Saddle fitting woes - any advice apreciated!

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shadowboy

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I have a 4 year Old NF. I think he's quite flat backed. He certainly has very little in the way of withers! I dont think he's really wide- but is 'native wide' if that makes sense. I currently have this on him:http://www.kingsaddlery.co.uk/ponysaddles.htm (the Richmond) and I Love it. Its in a wide (NO4 fit) and 16 inch as he's short coupled. I'm 5'4 and just under 9 stone fully kitted out- so i fit in it- but I dont think it fits him.

I dont think it fits him because every now and again (usually twice in a 30min schooling session) I have to put my weight into my left stirrup and push down to re-right the saddle- it always seems to slip to the right so my left buttock ends up hanging off the saddle. My instructor says the same thing so its not just me!

Saddler (qualified MS) has been out twice and says it 'should' fit- i.e. the gullet over wither follows the line of his withers and doesnt pinch- the gullet is wide down the entire length of the saddle. Its had felt shims put in below the cantle as i felt it was tipping back a little and so it now sits level over his back. It also has a point strap which I use but I still end up sliding over the top of him- so I assume it doesnt fit! I've spent nearly £200 on 2 x fittings with various alterations. I dont mind buying a new saddle but the saddler would have to part ex my current one as i've now spent so much on fittings- not many do so I really dont know what to do! Argggggg.
 
Is it far enough back, I had similar and I was putting the saddle too far forward so his shoulder was throwing the saddle over to one side & do you have a balance strap? if you use the balance strap on the opposite side to where the saddle is being thrown to that might work (I used that too)
 
Not sure I can help with yours but have a similar problem with a saddle I have just bought and had fitted, it moves rolls a bit in canter (not as bad as yours just a bit) so am going to try the prolite saddle stay pad to see if that helps. My old saddle used to actually twist to the right and I had a thread going on here recently, so might be worth you searching it out as some great advice on there about asymetric girthing. Saddles are a PITA :D
 
thanks guys! I'll look it up.

Here are pics of it on my boy- who can I add isnt usually so bloated but had been allowed a little extra strip of grass in starvation paddock today!

The photos arent great as I was in a rush.

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It doesn't look a good fit at all! I reckon as soon as you sit on it it will be too wide and therefore slide over. The back panels aren't the right shape either I'd say. He's quite flat at the back.

He looks sweet!
 
I feared the shape wasnt right- but cant get a fitter that sells second hand saddles out the guy who does was the one who fitted this saddle- it was new only 9 months ago! grrr I hate saddle issues!
 
Just a thought, but I would get rid of the elasticated girth and try a non-elasticated girth or a leather one. Sometimes elasticated girth's can cause these issues and allow for saddle movement.

If your saddler assures you that the saddle fits okay and you trust him, then :D but if your still unsure, perhaps get a second opinion?
 
The tree is much too curved - the flat spot in the deepest part of the seat is nearly non-existent and the cantle and panel curve away from his back. This can lead to all sorts of problems - I bet it lifts at the back in rising trot as well as moving sideways. You need a much flatter tree so that there is more panel contact but a flatter panel in itself won't be enough to make it a good fit. The tree must work first and foremost.

NF are typically some of the flattest breeds from front to back, I have one tree in the range that I fit that I would fit to probably 80% of NFs and it is very flat and neat - a wide tree at the back can swamp them as they don't always have wide well sprung ribcages.

Once you have the right saddle an elasticated girth is the best thing you can use - non-elasticated is not only more unkind as it clamps the ribcage, but it also can leave a moment of slack when the ribcage contracts which can contribute to instability. You need to have very strong elastic at both ends and a wide padded girth (and learn not to overtighten, I see grooves of muscle damage right around some horses from over-girthing!). Humane girths obviously aren't elasticated and are a risk if a strap breaks and they also place a lot of pressure on the Ds instead of spreading it - some horses go great in them, some really don't.
 
Thanks again folks! I hate not having a decent saddle. Can anyone recommend a good flat tree'd saddle that might work that I can scout for second hand? I'm too skint now to buy one brand new. Also, if I sold my current one online say eBay- what would I expect to get for it?
 
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