New Saddle Problems - advice please

janei

janei

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Hi
I dont post too often but have a few times, many of which have been about my saddle problems and have had some great advice. After spending several months riding in a borrowed freemax treeless dressage saddle, had a couple of saddle fitters out and eventually decided to go with one that had been recommended and her recommendation of an Ideal event tree'd wide seat VSD saddle to fit my difficult to fit, chucks everything to the right, snake like horse! Anyway when it came it slipped to the right, it went for a total reflock and then refitted with some slight remedial flocking to overcome tendancy to slip to the right, on the refit my horse was quite straight and well behaved and the saddle seemed perfect, sat nice and securely for a big spook which was a good outcome! So I went for it, since then everytime I have ridden in it it slips to the right, tonight being the worse, horse was really napping and spinning and the saddle slipped so far to the right that althought I was sat central I was actually sitting on the outer left edge of the seat! His back was done 2 weeks ago when I got the saddle so that I could ensure he was really comfy from the start, this is one of his tricks to be really slippery and chuck everything to the right and is an issue I am working on with my instructor but it makes it really difficult with the saddle slipping so much! Any advice on this please, not sure what am asking really I will ring saddle fitter but whats peoples thoughts, he does need to loose weight but again difficult to up work if not stable. My instructor is not sure this saddle fits well either! ~Thanks and sorry its long and thanks for any advice x
 
Not really any help I'm afraid, but a lady on our yard had an Ideal saddle fitted up for her cob. After spending £900 on said saddle she's having the exact same problem you describe, and Ideal want another £50 if she wants it checked again. Not impressed!
 
I had the exact same problem with my cob and have had several different saddles over the years. I eventually got a Lavinia Mitchell saddle made to measure for him and we haven't looked back. I've gone from having to do the girth up tight enough to turn him blue to now being able to do it so I can still put a hand between him and it. This saddle doesn't slip and comes with shims to put in the saddle cloth as your horse gets fitter between the 6 monthly checks. My horse feels lovely in it so well worth the money. Not sure what area you are but my saddle fitter is an independent called Julie Robertson who is based in Surrey. Really really good.
 
This sounds more than just a saddle fitting problem, if every saddles goes to the right it is either him pushing them over or you not sitting level.
What does your physio think, have they commented on him being more muscled one side than the other, have they given you exercises to help keep him straight, if he is nappy there may be a reason for it, not just him messing about because he feels like it.
 
Thanks for your responses, Shadowlflame - I wasnt impressed with the wait time for Ideal but persevered as I had waited so long (3 months!)

Bikerchickone - am a bit far away but thanks anyway and really dont want to have to get another new saddle :eek:

Be positive - you are right this is not just a fit issue, it is an old learnt issue in response to previous injury/pain before my time. In respect of levelness this is something I personally am working on but as my instructor reckons if it was such a major issue, the treeless would have slipped more easily than a well fitting treed? His nappiness is him throwing a tantrum when he doesnt want to do something/go somewhere alone - in the school its easier to work through but I tried to take him through the field yesterday to a build up to solo hacks again now we have a new saddle and test out the saddle - it was awful!

Gonna ring the fitter but just wondered if anyone had any temporary measures to help stop saddle slipping? That way I can ride straight, keep him straight and keep saddle central and work towards overcoming muscle differences!

Thanks!
 
If you have the girth straps to choose from then you can use something like first and third on the side it slips TO, and first and fourth on the side it slips from.

I would hazard a guess that the tree is not flat enough from front to back - either overall, or in the bars themselves, the bits that sit closest to the horse. Does it lift at the back at all in rising trot? Does it sit in balance ie the pommel and cantle are the right height? If you post photos I could help more - girthed firmly with no pad is ideal.
 
Thanks Sbloom, I do have a point strap 4 girth strap options so will try as u suggest, fitter advised to use 1st and 4th on both sides but will play around with this. Will also take pics but this is likely to be weekend now as at work and pitch black when I get down! Thanks again for input :)
 
I have a round flat backed 5 year old whose saddle slips slightly to the right. I have had her back done and the saddle fitter came yesterday. She says my saddle is a good fit and has advised me to use the point strap and middle on the right and back two on the left. We have also threaded the balance strap webbing through the girth straps on the left to try and hold it more central.
She did come with a van load of brand new saddles to try but she is very honest and said I would be no better off with a new one.

I also use an Acavallo thin grip pad and a flexi girth, both of which help a little more.
 
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