Saddle Problem..

[Mlini]

What would cause the back of the saddle to move? It does it on both reins, always to the right. I noticed in trot, when I sat it went right and when I rose it went back to the centre. It appeared to fit well until I trotted.

I have booked an appointment with a saddle fitter next Saturday and will not be riding in the saddle until then.

 

[sbloom]

Any one of a number of things, some of which can be simply adjusted, some cannot. It is pivoting on its center and may be too curvy in the tree, or too upright in the rails, the bit that goes from front to back on each side. It might have too much flocking in the middle.

A saddle ONLY fits if it fits in walk trot and canter A "stationary" fit can soon be undone and is only maybe 30% of the fit.

 

[Bosworth]

Or it could simply be that the saddle is too far forward, and your horses left shoulder is bigger so as the left shoulder comes back it pushes the saddle to the right.Try sitting it back behind the shoulder and checking then

 

[sbloom]

Yes, there could well be an asymmetry but it doesn't have to be in the shoulder - horses can be asymmetric anywhere along where the saddle fits, and it doesn't always manifest in every pace equally. A well fitted saddle can often mask the asymmetry so that the saddle is stable, equally you may need asymmetric girthing or even shimming if the asymmety is significant. Many many horses (probably most horses) have very minor asymmetries but they are not sinificant enough to affect saddle fit.

However if it is an asymmetry it would be very unusual for it to show as a sideways movement only when the rider's weight is on the stirrup bars is when rising. Hence I believe it is a pivot at least as much as a horse asymmetry - do obviously check that you are rising straight up and not to the right!