Help Needed from flat backed horse owners !!!

G

Gentle_Warrior

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 December 2006
Messages
2,529
Visit site
ok, this now has to be sorted !!! H is Suffolk Punch x Cob and has no withers and a flat table top back. The saddle I bought him with did not fit and has been changed to a wintec by a very good saddler and fits perfectly, he can actually use his shoulders !!!

Trouble is = his saddle has always slipped to the side, for me this is not such an issue as I can ride competently so can shunt and adjust weight to put back in place etc.

Problem is = he does RDA work during the week and so has un balanced un able to ride people on him. One of the clients fell off him on Tuesday because his saddle slipped.
frown.gif


I was not there. His girth is always tight enough but makes no difference. you can't get on from the floor with him because it ALWAYS slips no matter what you do.

Would a breast plate help this ? and if so what make and model would you suggest ???

the other issue is that he is VERY wide chested so needs a make that at least goes to extra full. before having to admit defeat and getting one specially made.

Here is a pic so that you get an idea of his build.

Please help me I do not want anyone else slipping off and losing their confidence on him
confused.gif


P5070006.jpg
 
Maybe a stretchy over girth and breast plate for the disabled? Also you know those things that are like a rubber perforated material, to slip between the saddle and him, like a grippy rubber webbing - eventers use it do you know the stuff?

I have a friend who has a show fat cob, flat back, fat belly, big shoulders, etc she swears by the "ideal" saddle. That is an expensive one to try though.
 
1, PLAY AROUND WITH THE GIRTHING!

2, Use a girth with EITHR elastic both ends... or no elastic... not one with elastic one end.

3, Go to Wilkinsons (or another discount store) buy a role of non slip mesh mat. Cut out a piece and use it under the saddle. This is just as good as any gripper saddle pad.

4 Sometimes saddles bale to one side becaus ethe horse is wonky. Draft horses and their crosses are very stoical and will put up with a lot of discomfort. If the horse has developed lop sided or has a twinge that is making him go lop sided, a physio might suggest schooling and exercises that would end the saddle slipping for ever... worth asking about at your horses next routine once over with the physio.

Be careful about hoyking the saddle back in to place. YOu can give the horse a very bad back that way.

I know that you have just bought a saddle, but the slipping is not helped by those huge shoulders. Horses like yours benifit from a VSD or dressage type saddle as it allows much more fredom in the shoulder.
 
If the back of the saddle always slips to one side, then he is uneven in muscle development (usually on loins) and you should ask a saddler to come and flock/remove flock til it stays put when worked (most saddlers are happy to do this).
If the whole saddle slips round when mounting, it could just be lack of withers...and a limpet or impact pad might help with grip, or 'balance straps' fitted as they are on side saddles may help. His conformation probably doesn't help as he doesn't have clearly defined withers.
Can the RDA not use a mounting block for mounting/dismounting?
S
smile.gif
 
Thank you, what do you mean by over girth ?? have tried all sort of girths on him, no elstic, part elastic, all elastic you name it, but have not tried a string one yet !!!
 
A point strap would be a fourth girth strap, as usually fitted to the Wintec wide/cob saddles. Playing around with the girthing then helps to stabilise the saddle, your saddler could possibly fit one.
Another vote for Limpet pads or similar here, I used one on the Highland when she was especially rotund to keep the saddle central.
Also agree that if the saddle always slips to the same side, it is likely that the horse is a little uneven, or it could be as simple as the stirrup leathers being slightly different lengths and more pressure being put on one than the other?
 
[ QUOTE ]
It does always seem to go to the right for me. not sure what side the client fell from though !!

Thank you for your help

[/ QUOTE ]

It might be worth trotting up for soundness as he may be a bit stiff behind and thus dropping a hip.
He's damned handsome though. I may steal him.
S
laugh.gif
 
Thank you, he generally suffers from stiffnes, so have started him on glucosomine for the winter to help.

he is a head turner, times like this though are just a hassle !!!

but worth it
 
don`t wish to offend but he does seem to have some fat deposits.if these were gone maybe the saddle would sit different.
 
Had exactly the same problem - solution was - saddler put a balance girth strap on (very cheap to do) and advised me to use a sutubbens string girth and also a limpet pad - good luck x
 
[ QUOTE ]
don`t wish to offend but he does seem to have some fat deposits.if these were gone maybe the saddle would sit different.

[/ QUOTE ]

Some of us prefer the word 'voluptuous' or even 'love handles'. I'd like to explain to you that these ahem 'deposits' are in fact dormant topline, waiting to become highly tuned muscle....so my mare says.
S
laugh.gif
 
Does the saddle always slip to the same side? If so there's likely to be an underlying prob. with the horse, and I think I'd look for a reputable "back person" to check him out. He's lovely. Whats he like to ride?
 
I too have a very wide cob. I spent many a ride hanging from the side of my horse. I found that if i used a Jeffries non slip saddle cloth and a girth with no elastic i was fine. I have recently changed to a treeless saddle (Prob not good for RDA) and its fab. Thought it might just slip round but it doesn't move and apart from having to get used to the even wider feeling and walking like John Wayne
blush.gif
to start with i now find it really comfy and my horse does too.
 
Look at him from in front and behind. Does his chest etc look symmetrical? If not then it may be due to a 'fixable' cause as others suggest, or it may be his natural build. People aren't always born symmetrical either.

Over stuffing one side of the saddle can help to counteract the larger muscle on one side constantly throwing the saddle over to the other side if this is the cause.

Whatever you do don't use a thick numnah as this aggravates the problem of saddle roll on well built cobs.
 
saddle does always slip to the right, he is an armchair ride !! in all manner of terms, even when he bucks like a rodeo, he is Very easy to sit to and has a good turn of speed on him
 
thank you, an old farrier noticed he had a bruised shoulder which then made me doubt his old saddle, and in short it was restricting his shoulders and causing the bruising. Changed to wintec and now he can happily use his shoulders and strides lovely. it was such a change to get used to . I had bought a stuffy cob and now he moves so freely. I cant remember which shoulder was bruised but i think it was the right, which would sum up why the saddle slips to the right I suppose, will try stubben girth and saddle cloth.

never use thick saddle cloths, his are always the thin ones, as said by saddler !! so pleased fine one I can trust. might get him out to have a sum up.

thank you
 
thank you !!! I know he is a little porky, but am doing eveything I can to control. he has 1 day off a week, getting only little feed for supplements. He can not wear a muzzel, or strip grazed and can not be stabled.

he is actually suposed to be that build - he is not your thouroughbred !!!!!

you have been rill

thank you

xx
 
not offended but do not agree, I am doing everything possible and the winter is now coming so he is currently perfect weight for begining of winter.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top