Please, give me a CLUE

grandmaweloveyou

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 May 2007
Messages
2,004
Location
Sussex
Visit site
The saddle that came with my 14.3hh Irish (wide) cob does not fit, its not a bad fit BUT it slips alot. It sits ok at the withers and its not too banana shaped at the back but its the slipping that is annoying the hell out of me, and him I am sure SO: What sort of size would you THINK I would be looking at, just to give me a head start this weekend please. I was thinking about 17" and how do I measure the saddles I look at? PS: in the meantime I have now got a non slip nunmnah to try
frown.gif
 
Get the fit looked at by a proper saddler.

My saddle seems to fit my boy perfectly, but slips round because he has such a flat cobby table back and no withers(and I'm a bit unbalanced).
 
Get a good saddler out.

But it may just be that the build of your horse means that the saddle will slip.
 
17" refers to the seat size, thus is more relevant to you than him (though obviously the bigger the seat the longer the saddle, too big and it will be sitting on his loins). The saddle size is normally stampped under the saddle flap. Probably best to get a saddler out to fit.
 
thanks everyone and the link was superb! i had someone knowledgeable check it out 2 weeks ago and she said that it was not a bad fit at all, its just the slipping which as you say, might just be the way it is with his flat broad cobby back - he is bathed alot which doesnt help i.e. slippery back. any tips on girths - are they a contributory factor or not really?
 
Which way does it slip? You can have point straps put on, and using a broad grippy girth like the Pro choice ones can help.
 
I found using a Humane girth helps (especially if you use the front and back girth straps) -
Aerborn%20girth%203inch-300x300.jpg


Also if saddle slipping back a breast plate may help. If you use Showsheen don't put in on the saddle area!!!
 
Three points, bearing in mind you have had the saddle looked over by a fitter & deemed suitable:

1. If the saddle is slipping backwards, add a breastplate. If the saddle is slipping sideways a LOT......it is probably your balance as much as anything, so practise riding without stirrups etc......a LOT! lol

2. Girths. Try a Stubben Trevira (string type). These are excellent for 'tabletop' types, as they spread the load & don't cause excessive sweating, don't rub & don't go 'crunchy' if they do get sweated on.
They are easy to wash & stay soft even after repeated washing & drying.

3. Numnahs. We found the soft, slightly padded (brushed cotton feel) Stubben numnahs to be very good for helping with slipping, yet they don't cause excessive sweating. They do soak it up pretty effectively however & stay in place quite well.

If you're still not happy, we have found that saddles accommodating large shoulders will also give more freedom of movement & seem less inclined to slip, so perhaps a different style?
MD is currently riding the Baggage in a much straighter cut old-fashioned WH type saddle & really likes it! She jumps in it & everything!

Good luck! We know how it feels, having had a cob of the 'wide load' variety.......always a problem with saddles if your horse either resembles a) a dining table or b) a toilet roll with legs!
grin.gif
 
I had a saddler come and fit me and my very heavy trad cob with a saddle - we now have an extra wide saddle with a 16inch seat. She tried various makes and brands before getting the right fit. She did warn me not to use girths with any elastic - because of his roundness any saddle would slip from side to side.
She recommended a gel pad too rather than a numnah to prevent slipping. To be honest I dont use it as the saddle is fine with an ordinary numnah.
Conformationally traditional cobs are short in the back so be careful that you get a saddle that fits you in seat size but that it is not sitting too much on his loins as someone else said earlier.
If you can afford to have one fitted it it is a great investment and only fair to the horse too (I had just finished a load of overtime in work which helped) - the difference in his way of going and my seat since getting the saddle is amazing.
Good luck
 
[ QUOTE ]
I found using a Humane girth helps (especially if you use the front and back girth straps) -
Aerborn%20girth%203inch-300x300.jpg


Also if saddle slipping back a breast plate may help. If you use Showsheen don't put in on the saddle area!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Also those girths helped me!! Def recommended!
 
Top