long shoulder blades+backward girth groove=slipping saddle, anything i can do?

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

as title, CS has hugely long shoulders and a very backward girth groove so saddle tends to slip back. it IS fitted correctly (and i do trust my saddler), and it doesnt seem to bother him, but if i could just keep it an inch or two further forward, it would really help my position i think.

would a shaped girth help? Bruce has a curved one to help keep his saddle from moving forward, could i try that on backwards on CS?!

gel pad?

riser pad of some form?

saddle seems to move less with show pads on (they get less use so are still mega fluffy), which is odd as i would have though thicker dead sheep=less room=shoulders push it back more???????

(oh saddle IS fitted to accomodate dead sheep)

heeeeeeeeeelp!

 

[SpottedCat]

Why don't you just use a breastplate?

 

[kit279]

Barnsby grip pad - it absolutely stops this!

 

[hellspells]

I've just had similar things with one of my saddles. The saddler check and although it does fit he suggested I used a thicker than normal pad (so Half a dead sheep pad at the moment). I do use a shaped girth.

We used gel pads (the sticky kind). On most of the horses on the yard (accept the above). And it does make a difference to some of the saddles that move a little bit. (I don't think they would make any difference to saddles that move a lot).

 

[ihatework]

My last horse had these issues:

Breastplate helped to a certain extent but the 2 main things that really solved the problem was a professional choice girth combined with a grip pad. Barnsby do a good one but there are other companies that do cheaper versions. The Thorogood one I tried wasn't too bad.

 

[Britestar]

Some sort of sticky pad would probably help. No to risers, as this will just push the saddle onto his shoulders, and be uncomfortable for him.

Prof choice girths do seem to help this problem too, as said above.

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

ok thanks

should have said that only a 5point breastplate helps (but doesnt toally stop it) but for BD thats going to look really odd. a normal breastplate makes no differance.

will investigate grip/gel pads,ta.

 

[Tempi]

Get a WOW H Girth - the best invention on the planet IMO! Wouldnt be without mine. Keeps Bloss's saddle nice and secure even when she was a fat rolly poley!

http://www.wowsaddles.com/wow/wowaccessories.htm

 

[BuzzLightyear]

another for the neoprene Professional Choice dressage girth,

Saddle doesnt move an inch on the big moving KWPN i ride.

 

[flyingfeet]

Welcome to my club!!!

Answer is a WOW saddle with military girth and a 5 point breastplate with a pro choice girth (and remember to tighten it as had to get off this morning and reposition!!)

This without a breastplate post hunting, saddle is in roughly right place, but have to let the girth go back, but need the breastplate to stop it going this far:

 

[druid]

Chamois leather or interweb under your pads?

 

[MiaBella]

Another vote for pro-choice girth, plus solutions saddle (treeless) so can sit further forwards as no points for shoulder to push back - however doesn't give rider as much support.

Sheepskin tends to move quite a bit, so better with a grippier saddlecloth and prolite or similar to give the padding. If you have sheepskin saddlecloth and sheepskin girth then there is no grip to be had and will easily shift. Chamois works (have chamois Numed high wither saddle cloth for under treeless saddle), treeless doesn't move with that and pro choice neoprene girth, despite big shoulders and a liking for showing the world his belly and spinning.

 

[ester]

the thin geleze pads are the best we have found (though opposite problem forwards not backwards!) and they are thin enough not to effect saddle fit and stay sticky, we use under a dead sheep numnah.

 

[TarrSteps]

If you can, try a non-slip before you buy - I've had a few horses really object and get tight in the back in the stickier ones. Have you looked at the Ecogold pads? I think many of their pads are non-slip and they target the upper level market so get good feedback. Not cheap but lovely pads and I think they have a UK rep now.

 

[Saratoga]

What girth size is CS? I have a black pro choice dressage girth i'm not using at the mo that you can try, but it's quite big.....

 

[kerilli]

does it need to be where it is, to be behind the shoulderblade? Kay Humphries (excellent saddler) told me that horses will 'put' the saddle where it feels best. if so, then that's where it needs to be, and he'll carry it best there.
otherwise, i'd try a wide webbing girth, a Stubben or similar. they have a large surface area and give quite a bit of grip but are still comfy for the horse, and don't chafe. happy to lend you one to try if you want, i have a couple.

 

[alwaysbroke]

Have got a Barnsby grip pad in the tack room if you would like to borrow it to try.

 

[amage]

A non slip pad specifically designed for racing...they are cheaper and usually grippier!!

 

[deskbound]

Another vote for a sticky pad - but rather than shelling out, go to your local caravanning type shop and get a roll of the sticky stuff they use as table mats etc. Much cheaper and just as effective ! The breastplates with a broad strap around front, thin one over wither (can't recall name.....) are also good...

 

[Kallibear]

Impressive picture Jen_Cots: my horse's girth does the exact same thing if ridden without a breast plate.

OP- other than letting your horse get fat (it create's a naturally more forwards girth groove ) try playing the with the girth rigging. Using the middle and balance (back) strap (easy to fit one if needs be) may help the saddle stay where it should be.

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

saddle is bates innova so only 2 straps, can fiddle with tension on the Y strap though if anyone can tell me which bit needs tightening!

K-i think it goes back to where it needs to be, and then an inch/inch and a half too far as theres nothing to stop it keep going back due to his shape. so i just want to keep it where it should be, which is still further back than looks ideal, but works better for him.

have borrowed a gel eze pad from a mate to try, so if no joy with that will pm all those who have made kind offers.

he's a 26 girth, but could take a 28 to try.

oh and for a TB he is fairly chubby, not fat, but rounder than most, cant see ribs etc. prob was worse last winter when he ran up a bit light, but has been on an intensive programme of eating this winter!

tried the curved girth the normal way tonight and that made no diff, so will try it the *wrong way* tomorrow and report back.

 

[beatrice]

Have similar problem with my boys. My saddler told me saddles with point straps will enhance this issue as the girth straps want the girth sit too far forward so the girth then works its way backwards until its sitting where it wants to, taking the saddle with it (sorry if that doesn't make sense, it does in my head!)

I now girth up using the back 2 straps, allows girth to sit where it needs to without dragging the saddle back with it. Works a treat on my Jump Saddle, it now doesn't move even without a breastplate with a sheepskin lined numnah.

I did have a Bates Innova but have given up with it so next week will hopefully be getting some form of dressage saddle which does not have point straps.

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

interesting, i dont really want an entire new saddle as this was customised for me (cair removed, flock added, and knee blocks tweaked) so in every other way its perfct.also my Jag used to move back to and that wasnt a point strap.hmmmm.
wonder if the straps can be tweaked, will ring saddler,thanks.

 

[kerilli]

curved girth curving the wrong way may well be perfect then... hope so!

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

My youngster had a very backwards girth groove and huge shoulders and would instantly push his saddle back to where it wanted to sit. I did worry about this for quite a long time but bought an ergonomic girth and just used a breastplate. It got better the more he muscled up.

 

[Elsbells]

The Professional choice girth gets my vote.

 

[Widgeon]

Afternoon all, apologies for resurrecting an ancient thread but I've got exactly the same issue as the OP, except that mine is a cob with huge shoulders. I do use a breastgirth as a safety net for hacking but IMO strapping the saddle to his chest probably isn't an ideal solution. Like the OP, my saddle has also been fitted by a saddler I completely trust and horse seems very happy in it.

Are the solutions suggested above still my best bet? Or has the last decade provided more / better ideas?

The saddle pad I use is quite smooth and I suspect that's not helping to arrest the slide.