Importance of Flocking Saddles
Using this old saddle as a good example of what you don’t want to see in your saddles! Old synthetic flocking which had become solid and lumpy (not nice for the horses back at all!)
Panels are a huge part in shock absorption so if you have poor quality panels (especially if they have become too firm or over flocked) this can cause a lot of problems for your horse.
Saddles will need to be re flocked around every 2 years to ensure proper panel and flock quality. There are various types of panel fillings and the quality can vary massively such as; foam, flair, cair, flock.
Types of flock:
- Jacobs wool the most common(long fibre, soft, good quality,natural)
- Synthetic (not good quality, blue colour as seen in the video, quick to ball up and cause lumps)
- Siliconised (used more commonly now, seen in other industries such as stuffed toys and also used in the medical industry, for example in hospital beds etc so it can be argued this does have a lot of research to ensure proper comfort and therapeutic properties for people, so therefore is also a good option for the comfort of the horse! However this is obviously not a traditional choice of panel filling so can sometimes be dismissed!
How do you know when a saddle is due flocking adjustments?
-ideally your saddle fit should be checked at least every 6 months. Horses can change shape a lot throughout the year which can change the fit of your saddle and it will most likely need some sort of adjustment!
- panels that feel too firm/soft
- over flocked/under flocked
- use your hands to feel over the panels for any lumps or hollows
- Its been over 2 years since your saddle was last flocked
- Changes in your horse’s performance or behaviour
- Changes in how the saddle fits and feels compared to normal
- Having a full re flock also means the saddler can check your saddle tree for any damage internally.