Saddle sliding forward

[cjwchez]

Hi

I have a Welsh D and I'm struggling to figure out what to do saddle-wise.

She is pear shaped - very narrow in front but wide behind. I've tried multiple different saddles, different saddle pads, non-slip pads, girths etc but the saddles always slide forward.
I think its due to her being pear shaped that the saddles are moving forward.

Looking for suggestions of what else I can try?

 

[Barton Bounty]

Have you tried a crupper?

 

[SEL]

Mine ended up in a WOW saddle which can have the girth strap position changed to accommodate a forward girth groove. Then a H- girth which keeps it pretty stable.

What saddle are you in at the moment?

 

[sbloom]

It's a massively complex issue with many causes. Possible reasons - forward girth groove; dropped, wide belly; narrow shoulders; dropped back; moving dysfunctionally behind (bilateral lameness in more pronounced cases); postural issues - with many of these actually being aspects of postural compromise, including the wedge shape and the pronounced forward girth groove.

Possible solutions - shorter seat size; flatter tree or panel; more correct rail angle (down to tree shape or width of tree); correcting saddle balance; right girth strap options; better pad; better girth. However, looking at the horse's shape and movement patterns may underlie everything.

It may need more of a holistic solution as you can imagine, than simply "this girth" or "this saddle".

 

[Lucky Snowball]

Have you had a saddler to look?

 

[Panda2000]

A anti slip numnah or a contour girth might help.

 

[sbloom]

Have you had a saddler to look?

Saddle fitter (sorry, pedantic I know but saddlers accuse us of trying to pass ourselves off as saddlers!). I'm guessing they've tried a few but absolutely, and I would have to recommend finding a specialist in wider horses/ponies, tricks of the trade and the right brands...

 

[Nasicus]

Have you tried a crupper?

This was the solution for mine, for now at least. Decathlon sell one with the crupper and the leather T (if you don't have a D ring on the back of the saddle) for a very reasonable price. Our issue was steep hills + skinny in font + wide behind. Pony has been much happier on steep terrain since using the crupper.
But with the caveat that I had both her and the saddle checked out for any issues besides conformation that could be causing the slippage.

 

[sbloom]

A crupper should be absolutely the last resort imo. I'm sure there's the odd pony not compromised by the use of one, but not only can't they be particularly comfortable but they will affect the spine and relaxation/rotation etc thereof. Skinny in front and wide behind is so often to do with posture and movement patterns, though I understand it's not often talked about so we think it's conformation.

 

[Nasicus]

A crupper should be absolutely the last resort imo. I'm sure there's the odd pony not compromised by the use of one, but not only can't they be particularly comfortable but they will affect the spine and relaxation/rotation etc thereof. Skinny in front and wide behind is so often to do with posture and movement patterns, though I understand it's not often talked about so we think it's conformation.

Fair point, I've always kept it on loose enough that it only comes into play if the saddle starts to slip forward on a steep slope/drop down, preferable to ending up behind her ears as has happened! No problems on the flat so I take it off for schooling or hacking on the roads, the rough terrain in the woods is where it's used.