Saddle for pony with forward girth groove

E

Eceni

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 February 2007
Messages
515
Location
Shropshire
Visit site
HI all

I have a welsh C who's pretty slim for her type, but nevertheless has the kind of build where the girth on my Saddle Company dressage saddle ends up behind her forelegs, so that the saddle is winched progressively further forward as I do up the girth. If we go out hacking and go down a hill, I end up on her neck

so..... have been pondering EITHER a WOW GP so that I can have the back stirrup positions (I *loathe* GP saddles - hate riding with stirrup bars any further forward than standard dressage position) but can have a point strap with it.

OR

a treeless saddle - Ansur/Heather Moffat/Trekker - or any other type that comes highly recommended for a native pony to do schooling, hacking TREC and some low level endurance

ideas?

thanks

E
 
I used to hate the way these people all charge for a consult -but I guess since they take (should) take 3 hours or so its worth it. Its just when you've had consult after consult and nothing works or fits you realise you've actually shelled out enougy for a cheap wintec!!! I really like the WOW (had fitting and ordered it not arrived yet) and you can have different flaps for different disciplines. I am having a deep dressage seat and dressage flaps but may also buy event type flaps to hack out in as he's spookey.

You may need to try all of these saddle types until you find one right for both of you.
 
If you want to go cheaper then the thorowgood T4 3D has adjustable girth straps. They are also bringing out a 3D model in the T6 at the end of janurary which I am currently waiting for.

I havent tried them so dont know how adjustable they are as the reason I am getting mine is to acomodate his withers as they do a high wither one aswell. I have sat in the T6 and it was very comfy and one of the best quality synthetics I have come across yet.

The 3D models also have changeable gullets and fish inserts so should fit pretty much anything.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Can only really speak for WOW as thats what I have. The girthing arrangement can be adjusted to cater for a horse with a forward girth groove by changing where the girth attaches to the seat.
Here is a link which explains it.
http://www.flair.uk.com/wow/wow%20foregirth.htm

[/ QUOTE ]

thanks - yes- I've had incredibly bad reports of people who've used point straps and ended up with scars on their horse's withers... so quite wary of that - but it may be a necessary evil....

anyone else?

E
 
To be fair, I think some of the wow saddle fitters are a bit dodgy, some seem very keen to use point straps when they are not necessary.

Anyway the wow is just an easy way of rearranging the girth straps. So in theory you should be able to take any saddle to a saddler and get them to adjust the girth to pull more from the front.

The other thing you could do is get a girth made up with the front strap shorter than the back to ensure its pulling down.

Basic problems with these methods is that you have to pull down on the front of the saddle, so will be its very nature increase pressure on the withers, therefore I would definitely use a gel pad whatever you decide.
 
Exactly - by definition. we're putting pressure on the wither

which is why I was interested in some of the tree-less or partially treed saddles to see if anyone had better experience.

but if not, I'll try and then post...

ta

E
 
Had exactly the same problem as you ended up getting a really old fashioned saddler to come out with a selection of saddles . Ended up with one that is ancient that he worked on , dressage cut but he changed the girthing arrangement. He encouraged me to loosen girth for the last 5 mins of each session to help muscles relax into it and now I ride with the girth fairly loose and nothing moves. Had to try 3 before I found him but he really understood sams shape. Only spent £275 + £35 fitting!
 
I had exactly the same problem with my 4 year old - the first saddler i had out who fitted her saddle told me she ahd a forward girth groove and that I would really struggle to find a saddle to stay in place on her - ever. Stupidly at the time I took that as gospel, but after thinking over her comments and having progressively more and more trouble with my saddle I came to the conclusion that if a saddle fits properly then it shouldnt move (i had this at the back of my mind when she told me this but thought 'she's the expert' - how wrong i was!). Combined with the fact that everyone I spoke to remarked that they had never ever heard of a 'forward girth groove'.

I have since had a second opinion who went over everything he possibly could (needless to say the first idiot I payed a ridiculous sum of money to fit, sell me the saddle and add a point strap had apparantly not fitted it so well after all and screwed up the flocking on my other saddle when she re-flocked) and he has opened up the gullet as it was too narrow for her (its a leather ideal saddle with no interchangeable gullet), completely re-flocked, and now it fits fine and does not move - and thats without girthing up on the point strap.

What I'm trying to say is, if its fits properly it really shouldnt move, and instead of getting another saddle could you not have a second (or third) opinion on the fitting (thats if you havent already of course) and possible adjustments to your current saddle first.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top