Maryland Saddlery's Guide to Choosing and Fitting Saddles Issue 1 | Page 9

What’s in a saddle?
Panels are the cushions under the
saddle that are divided by a channel
called a gullet. Panels give a
comfortable padded surface and
shock absorption to the horse’s
back while raising the tree high
enough to give easy clearance of
the animal’s spine. The panels also
disperse the rider’s weight over a
larger surface, thereby protecting
the horse from the weight of the
rider. These panels also protect the
horse’s back from the hardness of
the saddle tree.

Saddles are stuffed with:

◦ Wool – can be replaced
◦ foam – cannot be replaced
◦ Felt – can be replaced
bladders – can be changed
◦ air
to wool
◦ and any combination of the four

You can detect the material in the
panels by inspecting the underside
of the panels.
Gusseted panel are generally wool
flocked/stuffed.

Properties and Benefits of
Wool Flocking
•

•
•

The heat and moisture from
the horse as you ride molds
the wool panels to the shape
of the horse’s back.
As it ages and packs it can
be replaced.
It can be adjusted to make
the saddle fit horses back.