CAIR Panels

CAIR

In the early 2000’s Bates Australia launched the CAIR® Cushion System, a truly high performance dynamic saddle panel that ensures even weight distribution and contact over the full bearing surface of the saddle. For the horse, this virtually eliminates pressure points and greatly increases their comfort and freedom of movement.

10 years on, this is now regarded as one of the most significant innovations in saddle design and has proven to be a success worldwide.

Air cushions are used instead of the more typical fillings in the saddle panel thanks to the CAIR® Cushion System. The manner in which CAIR® cushions the horse’s back and evenly distributes the rider’s weight across the horse’s back affords considerable performance advantages.

As soon as the rider’s weight is distributed across the saddle, the air cushions are successfully positioned in a position where they are sandwiched between the tree and the back of the horse. The weight of the rider causes the surrounding air to become dynamic, constantly reshaping itself to imitate the horse’s flexing muscles. This creates a consistent contact over a much greater footprint, which may be thought of as the weight-bearing region on the horse’s back. As the surface area that bears the weight of the load is increased, the pressure exerted (per square centimetre or square inch) is reduced by a considerable amount. The horse will experience the greatest level of comfort and have the greatest amount of freedom of movement when the weight of the rider is distributed evenly throughout the whole weight-bearing surface of the saddle panel.

Due to the dynamic nature of air, it is able to function in conjunction with the muscles of the horse, rather than the muscles of the horse having to work around a stationary panel (Flock or Foam). In addition, air offers the best possible shock absorption, which decreases the amount of muscular damage caused by the horse’s effort.