| FOAM PANELS
vs. WOOL PANELS |
| Fit & Comfort
Issues |
| • Foam flocking conforms to the horse's back just like wool, except foam conforms from the moment it is placed on the horse. Fitting for foam is not as easy as for wool, but if the fit is right at the time of saddle measurement, it will be right until the horse's back changes due to changes in musculature or weight, because foam keeps its shape. Should a change occur in the horse's back, the panels will need to be replaced/reviewed. Foam panels can also be built on the thinner side, for a closer contact with the horse which can translate to better communication with the horse when it comes to weight shifts and seat aids. |
• Wool flocking conforms to the horse's back just like foam, and wool was once considered the traditional material used by saddlers. However, wool requires some time to adjust to the horse's back. Some research points to about 20 hours of riding before wool panels have completely conformed to the horse's back, and re-stuffing is sometimes recommended as much as every 6 months because wool becomes compact and hard with use. Wool panels therefore do not offer very close contact with the horse when they are first put into use. |
| Heat & Moisture
Issues |
| • Foam is not affected by moisture or other environmental conditions, although it will pick up heat from the horse's back, like any other material. |
• Wool absorbs moisture and can become very compacted and heavy due to this fact. The best wool to use to reduce compaction and ensure resilience is merino wool, but it is also the most expensive and many saddlers choose less expensive wool or even cotton to re-flock panels. |
| Maintenance
Issues |
| • Foam panels do not need to be re-flocked on a regular basis; they just need to be replaced or worked on if a change occurs in the horse's back. Some research points to between 1,500 and 2,000 rides before a foam panel needs replacing or reviewing, barring any changes in the horse's musculature. The best source for replacing foam panels is the original saddler, as it is difficult to find a saddler who knows how to work with foam or foam panels are usually quite customized to the original saddler's manufacture specifications. |
• Wool panels need to be re-flocked on a regular basis not only to allow for changes on a horse's back, but also to correct compaction or movement of the wool due to use. Compacted or displaced wool can cause bumps and voids in the panels which will translate to pressure points on the horse's back, and this needs immediate correction. Some research supports re-flocking after 100 to 150 rides for a new saddle, and every 300 to 500 rides after that point. Although many saddlers work on wool re-flocking, competent saddlers that use top-quality materials and methods are not easy to find, and over-stuffing is common. |
| Multi-horse Uses |
| • Because correctly-fitted foam panels keep their shape, resilience and integrity, a foam-paneled saddle can be used on more than one horse with similar back structures. |
• Because wool panels take some time to completely conform to a horse's back, it is best not to use a wool-paneled saddle on different horses during this period. Additionally, wool that has conformed completely to one back shape may be a perfect fit for that back, but not forgiving enough for another. |
