Does anyone (else) have a horse with a 'backwards' girth groove?

[soloequestrian]

I'm looking at spending quite a lot on the Mattes Athletico girth because it's the only one I can find that has been designed for this shape of horse. Just seeing if anyone else has had this problem and come up with a cheaper solution before I do that. If I was 100% sure it would provide a solution it wouldn't be so bad, but it will be experimental. My saddle stays put in the arena but slips back while we're out hacking (steep hills, big-moving horse). It only slips to a certain point so I think if the girth was already at that point when we started the saddle would be fine.

 

[soloequestrian]

Am I really the only one?!

 

[Hallo2012]

i found a totally straight pro choice ventech helps.

cant do sheepskin as pony is too flat on top and saddle rolls round but a straight girth has helped anchor it forward.

 

[Birker2020]

Are you referring to a horse whose girth line is further back than normal due to its conformation?
This is why I am wondering if my horse is girthy because of how or where the girth sits.
Having a saddle fit on Friday so watching this post with interest.

 

[soloequestrian]

Yes, the girth seems to want to sit further back than it would on most horses. She doesn't actually have a dent, she is just a bit hairy and the girth flattened the hair where it sat!

 

[Lady Jane]

@soloequestrian I think the girth position looks normal but a pic with the saddle on would be easier to tell

 

[soloequestrian]

When the girth sits where it was before that picture was taken the saddle is too far back. I like a saddle that is well clear of the shoulder blade but it ends up at a point where it's unbalanced for me. The horse doesn't care at all!
Do the VenTech girths rely on being slightly sticky?

 

[sbloom]

Is it worth rebalancing the saddle? Lifting the front slightly stops most saddles running backwards.

 

[Lady Jane]

I would have the saddle checked before you spend money on a girth

 

[soloequestrian]

Saddle is already well lifted in front - I trained with Balance International so use their system. It's in good balance most of the time, just gets low in front when everything shifts back and that's only when we're hacking.
I wonder, given their shape, if the Fairfax is actually better for a forward girth groove... maybe I should just try a straighter girth like the VenTech but perhaps with less stickiness (not keen on that, I think if the horse was going to object it would be to do with hair being pulled!).

 

[sbloom]

The Fairfax is definitely for a forwards girth groove. Is there a balance strap on the saddle? That would almost certainly help.

 

[soloequestrian]

No, it's a Heather Moffett saddle so they only come with two straps. The rear one has two attachment points though. I'll try a straight girth to start with, thank you for all the help!

 

[sbloom]

No, it's a Heather Moffett saddle so they only come with two straps. The rear one has two attachment points though. I'll try a straight girth to start with, thank you for all the help!

Sliding vee? Try stitching through the webbing with the girth strap pulled back as far as it will go whilst not contorting the webbing itself.

 

[soloequestrian]

So I thought the saddle was fine in the school but today I had a lesson and my instructor thought it was too far back even there. It goes further back when we are hacking. I'm second guessing myself now about the school, what do we think:

 

[I'm Dun]

Whether its too far back or not, it looks too long. I think you have a saddle issue rather than a girth issue