Back of saddle slipping?

[MM&PP]

Hello,

I had my Albion checked and re-flocked by a saddler in autumn last year as the back was slipping sideways slightly.

I got on and rode after she flocked and the slipping was still there; if not worse.

She advised that because he was carrying extra weight behind his shoulders (lush summer out at grass) there would be a little slipping but if I had every intention of slimming him down that it would fit and that I may need a prolite rear riser pad.

He then had the winter off (light hacking) and I have bringing him back into work over the past 6 weeks with up-ing his schooling more recently, and as I have increased schooling I have noticed more that the slip is still there. Does this sound correct that the pro-lite rear riser pad would sort the problem in the interim until he drops? I have just finished a very hectic job and now have much reduced hours working from home now so he will be worked a lot more than previously. I was also looking at the Barnsby anti-slip numnah?

The Albion has always fitted him nicely so I am reluctant to just get rid of it if this weight behind his shoulders is potentially the cause; and if the rear riser/anti-slip pad would alleviate the problem whilst I increase his fitness? If someone could suggest why the saddle would slip sideways at the back? Could she have over flocked it? Or has it not 'bedded down' as I haven't ridden in it much?

Apologies for the essay.

Help appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Gloi]

This might be interesting reading. http://www.thehorse.com/articles/29841/saddle-slip-as-an-indicator-of-hind-limb-lameness
It says how saddles slipping sideways can be an early indicator of hind leg lameness. Thinking back it was true in the case of my friend's pony who had a lot of problems with the saddle before he started to become more obviously lame with spavin.

 

[sbloom]

Saddles can slip sideways for all sorts of reasons. It is often down to the horse being asymmetric (have him checked by a McTim chiro or similar) or to the rider being off, but it sounds here like the saddle isn't quite right - if a saddle slips it's not quite a good fit, a good fit means a dynamic good fit ie stable when the horse is ridden in all paces and over jumps where relevant.

It might be overflocked, it might be too narrow, too wide, too curved in the tree or panel...the list goes on. I'd suggest going back to your saddle fitter and asking her to explain how a rear riser will stop sideways slippage (on occasion it can work, but only if the saddle is sitting cantle low, bringing a saddle back into correct front to back balance can cure all sorts of possible issues) and how the issue will resolve itself long term without a rear riser. A saddle should sit in correct balance without pads. If she can't explain how all this will happen then I'd get a second opinion.