Round cob- slippy saddle

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smellydogjack

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Hello,
I have a roundish cob- but not fat, just built wide. He has just had the saddler again and the saddle is still slipping (only slightly- but enough to feel). I have a new bates all purpose, which on the whole I am please with apart from the slipping.

Would anyone be so kind to recommend me an anti slip pad to try? I have read online about "Limpet Saddle Pads" they are quite expensive so before I make the plunge I was hoping for an honest review.

Any suggestions welcome.

Thank you very much.
 
Hi

Have you tried a chamois leather ( like the ones you would use to wash your car)?

I had a similar shaped cob and my saddler recommended it - did work well.

I also used a 5 point breast plate.
 
Honestly, if the saddle is slipping, it doesn't fit; I'd get the saddler back and get them to fit it properly or recommend a different saddle. Don't get suckered into using expensive pads, point straps, breast plates etc. you need to address the fundamental problem.
 
pansymouse- Agreed however I have already been suckered in to 5 reputable saddlers, and 8 or more hideously expensive saddles. I believe it can be quite a common problem. This saddle seems to be the best and he goes beautifully in it so will just be keen to try an anti slip before I return to the drawing board but thank you for your reply.
 
pansymouse said:
Honestly, if the saddle is slipping, it doesn't fit; I'd get the saddler back and get them to fit it properly or recommend a different saddle. Don't get suckered into using expensive pads, point straps, breast plates etc. you need to address the fundamental problem.
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Totally this^^^^
If the saddle is not fitting right and moving, your weight is not being supported correctly and you could be harming your horses back. I would get the saddler out again or find a saddler who is used to dealing with wider/ flatter horses.

if you are using a pad or anything under a saddle it will affect the fit and again it will need to be looked at.
 
Every saddle I tried slipped on my Welsh C. She's got no withers and is slightly croup high.

I use my Andrea Hicks saddle and a crupper on her now and it doesn't slip sideways.

This wasn't actually made for her it was made for another welsh cob who died. Eventually I will get them to make her her own one.

Worth speaking to them if you go back to the drawing board again.
 
Hi

just placed it across her back and up into the gullet as you would do with a numnah (didn't use a numnah with it). Very soft and didn't cause any problems.

Agree that it is worth getting saddle check by saddler, but she was just barrel like, no withers and quite sharp for a cob! Those shaped like that are difficult to stop the saddle slipping.

I also like the 5 point breast plate as it gave me something to grab as there wasn't much to save you when she spooked!!!
 
smellydogjack said:
pansymouse- Agreed however I have already been suckered in to 5 reputable saddlers, and 8 or more hideously expensive saddles. I believe it can be quite a common problem. This saddle seems to be the best and he goes beautifully in it so will just be keen to try an anti slip before I return to the drawing board but thank you for your reply.
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ok, if the horse is saying its ok for now, pro light do a saddle shaped anti slip sheet which i have used in the past. It works better if it is next to the skin
 
Thank you for all your great replies. He is fresh from saddler its all in all quite a frustrating experience. if someone came along with a guaranteed no slip saddle in buy it in a heart beat but so far I have found nothing. Will look into evryones suggestions further.
 
You need a saddle designed for the type of horse. I learnt the hard way, my first saddler sold me a kent & masters cob saddle. It slipped & she said it was the shape of my horse, couldn't be sorted & recommended a limpet pad.
I then had s bloom out from Andrea hicks native saddles, it was a revelation & horse now has a lovely stable saddle that doesn't require grippy pads or a breastplate. They have numerous saddles designed for the awkward native shape.
 
OP, I share your pain; I paid out nearly £300 in saddler call out fees alone before I got a solution which was far from cheap; I have a Humphreys and Swain saddle fitted by Kay Humphreys which is so well fitting and stable I swear I could ride in it without girth. A couple of friends have gone down the same route and are thrilled with the results.
 
SDJ does the saddle slip with other people on or just you? I only ask as we struggled for literally years with saddles for our round NF. He belongs to my daughter and she is his main rider. We have been through a number of saddles but very recently discovered that that my daughter is the reason for the saddle always just slipping slightly to one side as she has a very mild scoliosis.

She is very competent rider and we were surprised to know that she is the reason ! - just something to put out there :)

We are onto a barefoot now - and daughter rides with uneven stirrups to help compensate.
 
