Preventing saddle slip to side?

[skewby]

Hi all, hacked out with my mate on her youngster today, went quite far and her saddle slipped really badly to the right. She's planning on getting a new one anyway, but we're planning on going hunting next week and she won't have it by then! There are various products on the market that claim to prevent sideways slippage (grip pad, gel eze pads, suber pads, string girths) but I wondered if anyone has had this problem and what you might recommend? The horse is a very wide, low withered, round cob (the type for which this problem is common). Any and all advice appreciated, thank you!

 

[vizzielover]

Looking forward to your replies, had exactly the same problem today, it really is a nuisance. Same type of pony, wide with low withers. Lovely comfortable ride though, better bareback!

 

[Steeleydan]

Ive seen this problem you are having, twice, both horses very wide flat back no withers type and both of them had saddles too narrow. If its too narrow a saddle on a wide horse it will"perch" you need the saddle to fit round them more. Hope this is clear dont know if ive made my explanation simple.

 

[CrazyMare]

http://www.caravansplus.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4625

Tada!

I have a wide barrelled pony with absolutly miniman wither and a tendancy to dissapear sideways at speed. Fab stuff, I cut a saddle shape and use it on its own under my saddle.

 

[Diggerdog]

Professional's Choice SMX neoprene lined girths are great. Not cheap, but very grippy.

 

[Janette]

Prolite non slip pads are brilliant. I have tried the geleze type, and Star hated it - don't think she liked it sticking to her back. The prolite one isn't sticky, but does what it says on the tin.

Incidentally, I have a flat backed, witherless cob mare, and my saddle has a tendency to slip.

 

[Honeypots]

This is not meant to be rude but..
do you ride straight? does your horse move straight? because tbh, a saddle shouldn't move.

My daughter and myself used to be very wonky riders

and our saddles (both on barrel type nags) always went over to one side until we had a few good lessons. The instructor picked it up straightaway. I was just crooked cos I'm old

but daughter was crooked because she'd done leadrein and had got used to leaning slightly to the left..
She is on the same pony, same saddle and it now doesn't move. I have learnt to ride more central too and now my saddle doesn't budge either

As a safety belt...my daughter rides with a breastplate and non slip pad

 

[seche]

Gel Eze are brilliant - my very straight horse wears one jumping.

 

[nijinsky]

I use the Barnsby grip pad, it's excellent.

 

[laura_nash]

I had this same problem with my new cob (round pony with no withers). He is one-sided and pushes you to the right, but I wasn't having much luck re-schooling him having to constantly haul the saddle straight every time things went a little wrong.

My saddler recommended a Thorowgood Non-slip numnah. It wasn't that easy to get hold of (had to get it online) but reasonably-priced and works really well. Also, it's machine washable, looks just like a normal numnah when you're riding, and (unlike another non-slip pad I borrowed) doesn't make him sweat excessively. I also use a breastplate as I find that helps.

 

[kit279]

I use a non-slip saddlecloth from Shires - it's just as good as the Barnsby grip ones and much cheaper.

 

[skewby]

Ooh, lots of choices, thank you all!

Steeleydan that may be the case, she is wanting to get a new saddle so hopefully not much longer in this one if it is too narrow. CrazyMare I love your innovation!

Honeypots totally agree with you, either horse, or friend, or saddle, is uneven somehow. It went MILES to the right over the course of our ride. Friend didn't want to put her weight in left stirrup to readjust because she felt it puts strain on the horse's back, but I did point out that going along with it that out of kilter wouldn't do his back any good either!

Will pass on all options to friend and let her decide...

 

[CrazyMare]

Skewby - found it in the garage at home, tried it, because I can't put anything thick under the saddle. Worked a treat!!!

My saddle does fit well, but with the lack of withers and tendancy to dissapear sideways it never stood much chance. My grippy sheets work brilliantly, even had them under a sidesaddle for a full days hunting.

 

[skewby]

You hunt sidesaddle.... :respect:!!!

 

[Kezza]

How about a balance strap? She might even need one on the new saddle.

 

[CrazyMare]

[ QUOTE ]
You hunt sidesaddle.... :respect:!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Sadly no, I can ride Sidesaddle, I just dogsbody when my friends hunt sidesaddle - its a damnsight easier to get ready fot an astride day than an aside day, so I help them then hop on.

 

[Tiffany]

If the saddle fits correctly and both you and your pony are straight it shouldn't move and if it does it's not good for you or your pony. I'd ask a saddler who you trust for their opinion/advice

I certainly wouldn't go hunting until it's sorted.