Wool vs. Foam spin off - when you don't always have a fitter nearby

[runNjump86]

I’m currently keeping an eye out for a used monoflap (preferably Voltaire or Devoucoux) dressage saddle. I’ve had my KN for years and love it, but need a more forward flap to put my leg in the perfect position.

Over the past year or so I’ve been doing a lot of online saddle shopping, researching, etc (threads to prove it!). I’ve always been a fan of wool saddles. Stubbens fit my horse extremely well. However, the closest saddle fitter that is willing to come to my barn is almost two hours away. So I’m looking at a saddle fee plus trip charge since I’m the only one who seriously rides English at my barn. I’m going to pay it because my saddle is in dire need of adjustment, but it has definitely influenced the saddles I’m looking for. Foam panels are more $$ to replace but from what I’ve read and seen they don’t need to be adjusted nearly as much as wool.

Has proximity or availability to a reputable saddle fitter influenced your saddle purchase? In CA I had a good fitter pretty much at my beck and call, so I was super spoiled and didn’t really take into account how difficult it would be to find someone!

[OverandOnward]

I am not knowledgeable enough to discuss the technical differences between wool and foam. Came from an era that knew and trusted only wool. I know only that when I tried (used for a week+) probably almost a dozen different saddles during the months of The Great Saddle Search, the only one that my horse clearly expressed a positive opinion about was foam. So of course his opinion made the buying decision.

Since then I feel that having a well-made saddle, that fits horse & rider, and enables them to do what they want to do, is what counts the most. If the saddle is properly made, foam is a good option, if it works well for that horse & rider.

I suspect my horse was more comfortable with the foam than he had previously been with the wool I had been riding in. However, there are so many other factors that it is hard to say that it was definitely foam vs wool.

[sheltona01]

As a fitter, 2 hours is a nice trip for me. I go 4 hours one way at least once a week.

The reason why foam does not get adjust as much is because you can not adjust it. So a lot of the times until it is very bad, nothing gets done other than throw more padding under it.

[no.stirrups]

I also consider 2 hours an easy trip. Trip fees are divided among everyone I see on the trip, not necessarily at the same barn.

[mmeqcenter]

I had a fitter come from a ways away, even though there were fitters more in my area, because he was amazing. Also, frankly, it was cheaper to use him even paying the whole trip fee myself than it was to use the local fitters. It was about a 2.5-hour trip for him, his trip fee was always reasonable, and he always split it between other people I could get to sign up, even if they were at different barns. If you have a local Facebook group or something you could post with possible dates for the fitter to come to see if anyone else wants to enlist the services, that may help with the trip fee.

Many people say foam is crap and hurts their horses. I have both a foam and wool saddle, have had several other foam saddles, and I can’t say that either creates any additional or any less comfort than the other on either of my horses that they fit. The beauty of wool, however, is that you can have the fit adjusted by a saddle fitter by adding and removing wool. Not something you can do with foam. Sadly, many brands have converted to foam only, especially those that offer an adjustable tree. However, Bates now offers an “Easy riser” system with the Easy-change Gullet system that provides foam pad inserts for your saddle panels, much like a Thinline pad but in the saddle itself. I’m strongly considering a Bates Elevation now that they have that possibility. I’m hoping I’ll be able to find a saddle fitter down here in Florida that is willing to adjust using the foam inserts.

[Scribbler]

Yes, echoing that you can’t adjust foam, you can only use pads and shims to adjust the fit. I have heard that foam saddles have a bit more fit tolerance than wool, but have never used one to find out. The foam saddle I had on trial (a Pessoa) was also a very bad fit, and rocked on my horse. I felt like it rocked more than a badly fitting wool saddle would, though. This was before I had a saddle fitter and tracings to help me not even bring home badly fitting trial saddles!

A wool flocked saddle can be stripped and reflocked, if the wool is old and hard. But if the wool is in good condition, a saddle fitter can tweak the fit just by stuffing in more wool.

If you had foam saddle that fit your horse perfectly, I’m sure that would be as fine as a wool flocked saddle (at least until his topline changed). But if the panels need a bit of augmenting, which is quite likely, then you are better off with wool.

And of course you need to know that the basic tree is a good shape for your horse.

[sheltona01]

I am British trained fitter and I have never disliked how a saddle fits because of the foam itself. I find that a lot of saddles using foam either do not have enough panel depth for the horse or they tend to pinch the wither around the T10 to T12 which is caused by the shape of the tree. Yes, I have evaluated saddle with foam and approved of the current fit. However, just like us, horse bodies change with work load, diet, etc.

[soloudinhere]

I did wool for awhile (and there are good fitters here) but the cost is just too high.

$110 for a flocking adjustment x 2 saddles x every 6 months = almost $500 a year in maintenance on a saddle purchased for $3k+.

If I buy a foam saddle, it either fits or it doesn’t. I can adjust it with a half pad or I can sell it as is much easier to sell a “standard” fit than a custom saddle, and the foam brands are much more popular.

I’m unlikely to still have the saddle when the foam breaks down in 10 years. However my 2004 Tad Coffin has panels that are mint and it’s 13 years old. It’s not a repair I’d really consider as something needing to be done in the normal lifespan of a horse/saddle.

[runNjump86]

I realize you can’t adjust foam, you can just replace the panels.

I have my wool KN and a foam L’Apogee and love them both. I just wish the L’Apogee fit him a bit better but with the right half pad it works and he’s happy.

My point on this thread was to see if distance to a saddle fitter made an impact on your decision. When I first started trying to set up dates for the fitter to come out we had 3 horses that needed to be fit. The other two backed out, so it’s just me. As soloudinhere put, maintenance costs on a wool saddle long term are higher. I love the adjustability, but having to try and A. Find a fitter who is worth their salt B. Try to find people to split trip charges, I am most likely to buy a foam saddle, pay to have the panels changed, and go from there.

[Scribbler]

I don’t think you actually need to have a wool saddle adjusted every 6 months forever. Maybe if new flocking is settling, for the first year. Or if your horse’s topline changes. Or if your horse seems to be getting sore. But most wool saddles do not need to be tweaked that often.

[mmeqcenter]

No, being 2 hours from a saddle fitter would not affect my choice in which type of flocking. 2 hours is pretty standard of a distance.