One of the most significant advantages of owning a WOW saddle is the Flair air panel system — a genuinely innovative approach to saddle fitting that replaces the traditional flocked wool panels with air-filled panels that can be precisely adjusted to achieve an accurate, even, and comfortable fit for your individual horse. Unlike wool-flocked panels, which compress and change shape over time and require periodic reflocking by a qualified saddler, Flair panels maintain their shape and pressure distribution remarkably well between professional fittings — but they are not entirely maintenance-free, and knowing how to check them correctly between professional visits is an important part of owning and caring for a WOW saddle.

This guide walks you through how to check your WOW saddle's Flair panels at home between professional fitting appointments, helping you to identify any changes that might indicate a need for adjustment and to ensure that your saddle continues to fit your horse as well as possible between visits. It is important to emphasise from the outset that this guide is not a substitute for professional fitting — the checks described here are designed to help you monitor your saddle's fit and identify when a professional review is needed, not to enable you to make adjustments yourself without professional guidance.

For professional WOW saddle fitting and Flair panel adjustment, please visit us at www.thefittedhorse.com/saddle-fitting. You can also find further information about the WOW saddle system and how it works in our Knowledge Centre at www.thefittedhorse.com/knowledge-centre.

Understanding the Flair Panel System

Before you begin checking your Flair panels, it is helpful to have a basic understanding of how the system works and what it is designed to achieve.

• Flair panels are air-filled cushions that replace the traditional wool flocking found in conventional saddle panels — each panel contains a precisely calibrated amount of air that has been introduced by your fitter using a specialist pump and needle during your fitting appointment
• The panels are divided into sections — typically a front section and a rear section on each side of the saddle — allowing your fitter to place air precisely where it is needed to achieve an even, balanced, and comfortable fit for your individual horse
• Because air is compressible and responsive, Flair panels conform to the shape of the horse's back during movement, distributing pressure more evenly than a static panel and accommodating the movement of the horse's back as they work
• The pressure within the panels can be increased or decreased by adding or removing air through a valve system, allowing the fit to be fine-tuned precisely and adjusted as the horse changes shape over time — something that is not possible with traditional flocked panels without a complete reflocking
• Because horses change shape — through muscle development, weight gain or loss, changes in workload, and the natural ageing process — regular monitoring and periodic professional adjustment of the Flair panels is an important part of maintaining a correct and comfortable saddle fit

What Changes Between Fittings

Understanding what can change between professional fittings helps you to know what to look for when monitoring your saddle's fit at home.

• Your horse's muscle development — particularly through the back, the topline, and the shoulder — will change over time in response to their workload, their diet, and the quality of their ridden work. As the muscles develop or change, the shape of the back changes, and the saddle fit that was correct at your last appointment may need adjustment to accommodate those changes
• Weight gain or loss will affect the shape of the horse's back and the way the saddle sits, potentially changing the pressure distribution within the panels
• Seasonal changes — particularly the transition between winter and summer, when many horses lose or gain condition — can produce significant changes in back shape that affect saddle fit
• Changes in workload — moving from light hacking to more intensive flatwork or jumping training, for example — can produce changes in muscle development that affect the saddle fit relatively quickly
• Age-related changes — particularly in older horses — can affect the shape of the back and the way the saddle sits over time
• Air pressure within the panels can change very slightly over time — though Flair panels are designed to hold their pressure well, it is worth monitoring the panels periodically to ensure that no significant loss of pressure has occurred

What You Will Need

• Your WOW saddle — clean and dry before you begin
• A clean, well-lit area in which to work — good lighting is essential for the visual checks described below
• Your horse — brought in from the field and allowed to stand quietly for a few minutes before you begin, so that their muscles are relaxed and their back is in its normal resting state
• A clean, thin numnah or no numnah at all for the under-saddle checks — checking the fit without a thick numnah gives you a more accurate picture of how the panels are sitting on the horse's back
• A helper if possible — some of the checks are easier to carry out with two people

Before You Begin — Important Safety and Welfare Notes

• Never attempt to add or remove air from your Flair panels yourself without the guidance and authorisation of your WOW-qualified fitter — incorrect adjustment of the panels can result in an uneven or dangerous saddle fit that causes discomfort or injury to your horse
• If you have any significant concerns about your saddle's fit following the checks described in this guide, stop riding in the saddle and contact your fitter for an appointment — continuing to ride in a saddle that does not fit correctly can cause back pain, muscle damage, and behavioural problems that are both difficult and expensive to resolve
• These checks are designed to be carried out regularly — ideally every four to six weeks — as part of your routine saddle care, not just when you suspect a problem

Check One — Visual Inspection of the Panels Off the Horse

Begin by inspecting the panels before placing the saddle on the horse, as this gives you a baseline picture of how the panels look and feel.