Smurf's Gran- yes it does slip with other people. I shall not deny I am a touch lopsided. I think not having a saddle that sits still helps. Gosh I am re reading my replies and it sounds like I am a lopsided, saddle slipping abuser but I really am trying to fix the problem. Unfortunately I have used a Andrea hicks saddle and had the same problem will look into the Humphreys and Swain option.
 
smellydogjack said:
Smurf's Gran- yes it does slip with other people. I shall not deny I am a touch lopsided. I think not having a saddle that sits still helps. Gosh I am re reading my replies and it sounds like I am a lopsided, saddle slipping abuser but I really am trying to fix the problem. Unfortunately I have used a Andrea hicks saddle and had the same problem will look into the Humphreys and Swain option.
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Ha Ha
I'm sure you are fine, just a thought to put out there. I was so surprised to know it was the daughter - she was the last thing we thought of !!
 
Going back to the original post - I used to use a limpet pad and can vouch for their solidness and non-slip abilities. The only gripe I had about it was that it took ages to dry after washing, it could hold an amazing amount of water.
 
No idea if I fitted your saddle or not but I'd hate to think I left one out there with a customer that was slipping, would you mind pming me so we can make sure we did all we could to help (AH Saddles)? Thanks :)
 
Just as a thought, I have a round horse with a forward girth grove - is that part of the problem? In any case, if the saddle has a tendency to slip, then that means the natural tendency will be to keep the girth tight - so therefore a wider girth will help dissipate the pressure. I found a fairfax girth really helped with my horse, and although expensive, it is one thing that I am pretty sure won't do any harm!
 
I used a limpet it was fab. Used the 10mm one on a well fitting saddle on a round cob xc just for added security and it worked a treat. My bosses horse had a saddle that was too wide and they took it down a bit with a 20mm limpet pad which raised the front a bit and that saddle never slipped either. Agree with 3oldponies about washing them though not something you want to do often you cannot spin cycle them in the washing machine because if you do they tear.
 
Not read all the replied so sorry if I repeat anyone else.

My boy is the same. I got a fitted saddle then use a Avacello gel pad and a fairfax girth (any leather anatomical girth is ok but not elastic ends). No numnah or cloth.

It stopped the slipping but there was still a very slight slip so the saddler then said girth on middle and last on one side and first and last on other side.

It works, stays put now :-) he's flat backed with no withers.
 
Thank you so much to everyone I've got lots to think about and nice to have different options I've spoken to two extra saddlers but am treading with caution as I don't want too many cook spoiling the broth. I will definitely look at a pad also to see if that is the answer. If it isn't. Back to bareback I go.
 
Our cob (bespoke XW saddle) slips to the side massively just when you get on if you put your foot in the stirrup leather to haul on! (Both ways) If you get on straight and ride straight it doesn't slip at all, he's just so wide! Saddle fits and he's sound behind :) So, with these XXW sorts, slipping is easy!
 
Am I the only person with very wide round cobs whose saddle doesnt slip?!? My default is Thorowgood cob saddles which dont slip but arent comfortable for me. The only saddle I've tried and hated was treeless. I felt like I was sitting on top of a greased barrel! My current completely flat backed, wider than wide, traditional has a GFS saddle. I stupidly dressed it with something with silicone in it and I can barely pick it up without it slipping out of my hands, but once its on and I'm on board I feel totally secure :)
 
The saddle used to slip on my cob and the saddler recommended one of the 'jelly fish' pads but it pinched his skin. On the recommendation of a cob breeder I bought some of the soft anti-slip webbing stuff that goes under rugs (i.e. house rugs, not horsey rugs:-)) and sewed panels of it to the underside of my regular saddle cloths/numnahs; it worked a treat and cost only a couple of pounds.

It's interesting that Faracat mentioned hind end lameness as a possible cause of saddle slipping. My boy walked with a very slight twist to one of his hind legs. He was straight in trot, but when he walked, there was a tiny, tiny bit of rotation when he placed his foot to the ground... and his saddle always seemed to slip to the left. Everyone dismissed it as so trivial that it wasn't anything to be concerned over. I assumed I was a little crooked when I rode, as my left leg is stronger than my right, but years later my boy developed a neurological disorder that caused rear end paralysis and as you might have guessed, his left side was the side mostly affected.
 
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