Saddle fit and breast plates

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FfionWinnie

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I'm just wondering, if the horse's extravagant movement makes a saddle move back, can a breast plate ever "fix" this, or is it down to the fact the saddle doesn't fit and is being pushed back by the shoulders?

Maybe not as clear cut as that but I'm just basically wondering if there is a reason a well fitting saddle could move back, that could be fixed with a breast plate, without that then causing another issue (like garrotting the horse or damaging its shoulders?).

Also could a slightly too wide saddle potentially move back without it being the shoulders causing it and would narrowing the saddle solve the issue?
 
I bought an AH saddle a couple of months ago which fits my horse beautifully. But due to his conformation the saddle does have a tendency to slip back a little. SB recommended a string girth (which has certainly helped as ugly as they are!) and I now use a breastplate if doing anything longer than half hour which has also helped. Did an hours hack and no movement what so ever. I'm hoping when he has filled out and has some back muscle I will not need the breastplate but at the moment he is a very odd shaped 4 year old!
 
Horses with huge shoulders will tend to shift saddles back .
I have a lot of experience of saddles on the move because our horses hunt and we do long days ( no second horses ) and a day can be six hours and thats a challenge with a modern forward cut jumping saddle ,as the horses lose weight as the days go on any tendency if a saddle to move is magnified .
IME most big movers push their saddles forward ( j does this ) and it's horses with big shoulders and or still developing backs that shift the saddle back , horses that have a flat rib cage or lack depth do it too.
H my youngest ID has the massive shoulders common with his type his saddle fits beauifully but hunting it slips back various girth got tried including a fairfax .
I used a hunting breast plate ( no elastic ) still not good enough so I resorted to getting a huge five point he looks ridiculous but it's fixed the issue .
I would try different things and see what works best .
The answer is usually to build up the horses back .
I would get the saddler to check the fit but sometimes saddles shift it's a fact of life .
 
Our tb used to shove the saddle back.
It was a combination of long narrow girth Grove, big shoulders and small rib cage.
His shoulders would shove the saddle back and because his girth Grove was so narrow the girth would go with.
We got him this girth and then had a smaller seat saddle and put it two fingers behind the shoulder and he was fine.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=a...=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#imgrc=vi56XVktzQpRVM:
 
My mare has very big shoulders and I had terrible problems with her saddle shifting back until Kay Humphries came out and fitted her saddle properly (it had to be completely rebuilt underneath). Now it doesn't move at all. Kay favours serge against the horse and that certainly is much more forgiving and gripping than leather.
 
Thanks. It's the issue I have with current saddle and I've been worrying about it happening with the new saddle (I haven't got it yet so I am hopefully worrying about nothing!).

Goldenstar with your 5 point breast plate does it get really tight on the horse? I have a 3 point and tried that but it still moved back and it was really tight at that point I thought. Maybe I should have had it tighter to start with. Would a 5 point be better than a 3? Does yours have elastic? I think you are right it's her shoulders causing it just now.

Don't really want to change the girth as she is a sensitive thin skinned (whispers) cob and it's taken a while to get the right combination.

Hopefully issue will be sorted with the new saddle but I am aware our first xc is in a month and I'm riding in a bareback pad (which also slips back but is cured with the 3 point BP but I'm not going xc in that!) :o
 
It's elastic , when I got it I got a BE trainer to fit it for me as I have never used one before it it's not very tight but it's certainly fixed the issue .
I hate the look of it on him hopefully a summer concentrating on developing him on the flat will help him carry the saddle better .
 
Thanks. I think I will have one ready for the fitting just in case.

I've always wanted one but can't be bothered with additional bits of tack (hangs head in shame).

This problem started after she grew an inch and levelled up, didn't have a problem last year when she was croup high so maybe it will change again with work as you say.
 
Just had a good chat with the saddler about it and she thinks I can try it without one first but I might need one due to her being the shape she is (very fit cob).
 
Girth straps 2 and 4 are your starting point but a slightly too wide saddle can allow it to drift back. For XC I'd generlaly recommend a breast plate but I'd hope to fit a saddle for flatwork and SJ without one. Tiarella's saddle has been double checked, he's going to change a lot, so we're going with a basic good fit that is stable and that he's comfy in and seeing what happens over time.

If there is little pronounced girth groove and a shape heading towards "herring gutted" (eg fit eventer shape) then there is nowhere for the girth to lodge, do try a wider girth too - either very wide in the middle, or the Stubben Trevira. Ffionwinnie of course Clare will give you some options and may well be able to adjust your existing saddle to cure the problem.
 
Thanks Steph. I don't want to adjust current as it fits my new D. The new saddle is narrower so we are hoping that might be the reason the other one was moving as Daisy has muscled up and become more streamlined. I needed a new saddle for one of them anyway and it made more sense to keep the one made for a D for the new D and get Daisy also the favourite and a difficult shape, the new one. The current did fit her until she levelled up and also got fitter.

It's being sent up this week, looks gorgeous. Can't wait to see it in the flesh.

Mostly I was just trying to decide if I should buy another bit of kit before the fitting ;).
 
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