Regular reflocking of saddles

by Lynda Records

The following pictures will show you how saddles are re-flocked. The flocking in a saddle 'settles' over time and needs to be checked every 4 to 6 months. It is essential that reflocking is done on site with the horse and rider present. This is the only way in which you can be assured that the flocking will be put in the right place and thus continue to make the saddle comfortable for the horse and rider.

A horse can increase or lose the equivalent to two human dress sizes in one month! This is due to various circumstances:

• An event horse halfway through the eventing season, often is super fit and loses fat.
• Changes in the horse's circumstances – a change of rider or where you stable your horse, or even the changing of the seasons – can have a profound effect on the horse's shape. Winter can see some horses losing condition and in summer some hor-ses really pick up condition.
• Illness affects the fit of the saddle.
• Time off, such as during horse sickness vaccination time, can also affect the fit of the saddle and if not checked will result in damage to the horses back.
• If the rider picks up weight again, this affects the fit of the saddle.

Not all saddle fitters are trained to reflock saddles. It is a time consuming process and it requires meticulous training.