Asymmetrical Pelvis causing saddle slipping...

[EquestrianFairy]

I've owned my boy since 2008 and we knew he had an accident as a youngster where he possibly fractured his pelvis, he was left very unlevel behind which lots of physio helped with.

He has physio and saddle checks every 3 months without fail but his saddle always, always slips.

A year ago he had a nasty fall and had an inflamed ligament in his back which was injected, he was xrayed head to toe and found with the start of arthritis in his stifles which was also Injected- sound and given a year off.

Brought back into work and his hip dropping is slightly worse than before, tested again- nothing wrong, sound, happy, working properly from behind, top line looking great so suggested to just get on with it.

Now, I know him well, he is happy ATM but his saddle is slipping worse than ever, I've changed saddlers 4 times.. And bought a brand new Ideal saddle in the meantime.. Still happening.

Vet out- horse is still sound, still tracking up etc.

He said the dropping of his hip is pushing the saddle over which is what I'm feeling, however that's all well and good but how can I solve it?

I have a prof choice girth but it's driving me insane, it can't be good having to keep pulling the saddle back over all the time.

 

[Wheels]

Is the saddle actually slipping over so you have to keep adjusting it or does it just feel that way?

I would try and find a remedial saddler - it might be as simple as adjusting the flocking on one side / shim one side / use asymmetrical girthing but you really need someone knowledgable about these things to work it through with you and the horse

 

[EquestrianFairy]

According to everyone else it's actually slipping.. And the photos show the same BUT (this is what is weird) it slips to the right YET it feels to me that's it's slipping to the left.

 

[twiggy2]

If the horse is dropping a hip I would not class it as sound

 

[Bernster]

Sorry can't help but following as my horse also has a slightly unlevel pelvis and a slightly less well muscled on one side under the saddle, possibly caused by poor saddle in the past but poss also the unlevel pelvis. Although in my boy's case it's v mild, as he flew a 5 stage vetting and moves straight and saddler doesn't feel it's necessary to do anything to respond to it as yet, as he's young and still developing muscle. But in terms of advice, I did have one saddler recommend we use a mattes saddlecloth with shims on the left rear side (with less muscle) and front right, to help counter the movement. I ended up going to a different saddler in the end but I wonder if that's a possibility for yours?

 

[SallyBatty]

You could try this stuff:-

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AVJ9G...m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1XMT97YK8TQXKE43YX98

My saddles fit fine and saddles and back are checked regularly but my mare's saddle slipped slightly. I have now tacked this stuff to the bottom of her saddlepads and use one on top between the pad and the saddle and no longer have a problem. It is very thin so doesn't affect the fit of the saddle and because it has holes it does not make the horse sweat more than usual.

 

[twiggy2]

Sorry can't help but following as my horse also has a slightly unlevel pelvis and a slightly less well muscled on one side under the saddle, possibly caused by poor saddle in the past but poss also the unlevel pelvis. Although in my boy's case it's v mild, as he flew a 5 stage vetting and moves straight and saddler doesn't feel it's necessary to do anything to respond to it as yet, as he's young and still developing muscle. But in terms of advice, I did have one saddler recommend we use a mattes saddlecloth with shims on the left rear side (with less muscle) and front right, to help counter the movement. I ended up going to a different saddler in the end but I wonder if that's a possibility for yours?

We had one at work that passed a five stage vetting with an asymmetrical pelvis, he had been there for 18months before I arrive and was asked to lunge him, I pulled him up as I thought he was lame, instructors (x2) disagreed, work continues and I kept saying he was not right, he started putting in very dirty stops when show jumping but not when do cross country phase, I kept saying he was lame but everyone else disagreed eventually my vet came out-he agreed horse was not right and agrees pelvis is not asymmetrical but the horse has abnormal muscle development-this was confirmed with xrays-horse went on to have arthroscopy of the stifle and returned to work as a light hack and is happier and more settled than he ever was here.

 

[Annagain]

I think you're in my area? Which saddlers have you used? I might be able to recommend one. PM me if you'd prefer

 

[hollyandivy123]

According to everyone else it's actually slipping.. And the photos show the same BUT (this is what is weird) it slips to the right YET it feels to me that's it's slipping to the left.

i think you are counter balancing which is why it feels the opposite, have you riding bare back do you still feel the same slip or do you balance out.

my friend had this problem, and ended up treeless.............which worked better as it compensated for the bend in the back caused by the asymmetrical pelvis

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

My mare has an unlevel pelvis due to an accident when she was younger. She's successfully competed at Endurance with her previous owner and I've got used to her feeling of being unlevel now.