• Place the saddle on a clean, stable saddle stand in good light and look at the panels from directly behind the saddle — the two panels should appear symmetrical, with the same amount of fullness and the same general shape on each side
• Any significant difference in the apparent fullness or shape of one panel compared to the other is worth noting and reporting to your fitter — asymmetry in the panels is one of the most common signs that adjustment is needed, and it can develop gradually in response to the horse's natural asymmetry or changes in their back shape
• Look at the overall shape of each panel — they should appear evenly filled, with a consistent and smooth surface rather than areas that appear over-filled or deflated. Panels that appear noticeably more full at the front than the rear, or vice versa, may need professional assessment
• Run your hand firmly but gently over the surface of each panel, feeling for areas that feel significantly harder or softer than the surrounding area — the surface of a correctly filled panel should feel consistent and even throughout, without hard spots, soft spots, or areas that feel noticeably different from the rest of the panel
• Check the valve area on each panel carefully — the valve is the small, sealed point through which air is introduced or removed during fitting adjustments. Ensure that each valve is clean, undamaged, and showing no signs of leakage or deterioration. If you have any concerns about the condition of a valve, contact your fitter before riding in the saddle
• Inspect the panel material itself for any signs of wear, damage, or deterioration — look for scuffs, abrasions, small punctures, or areas where the panel surface appears to be thinning. Any damage to the panel material should be reported to your fitter promptly, as a punctured or damaged panel cannot maintain the correct air pressure and may need to be replaced

Check Two — Visual Inspection With the Saddle on the Horse

With your horse standing squarely on a level surface, place the saddle on the horse's back without a girth and without a numnah, allowing it to sit in its natural position.

• Stand directly behind the horse and look along the channel of the saddle from the back — you should be able to see a clear channel of light running the full length of the saddle from front to back, indicating that the panels are not pressing on the horse's spine. If the channel appears to be closing or if the panels appear to be pressing toward the spine at any point, this is a concern that should be reported to your fitter
• Stand to the side of the horse and assess the overall balance of the saddle — the saddle should appear to sit level on the horse's back, with the seat appearing approximately horizontal rather than tilting significantly forward or backward. A saddle that appears to be tipping forward or backward, or that sits noticeably higher at one end than the other, may need professional assessment
• Check the clearance at the withers — there should be a clear and visible gap between the pommel arch of the saddle and the highest point of the withers, with no part of the saddle touching or pressing on the withers. As a general guideline, you should be able to place at least two to three fingers upright in the space between the pommel and the withers when the saddle is ungirthed, and there should still be adequate clearance when the saddle is girthed up with a rider's weight in it. If the saddle appears to be sitting close to or touching the withers, contact your fitter before riding
• Walk around the horse and look at the saddle from both sides — does it appear to be sitting symmetrically on the horse's back, or does it appear to be sitting lower on one side than the other? Asymmetric sitting can indicate that the panels need adjustment to compensate for the horse's natural asymmetry or changes in muscle development
• Look at the contact between the panels and the horse's back — the panels should appear to be in even, consistent contact with the back on both sides, without gaps or areas where the panel is clearly not in contact with the horse. Gaps between the panel and the back at the front, the rear, or in the middle of the panel are all indicators that the panel pressure distribution may need professional adjustment

Check Three — The Panel Pressure Check

This check gives you a sense of how evenly the panels are distributing pressure across the horse's back, and it is one of the most informative home checks you can carry out.

• With the saddle in place on the horse's back but not girthed, slide your hand carefully between the panel and the horse's back at the front of the panel on the near side — your hand should be able to slide in with moderate resistance, indicating that the panel is in contact with the back without excessive pressure
• Slide your hand to the middle of the panel and then to the rear of the panel, noting whether the resistance feels consistent throughout — significant differences in resistance between the front, middle, and rear of the panel suggest that the pressure distribution is uneven and may need professional adjustment
• Repeat this check on the off side panel and compare — ideally, the resistance should feel broadly similar on both sides. Significant differences between the near side and off side panels are worth noting and reporting to your fitter
• Now girth the saddle up normally, ensuring that the girth is tightened to its normal working tension — not too tight, not too loose
• Repeat the panel pressure check with the saddle girthed up, sliding your hand between the panel and the back at the front, middle, and rear on both sides — the resistance should feel even and consistent throughout, and there should be no areas where the panel is pressing very hard against the back or where there is very little pressure at all
• Ask your helper to observe the saddle from behind whilst you stand at the horse's head and apply gentle downward pressure to the seat of the saddle — your helper should be able to confirm that the saddle remains level and that both panels appear to be in even contact with the back under pressure

Check Four — The Numnah and Girth Check

• Place your usual numnah under the saddle and girth up as normal — the numnah should sit evenly under the saddle on both sides, with the front of the numnah pulled up into the channel of the saddle to ensure that it is not pressing down on the spine
• Check that the numnah is not bunching or creating pressure points under the panels — a numnah that is too thick, too stiff, or incorrectly positioned can affect the pressure distribution of the panels and alter the effective fit of the saddle
• Check that the girth is sitting in its correct position and is girthed to an even tension — an unevenly girthed saddle can sit asymmetrically on the horse's back in a way that may be mistaken for a panel fitting issue

Check Five — Observation Under Saddle

The most informative checks of all are those that can be made whilst actually riding, as this is when the saddle is working as it is designed to work and when any fitting issues are most likely to manifest.

