t seem right to me.
Smith Worthington did that for my Arab’s dressage saddle. He’s a broad-shouldered low withered guy, and the saddle with normal flocking popped off his back and made it slip. They softened the flocking and switched the front billet to a point configuration.
Those two changes made a huge difference in a saddle where the tree already fit. The flocking change did make it sit lower - in this horse’s case, that was exactly what was needed.
I had the same experience with Smith-Worthington with my Irish Draught mare’s new saddle. It was not so squishy that it felt like a floppy pillow, but it was squishy enough that it molded around her (wide) back.
There’s also in general difference between how an A-frame tree fits on a horse (usually with more clearance of the withers), vs. a hoop-tree or semi-hoop which often is closer (not touching though) to the withers.
Back in ye olde days, saddles used to come pretty squishy so they could then be flocked up to fit. Over the years I have had saddle fitters who flock pretty loosely and saddle fitters that will jam it in to bursting point. I think there is a happy medium…
Is there a standard middle point that is taught? Seems to me firm, but not rock hard, would be the most supportive and shock absorbing. But I really don’t know. The saddles I observed were all A-frame saddles.
Some brands flock differently than others coming from the factory. I have one that I know when it comes in that I have to flock up for the horse. They do that because it is always easier to add flock than take it out. Without seeing the saddles and horses, I can not comment on why it might be done. It could be that they had more panel depth than what the horse needs, so you have less flock in it. However it it might be laziness if they are regularly fitted by a fitter if all the same brand and rep. It could be training for some reason. I have heard some saddle fitters say that they do not want to have to flock saddles because it is too much work. They just want to sell them. Basically just like in every other aspect of the horse world, the answer is it depends.
I am trying to respectful of privacy issues so not too many details but thank you for your input.
No worries. To answer your question about being taught to do that, it could be. During the Society of Master Saddlers training, we are taught a standard for the firmness for the panels. However there are a lot of people out there being trained by varies people with different backgrounds and thoughts about how to fit a saddle.
Thank you. I am curious- what is the SMS standard for firmness?
It is really hard to describe, because it is more of a feel. Not a true numerical number. My mentor calls it the boob test. It is done after you have dropped the panel and reflocked it. Then before you put it back on the saddle, you lay it across your chest (hence the name), stretching it out like it would be on the saddle. Then you feel the flocking for holes/lumps and firmness. It should not be hard nor too soft. If it is too soft, I would think the flocking would tend to shift around more. I am trying to think of a comparison. For example, it is firmer than a normal pillow for sure.
I had a Hastilow Concept Flexibility until recently (doesn’t fit current horse so I sold it) and the panels felt kind of like a perfectly ripe peach- firm, but slightly yielding. Is that about right?
If the saddle was fitted by Hastilow, I would say yes. It does sound about right.
Thanks.
My current saddle is pretty softly flocked in the back. My saddle fitter took some wool out since she felt that how it was flocked was blocking him from lifting his back. She watched us ride in it, took some out, ride again. It did make a difference. He is low backed and has kissing spine so they may contribute to why he likes it with a softer flocking.
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