saddle slipping back - get another fitted?

[hannah87]

if a horses saddle (gp but quite straight cut) always slips back would you say it doesnt fir the horse well enough?said saddle slips back hacking, jumping and schooling on flat so always hav 2 wear a breastplate. its great in every other way, and my horse is an odd shape - high withered, long backed and generally abit dodgy confo lol. it doest slip back ridiculusly but enough to be too far back and so i always stick a breastplate on . would you get another saddle fitted?

 

[Haniki]

If you get a saddle fitter out, they may just be able to put some more stuffing in your existing saddle or adjust it to fit in some other way. Or, they may recommend you to get another saddle.

 

[catembi]

I would say to change the saddle or at least get it re-flocked.

I always used a breastplate with my mare because her saddle slipped back without it & I thought it was just her conformation - dipped back from old age. But since she got a new saddle at the grand old age of 32, I've been able to dispense with the breastplate. She's now 34, nearly 35. I just feel bad that I didn't get her another saddle years ago, but it's tricky with old horses as you kind of don't know how much longer they'll be needing a saddle.

 

[boneo]

Before resorting to any drastic alterations, try a very simple, and inexpensive method of girthing up. Most riders only use the 2nd & 3rd girth straps on their saddle, try the 1st & 2nd instead, (or a combnation of 1st. & 3rd.) This alters the 'pull' on the saddle, and very often cures the problem, and the beauty is that it's free, and if it doesn't work, you can then consider an alternative! This is based on over 40 years experiance, both as a rider, and a Master Saddler.