Saddle slipping back/girth options

[HorseMaid]

Hello, I am having an issue with my saddle worming its way back. My horse has been seen by a saddle fitter who says it fits - shape wise she is quite fit and doesn't really have a definite girth groove, the girth wants to sit about a foot behind her elbow by the time I've finished riding. Is there anything I can do about this, I'd like to avoid a breast girth /breastplate as I know it isn't really a solution, thank you.

 

[SibeliusMB]

You can try a non-slip rubber pad below the regular saddle pad, I always found those helpful out hunting. But we also utilized breastplates and a well fitted one will be able to make a difference. Also check to make sure girth is properly tight.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I wonder if a Prolite girth would help due to the shape.

Or the professionals choice girth as it has some grip to it.

Which girth do you use now?

 

[Wishfilly]

Why do you feel a breastplate wouldn't be a solution?

 

[HorseMaid]

I will look in to the girth mentioned above, currently I use an elasticated waffle type girth, elastic both ends.

I'd always understood that a breastplate was more for stopping the saddle slipping in an emergency than to hold it in place during normal work.

 

[be positive]

I will look in to the girth mentioned above, currently I use an elasticated waffle type girth, elastic both ends.

I'd always understood that a breastplate was more for stopping the saddle slipping in an emergency than to hold it in place during normal work.

I have had a few that could not really wear elasticated girths, there is also the temptation to over tighten them to keep the saddle from moving which is not good for the horse, I would try one with no elastic and see if that helps, a breast plate will probably not really help in this case as it will end up being pulled back and be restrictive but I would definitely use one on this horse for faster work and jumping as an extra measure just in case it is needed even when the girth situation is resolved..

 

[sbloom]

I'm a fan of elasticated girths but it can depend on your set up.

There are two things to look at - choice of girth straps is the first. Do you have a balance strap attached right back under your seatbones? If you do definitely use this, on a saddle with 4 girth straps it would normally be "2 and 4", from the front, to help stop this slip.

The second is shape and grippiness of girth. The best solutions are usually very wide and may have a grioppy surface, the Le Tixerant girth is a version of this. At the other end of the cost scale, the Stubben string girth can sometimes help, it's a great girth and the only non-elasticated one I really recommend.

Otherwise the most common reasons for slipping back is the saddle being too wide/low in front/both (so can happen with some croup high horses where it's challenging to get the back of the saddle down and level) or, with usually jump saddles, the shoulders are interfering with the fit and pushing the saddle

 

[HorseMaid]

Thank you. It is an ideal event saddle and I suppose in theory it could be her shoulders pushing it back a bit, it is more forward cut than my old saddle. It definitely isn't too wide, and it doesn't have a balance strap although I could look into having one put on!