• Ask your helper to observe your horse from behind and from the side at walk and trot whilst you ride — they should look for any signs of asymmetric movement, uneven engagement of the hindquarters, or restricted movement through the back that might indicate a saddle fitting issue
• Pay attention to how your horse feels beneath you — does the saddle feel level and stable, or does it feel as though it is tipping or shifting during movement? Does your horse feel free and forward in their movement, or do they feel restricted or reluctant? Does your horse show any signs of tension or discomfort through the back, the neck, or the hindquarters that were not present at your last professional fitting?
• After riding, dismount and immediately check the horse's back — run your hands firmly along both sides of the spine through the panel area, feeling for any areas of heat, sensitivity, or muscle tension that might indicate pressure points. A horse that reacts to pressure in a specific area of the back after riding should have their saddle fit professionally assessed promptly
• Check the sweat pattern on the horse's back after a light schooling session — ideally, the sweat pattern should be even and symmetrical on both sides, reflecting even pressure distribution from the panels. An uneven sweat pattern — with significantly more or less sweat on one side, or dry spots in the middle of an otherwise sweaty back — can indicate uneven panel pressure and is worth noting and reporting to your fitter

Signs That Your Flair Panels Need Professional Attention

The following signs indicate that your Flair panels may need professional adjustment and that you should contact your fitter to arrange an appointment:

• Visible asymmetry between the two panels when the saddle is inspected off the horse
• The saddle appears to be sitting lower on one side than the other when placed on the horse's back
• Insufficient clearance at the withers — the saddle appears to be sitting close to or touching the withers
• Significant differences in resistance when checking panel pressure on the near side compared to the off side
• Gaps between the panels and the horse's back at the front, middle, or rear of either panel
• Uneven sweat patterns after riding, suggesting uneven pressure distribution
• Areas of heat, sensitivity, or muscle tension on the horse's back after riding
• The saddle appears to tip significantly forward or backward rather than sitting level
• Your horse shows changes in behaviour, movement, or willingness that might be related to back comfort — including reluctance to go forward, resistance to being tacked up, changes in gait quality, or apparent stiffness through the back
• Any damage to the panel material, valve, or panel surface
• You notice a significant change in your horse's shape — weight gain or loss, significant muscle development or loss, or changes associated with age or changes in workload
• It has been six months or more since your last professional fitting appointment — even if no obvious changes are apparent, a regular professional review is recommended to ensure that the fit is maintained correctly over time

How Often Should You Have Your Flair Panels Professionally Checked?

As a general guideline, we recommend a professional Flair panel check and fitting review at least every six months for horses in regular work. However, there are circumstances in which more frequent professional reviews are advisable:

• Young horses that are developing rapidly in terms of muscle and physique — potentially every three to four months
• Horses that have experienced significant weight gain or loss
• Horses that have been out of work for a period and are returning to ridden exercise
• Horses that are increasing their workload significantly — moving from hacking to more intensive training, for example
• Horses that are showing any of the signs of potential fitting issues described above
• Older horses whose back shape may be changing more rapidly due to age-related muscle changes

At The Fitted Horse, our WOW saddle fitting and Flair panel adjustment service is carried out by a qualified and experienced fitter who will assess every aspect of your saddle's fit and make any necessary adjustments to ensure that your horse continues to benefit from the precision and comfort that the Flair panel system is designed to deliver. To book a fitting appointment or to discuss any concerns about your WOW saddle's fit, please visit us at www.thefittedhorse.com/saddle-fitting.

A Quick Reference Checklist for Home Flair Panel Checks

Off the horse:

• Panels appear symmetrical and evenly filled on both sides
• No areas of significant hardness or softness when running hands over panel surface
• Valves clean, undamaged, and showing no signs of leakage
• Panel material free from damage, scuffs, or abrasions

On the horse, ungirthed:

• Clear channel of light visible along the full length of the saddle from behind
• Saddle sits level — not tipping forward or backward
• Adequate clearance at the withers — minimum two to three fingers
• Saddle appears symmetrical on both sides — not sitting lower on one side

On the horse, girthed:

• Panel pressure feels even throughout front, middle, and rear on both sides
• Near side and off side panel pressure feels broadly similar
• Numnah sitting evenly and not creating pressure points
• Girth sitting correctly and girthed to even tension

Under saddle:

• Saddle feels level and stable during movement
• Horse feels free and forward — no signs of restriction or discomfort
• No signs of asymmetric movement or uneven hindquarter engagement

After riding:

• No areas of heat, sensitivity, or muscle tension on the horse's back
• Sweat pattern even and symmetrical on both sides

For further reading on saddle fit, the WOW saddle system, and all aspects of equine equipment fitting, visit our Knowledge Centre at www.thefittedhorse.com/knowledge-centre.