saddle and girth slipping back

[Horsekaren]

This has been bugging me. My boy is flat backed and currently ridden in Thorrowgood cob gp saddle. Its been fitted regulary and has always been given the green light. He has lost a very small amount of weight over winter and muscle isn't as good as he hasn't been worked as much so his shape may have changed slightly.

I notice when i put the saddle on in the correct position by the time i have taken him to the school it has slipped back and inch or so, the girth slides back with it. (this is just at walk)
I feel like his shoulder push it back :/

I have the saddle fitter due but i know its going to be given the ok again as he rides fine in it an im just being ott.

Would a saddle pad possible help as it would be lifted slightly? or anything else for that matter?

 

[be positive]

Without wanting to question your experience are sure you are not putting it too far forward in the first place so it is just moving to where it should be, it is very common to see saddles put on too far forward and if it doesn't move further back when riding I suspect it is sitting where it should, ask the fitter to check obviously but see if they place it further back than you do, I would be tempted to use a breastgirth just in case but without seeing it cannot suggest what would work best under it, a thicker pad may make it shift more not less but if he has dropped some topline a half pad could help.

 

[albeg]

Mine used to slip back with my elasticated Thorowgood girth (done quite loosely until we get to the arena) but doesn't since I switched to a curved girth that better suits his shape.

As bp said, without seeing it, it's hard to suggest what might be at fault. If you have the saddle fitter coming soon, bring it up with them and see what they say. A grippy gel pad might help, but you want to rule out any issues with fit. If it's interfering with his shoulder that needs to be looked at.

 

[sbloom]

It could indeed be too far forwards to begin with, very common. Does your horse have a definite girth groove? I tend to find two reasons for saddles to move back too far - it dropping too low in front, or the horse being herring gutted and the girth sliding back taking the saddle with it. I find the TG cob tree isn't flat enough for truly flat backs, so it could be that it's hard to balance it and it ends up dropping in front when the tree width is correct. If it's just the girth then the best type is very wide and grippy, Le Tixerant is a good one to consider but I suspect it's more to do with fit of the saddle than just the girth.

One more thought, the TG cob has a choice of girth straps, with all other things being equal using 3 and 5 (I think there are five?) should help keep it forwards, but check with your fitter.

 

[Horsekaren]

i tend to put it on where it seems to sit nicely but a few time ive been told to move it forward, which i do and then its back where it was within a min.


As for him having a girth groove, no he doesn't, he isn't particularly round in the gut either so it isn't held by his shape, if that makes any sense.


This is most resent and it doesn't look too bad ( or maybe it does????) but if you look real close at the front do you think its interfering with his shoulder or am in over analyzing ... i know its really hard to tell without seeing it, just curious.
When i put it on i would say it was probably a tiny bit further forward than where it is in the picture.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

It is not uncommon to see saddles placed too far forwards, even in showing classes, so you might not be listening the people who know most about fitting saddles when they tell you yours needs to go further forwards.

I wouldn't honestly say that the saddle fits your horse. It is very difficult with horses with big shoulders but your saddle looks as if it probably does interfere with his shoulder action. He *might* be better with something more straight cut.
It does look to sit too far forward, as you have it now but without seeing the horse 'in person' it is hard to tell how much further back the cantle could comfortably go.

I had a Clydesdale mare who had big shoulders and we live in very hilly country, so although the saddle did fit, on the steep hills it could sometimes slip back. I used a breast girth to stop that happening. Another Clydie had a Saddle Company saddle fitted to her and it was more 'grippy' My Draft horse moved much better in her Solution (tree-free) saddle. Even saddles which 'fitted' her impeded her shoulder action.

You might find it useful to get a 2nd opinion on your saddle's fit.

 

[sbloom]

The saddle is a fraction forwards, and tipping back. Find the tree points and make sure they are sitting with their front edge 3 fingers' breadth behind the shoulder blade, when the horse is standing with front legs square. I think if you move it back to the correct position it will sit a little more level, the cantle should always be higher than the pommel, how much varies with individual saddle.

Personally I think flap cut is much less significant then people think, if the tree is back in the right place, and it and the panel (including flocking) are the right shape, then that is probably 95% of what affects shoulder freedom.