I have found the best saddle for her is a treeless one as it somehow absorbs the unlevelness. My choice is a "Tree Free" Exmoor saddle; she's also been ridden in Barefoots by her previous owner, which suited her equally well.

OP - it might be that YOU need checking over by a physio as well as your horse. I have the same person to do me, as I do my horses (she's McTimoney) and frequently where you have an issue of being a-symetrical with either a horse or rider, it impacts on the other. So I would suggest that as your horse has an obvious issue, that you too should have some physio as it is possible that because of this, you are riding unlevel.

Just a thought.

 

[Bernster]

My mare has an unlevel pelvis due to an accident when she was younger. She's successfully competed at Endurance with her previous owner and I've got used to her feeling of being unlevel now.

I have found the best saddle for her is a treeless one as it somehow absorbs the unlevelness. My choice is a "Tree Free" Exmoor saddle; she's also been ridden in Barefoots by her previous owner, which suited her equally well.

OP - it might be that YOU need checking over by a physio as well as your horse. I have the same person to do me, as I do my horses (she's McTimoney) and frequently where you have an issue of being a-symetrical with either a horse or rider, it impacts on the other. So I would suggest that as your horse has an obvious issue, that you too should have some physio as it is possible that because of this, you are riding unlevel.

Just a thought.

Very sensible idea !

 

[ozpoz]

Have you had a look at the Saddle Research Trust website? Sue Dyson did some research on saddle slip and I found it really interesting that a well fitting saddle will slip more than a poorly fitting one on an asymmetric horse.
From past experience, not all vets can recognise hind limb or back lameness so maybe another qualified opinion is good here. Again, SRT have a referral scheme for this.
i agree with MJR2BT as well, re getting checked out yourself.

 

[mytwofriends]

One of my boys is asymmetrical. His saddle has always slipped to the right - not far, and once it finds the spot it wants to sit, it stays put and never caused a problem.

My late friend, who owned him before me for 6 years, had tried numerous saddles and found the only one which fit was a Saddle Company one. I've had it reflocked, and the saddler suggested asymmetrical girthing, which helped quite a lot.

I've had him myself for 5 years now, and when I had our back lady out earlier in the year, she thinks he might have been "squashed" in the womb as it's that pronounced, especially to the expert eye. He was perfectly sound (not now, due to torn DDFT, but we won't go there!)

I agree with getting yourself checked out too, OP. You'll help yourself and your horse.

 

[Dizzydancer]

Not sure whether your girth is elasticated but my mate has an old Pelvis injury and in her dressage saddle when unfit she has a tendency to roll her rib cage and cause the saddle to look like it moves it is ony in trot and once fit and strong behind she has no issues. Saddler recommended we use a girth with no elastic or elastic on the Middle rather than the ends and this does improve it no end- also have to be prepared to shim/flock if the pelvis gets worse as she ages. if you do use a girth with elastic at one end then that is definitly not a good option but make sure it is done with the elastic on the side the saddle moves toward not away from as apparently it would make it worse if it's on the opposite side as allows more stretch and movement.
Obviously every horse is different and yours sounds like his pelvis is quite out mine is barely noticeable unless you know what to look at.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Does it move forward too? I have a pony with no withers and a more developed left shoulder. The saddle would go forwards and slip to the right, however, I put a crupper on her and that stopped it going forwards therefore stopped it going to the right too.

Also don't use a girth with one elastic end as they make it all worse. Either both ends, the middle or no elastic. Don't use a girth extender either.

 

[EquestrianFairy]

Thanks all..

I've booked the vet- again, for tomorrow morning.

Trotted him up and he's still not lame BUT he is looking stiffer than normal on his right hind.

I've just paid £240 for a fairfax girth so knowing my luck it's going to be much worse, although I need to remind myself that he's 14 now and he's going to have stiffer days. He had an Osteo and a Physio out three weeks ago, I am very very anal about his back being checked, no pain was found and they said he was looking brilliantly well.

*sigh* this couldn't have happened at a worst time.