A small story about saddles and my credit card bill.....help please!!!

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Agent XXX999

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Afternon guys. Please help me on this one I am stumped.

I bought Bruce in October.....I rode him in my old Hastilow Event saddle, until it started slipping back (even though the saddler said it fitted) which is when I stopped using it and bought

Pessoa jumping saddle - sipped back.

Martin Klinsey?!? dressage saddle - slipped back -

So I rejected those options and bought

And albion K2 jumping saddle

and an Appaloosa dressage saddle.

In December. Both of which were fitted by a very well respected Saddle fitter......however.

The second time I rode in the Appaloosa it rubbed his back so badly he got sores
About 6 weeks after I got the K2 it started to slip back (even with a breast plate)....
Soooooooo

I bought from his old owner his old saddle....a Stubben Skandika jumping saddle. All was great for the past 3 months, it stayed in place hurrah. However....guess what? It has started to slip (even with breastplate). Saddler fitted that one too. - different one this time.

OH GOD. So I have run out of money on my credit card.....bugger. I have 4 saddles now which are rejected as all slipping....and yes my girth is tight enough! Not sure what to do now. Where do I go from here?

He has not changed shape that dramatically, muscled yes but you put all of the aforementioned saddles on and they fit, they just slip back.....HELP!!!!!! What shall I do?!
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silly question but have you tried those pads that are supposed to stop your saddle slipping?
 
No disrespect but an angle you may want to think about....have you access to a really good instructor as I do wonder if it may be your position or something to do with the way the horse moves under you thats causing this??

Or you might want to change saddle fitters? If the saddles are slipping then to my mind they DONT fit!
 
How far is it slipping back ,just a thought because some people think they should stay too far forward and it may just be going to the correct place for that horse!
 
PMSL yes they are both for sale. Are PM's working?

Spaniel the same thing happens with my flatwork guy (Markus Bowyer, so I think his position should be OK) and the girl that schools him in the week....and my SJ instructor. However my position is dire at times and the thought had crossed my mind myself!
 
I had the same problem so got a custom made saddle made for my horse. It fits like a glove even if I forget to do the girth up.
 
Probably another silly question, but how far back does the saddle go? and how far forward do you have it to start with? Being a mainly showing person I tend to have saddles an inch or two further back than SJ/dressage people, and it does them no harm at all. Obviously if it's slipping back a lot further than that, it's more of an issue. I'd try a gel pad and take up Spaniel's suggestion, if you haven't already.
 
Unfortunatly as with every horsey preofession there are saddle fitters and then there are Saddle Fitters. No idea where you are but could be worth contacitn the worshipful company of saddlers and finiding the best in your area?

If you are east anglia way I can recommend a very very good lady.

Put all the other saddles up for sale now and sell which ever you get offers for then with the proceeds get a new saddle from a good fitter and yes probably made to order or custom fit.

Mac went through ermm 4 saddles in the two years he was in workp purley down to muscle changes and the last one was the perfect fit. (sob which I got to ride in 4 times and it's value has halved because of it sniff)
 
Does your horse have any small hollows near his withers/shoulders at all? One of my horses had those when we first got her. A saddler showed me some massages to do to build her back up and we no longer have any saddle fit issues. Also if there are any "gaps" where the muscles are developing/changing shape then fibregee is great to use to pad them out, and once the muscles have come back you take it out sheet by sheet.

With my gelding we are on saddle number 4, so can well sympathise with you... The most comfy one we had until our latest one was a lovely Albion K2 GP. Hubby thinks I am setting up a tack shop with all these blooming saddles.

My other thought was that it sounds like your horse is working really well through his back now, which would lead to the fit of his saddle altering in any event. It is a minefield, it really is. Am literally today sending a letter threatening bankruptcy proceedings against a previous saddle fitter if they don't collect the last saddle within 7 days and refund in fulll. (That's not the K2, but a different one).
 
Your saddles obviously arent being fitted properly if they are slipping. Id get rid of whoever your saddler is and find a decent one.

Its either that or your horse is changing shape constantly
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You shouldnt need to use pads etc under saddles, they should fit without.
 
Hmmm....he is supposed to be the best in the south. KLD? Has a colum in hoofbeat or pegasus or one of those?

It slips back so the girth is about 2 inches back from where it should be. The Jumping saddle slipped back so much that the girth was resting on the thight rolls, if that makes any sense?

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whereabouts are you in the south? I use Tom Day from TDS and hes fantastic, they are in FourMarks, near Alton.

Oh and forgot to say in previous post - put all your saddles for sale on ebay with a low starting bid and no reserve, you should get a good price on them providing they are in good condition. They will sell better if you dont put a reserve on them too.
 
OMG KLD !!!

He's been around for years - since 1980 at least and I can remember some of his saddle fitting from way back then.......................

I think I'd definitely get a 2nd opinion - if it was a farrier or a vet you'd not hesitate and the number of saddles you've been thru.....

Another idea - has either your dressage or SJ trainer got a saddle(s) you can try on him and see if they fit - so you have perhaps an idea of another brand or type that might work ?
 
We put our saddles as far back as possible and get cross when they slip forwards! Anyway - have you tried a four strap saddle which gives you more choices of how to anchor it in position. We also use limpet pads which help keep them from moving. They are brilliant. Finally, have you been bathing your horse and putting something slippery over the saddle area? That again is a reason for some of the saddles moving where they shouldn't.
 
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Erm what is a WOW saddle?

He has got very high withers, and huge movement, so could the movement affect it?

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LOL have you missed the billions of posts there have been on them! WOW's seem particularly good for fitting hard to fit horses, as they can be adjusted infinitely, so should he muscle up any more or change shape, the saddle can be adjusted by a fitter, rather than you having to buy another saddle.

Tierra, Weezy and quite a few othershave WOW saddles! They are pricey, about £1600 I think, but of course that is cheaper than buying 4 saddles gulp!
 
We have had KLD out to our yard before and were not impressed. I have veen impressed with frogpool and also Andrew Reilly saddlers
 
Sounds like you need to sell all 4 saddles and get yourself a WOW, or a least get a WOW fitter out and just try one, but be warned you WILL love it, and your horse will.
My friends Andy was very hard to fit, same as yours big movement, etc, well it fits perfectly AND its improved him no end including 3rd at BD champs.

Have a look here-
http://www.wowsaddles.com/index.htm
 
There may be a very simple remedy, and one I have used many times in my life. Most saddles have three girth straps, try girthing up using differing combinations, first & third, or second & third. Eventually, you will find the solution, as it is usually a question of the horse's conformation. No cost to you, and definitely worth trying!
 
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