Ideal Impala Pro Experiences/ Every saddle slips forward!

[k_sandy93]

Been having issues with saddles on a 4yo ISH I got in July. We currently have a Kent and Masters S Series Jump, however it slips forward onto his shoulders, and he does seem very sensitive across his scapula and appears to be very prone to soreness there.

He is a bit of a ****** to find saddles for, all saddles go forward on him, not as badly with a FairFax girth, but still enough to make him sore.. We're currently about to try a point strap and nonslip pad on my saddle to see if that makes a difference.

I went up to try more saddles yesterday to see if we could find ANYTHING that would work, the lady before him used to ride him in an Equipe Monoflap (not sure which model). We got out an Ideal Impala Pro monoflap, and although it did go forward a touch like the rest, he went like a dream in it! Really opened up his shoulders, was more uphill and happy to work. So wondering whether something like that with a short fairfax girth (as mine is only long), would work. Ive heard people suggest its good for horses with big shoulders or are maybe restricted by saddles through the shoulder..


Thanks

 

[Red-1]

Mine has the same problem, and we did have an Impala Pro for quite a while. The only situation I could put my finger on where he was not right was drop fences, where he would not open his shoulder.

Eventually we got a specially made one for him, dressage tree (backward facing points) made into jump saddle (cantle shortened).

I hate it, the balance is not right and the flaps curl under, but the horse loves it and drops off drop fences as though there never was a problem.

I had to do the compromise.

 

[dianchi]

I have a strada saddle on mine for the shoulder reason, however if its only a minor slip why not go old school and use a crupper?

 

[ester]

I think it might depend on why it is slipping.

narrow shoulders, forwards girth groove, bum high? My mum has a mare with all three and a contour ideal (fairfax like ) girth, point strap and stephens gel pad helps but she is still tricky!

 

[Walrus]

Can you find an equipe to try? I've had all sorts of issues with my saddle sliding forwards and have really struggled - just bought a second hand equipe emporio - it sits on him so nicely, i'm totally in love with it! I found such a difference in his movement in a borrowed amerigo and the equipe.

 

[k_sandy93]

I think it might depend on why it is slipping.

narrow shoulders, forwards girth groove, bum high? My mum has a mare with all three and a contour ideal (fairfax like ) girth, point strap and stephens gel pad helps but she is still tricky!

Luckily hes not bum high at all! If you look at him if anything you would think saddles slip back as he has long elongated whithers, big shoulders and a flat back, a massive reason for it moving forward is his girth groove, hence the Fairfax girth which helped temendous amounts, but not quite enough!

 

[k_sandy93]

Can you find an equipe to try? I've had all sorts of issues with my saddle sliding forwards and have really struggled - just bought a second hand equipe emporio - it sits on him so nicely, i'm totally in love with it! I found such a difference in his movement in a borrowed amerigo and the equipe.

Thats interesting! The lady who had him before us to produce for a few weeks had him in an Equipe Synergy (monoflap) and said she never found any issues!

 

[millitiger]

Have you tried the split panel Fairfax saddle?
I have just bought one for my new mare as every single saddle we tried slipped forwards and like yours she is very sensitive about it.
The fairfax saddle was a revelation!

 

[Walrus]

Mine is flat backed, big shouldered with a forward girth groove (he's also a 13.1hh fell pony but same issues apart from the whithers!), the equipe emporio and a fairfax type girth is where we are at the moment with the best results.

 

[sbloom]

Consider a saddle designed for cob and native shapes - a forward girth groove doesn't always need a curved girth (I've not needed to recommend one in six years fitting) but a point strap, on the right saddle, and as short a saddle footprint as you can go to, will usually help. You will also need to make sure the fit is super stable as any instability will enable the horse the shove it forwards in this case. If you need a grippy pad then I'd rethink.