The WOW Panel

THE GULLETT

The base of the withers is a junction box for a lot of muscle groups. The gullet is the area between the panels that accommodates this spinal process and musculature movement.

Pinch this area and the horse’s ability to perform, especially laterally, will be hampered. The gullet has to be wide enough in this area to give clearance for the muscles to work freely. However if fitted too wide it will cause instability and potentially pressure related problems because of insufficient muscle to support the saddle.

In Picture A, the grey, the area requires quite a narrow gullet compared to the Bay where the gullett is wider. In some horses the dynamic movement of this area is profound. Looking at Picture C, where the head is lifted, a person feeling the base of the wither area may not notice any difference until the horse resists and tries to bring its head back down. When this happens the horse engages the muscles that are used in self carriage and they tighten and expand. If the difference between a flaccid muscle and a tense muscle happens to be a marked change in the width of the muscles at the base of the withers a wide gullet is required. In Picture B, a wide gullet is already required.

WOW panels are interchangeable under seats to provide for differing gullet requirements.

PANEL LENGTH

A saddle MUST only sit on the rib cage of the horse. The panel of the saddle will sit slightly on the scapula and should end on or before the last (18th) rib.

With the horse standing SQUARE, you can measure from the top of the scapula to the last rib following the back roughly where the middle of the saddle panel will sit (indicated by the green dotted line). Check it on both sides as you will find a difference because of asymmetry.

Take the shortest measurement and you can determine the panel length needed.

Sometimes a rider seeks more comfort in a larger saddle than the back of the horse could normally accommodate. In a WOW saddle it is possible to have a larger seat on a smaller panel – meeting the needs of both horse and rider.

SHAPE

Text is required for this area.

FLAIR – THE AIR FLOCKING SYSTEM

Flair is Air Flocking. Yes, the panels of the saddle are filled with air! And, yes it is proven by pressure testing to be the best thing you can do for the comfort of your horse!

Wool and foam are options, but they compress, are harder to adjust and do not move with the horse.

Flair is a system of four air bags which provide a soft, flexible and even bearing surface without pressure points. Constant contact is made across the back, the air moves out of the way as the muscles flex, and returns as the back constantly changes shape.

Air compresses, giving inbuilt shock absorption. This assist the performance horse and many riders with injuries and ailments.

Unlike a flocked saddle, the adjustments are quickly made whilst the rider sits on the horse. You, or a WOW accredited saddle-fitter, can adjust and balance the saddle perfectly both front to back and side to side.

The Flair accommodates asymmetries in the horse such as uneven muscle development, often caused by poorly fitting saddles or injury. They can be re-adjusted as the horse, and rider, develops.

Flair air bags typically only need need further adjustment if your horse changes shape. For performance riders this may be often, for pleasure riders this may be seasonal or less often. Worried about making a mistake? Let the air out and do it again. air will not hurt your horse.