Saddle slipping forward....New sadle needed?!!

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KatB

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My mare hasn't got much shoulder at the mo, and relatively flat withers (she isonly 4) with a forward girth groove, so I am struggling with having a saddle that slips forward on her! I use a barnsby Grip pad on her at the moment, but it is still moving
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Its not a huge amount, but you can see where the hair has been pushed backward slightly by the saddle when I take it off...

Anyone had this and solved it with the saddle they have?! Or has it ended in a new saddle?!
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The saddle fits her ok when girthed etc...
 
Mine does this on my Sec D, despite 'sticky' numnah (not sure what make it is but it is one of the grippy ones) and I also have a wintec girth. Can't resolve it with current saddle so have just bought a T4 cob from ebay (xmas poverty, so hoping it will fit!) in the hope I won't have the same problem with that as its made specifically for cobs.
 
No. She is a 4yr old TB mare with a single flap saddle which doesn't have a ring for a crupper on (
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) and who would buck me off if I put one anywhere near her
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Thanks, not sure a cob saddle would suit
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Two words..Point straps!

EVERY SINGLE saddle I have ever tried on Hattie (also a TB) has slipped forward with the exception on an Albion SLK dressage saddle whch is my friends.

Looking at her saddle to try and figure out why that was the only blasted saddle that didn't move (and the one which is WAY out of my budget), was the fact that the first girth strap, is actually is placed right under the tree point which in turn, lines up with Hattie's forward girth groove.

If you look at the girth straps on most saddles, they are placed quite far back from the tree points which unfotunately, is too far back for a forward girth grooved horse.

I ended up buying a Classic Saddlery close contact saddle as the position of the girth straps on CS saddles, is a bit more forward placed that on most other brands of saddle. My saddle still slipped a little forward but was ALOT better than every other brand I had tried before.

Anyways, had the saddler out and he put point straps on my Classic Saddlery saddle and one on the offiside of my side saddle.

On my astride saddle now, I use the 1st and 4th girth straps.
On my side saddle, I use a 4" wide girth with point and 1st straps (then I buckle my balance girth over that which is what SS instructor Roger Philpot said to do when I went on his clinic).

I have point straps on both saddles now for a month and have cantered in both and jumped in my astride saddle and neither have moved. The side saddle still slips a tiny bit forward as it will never be a 100% fit due to it being made 100 years ago for a different horse, but they both don't end up on her shoulders causing her to buck me off like before!

I used to use all kinds of grippy things and special girths before but now on my astride saddle, I just use a normal atherstone elastic girth with a split end (to allow me to use the 1st and 4th girth straps). I still use a Stephens non slip gel pad with my side saddle though just because it's still not a 100% fit.

The point straps have made a difference in Hattie's way of going too. Whereas before, she resisted with her left rein cantering because of the saddle shooting forward, it is becoming better and we managed to get some nice left rein cantering the other day as she's not having to worry about the saddle ending up on top of her withers and hurting her.

My advice, find a saddle that has the girth straps placed a little more forward than usual like Classic Saddlery saddles or an Albion SLK dressage AND get point straps put on.

Wish I would have gotten point straps a long time ago!!
 
was also going to say point straps. mums anglo has no shoulder at all and she has to have a point strap and it really does make a difference point strap+sticky pad= no movement!
 
Forgot to say that Hattie is also built a little downhill as well so point straps can bring the front down of a saddle so if your mare has low withers like mine, you may need a front riser pad (I use a Wintec) to balance.

Yes, it's not ideal but in an ideal world I'd have the cash to spend on a custom saddle for my weird shaped mare but she seems happy in my her point straps and front riser (she doesn't try to bite me when I girth her up now!)
 
Agree - point (and possibly) balance strap. Saddler should be able to add to existing saddle relatively cheaply (£40ish) per strap.

Also, look at getting a girth that is slightly angled forward - this has really helped on my TB who has a forward girth groove (now in an albion legend dressage girth and he loves it).
 
Thanks guys, thought that may be the case. She doesn't object at all, as it doesn't move forward too much, but there is definitely a bit of movement. My saddle is a single flap though, so point straps may pose a problem with it
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Will find some £ and get my saddler out I think.

Re. rising the front, tried that once and felt like I was tipping backwards! The saddle is well balanced when girthed up, just seems to "Home" into her forward girth groove
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Hopefully as she fills out it wont be so much of a problem...
 
Is there room for a sheepskin? you might find less slipping with a sheepskin (used directly on the back).

I didnt read the bit about single flap - it is possible to put a point strap in but might need to alter the flap a bit - depends on the saddle but then obviously more expensive. I would also try a W shaped girth it really does make a difference.
 
Thanks, nope no room for a sheepskin
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She has a grip pad under already, which is how I became aware of the fact it does move!! The only girth I can use on her at the mo that doesnt rub is a wintec
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Any recommendations for soft short shaped girths?
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The girths straps on my saddle are in a "sleeve" so should be adjustable....
 
I really like the new albion legend dressage girth I bought for my very very fussy boy. He is very sensitive and everything rubs him (including my legs) and he usually hates having his girth done up but likes this girth. The buckles are angled, and it is a W shape so it can sit in his forward groove. He has a very flat shoulder so again there is nothing to hold the saddle in place other than the extra flocking I have put into the front of the panel on his dressage saddle, and he has a deeper gusset behind to balance the saddle.

A cheaper alternative (but not as nice) was a kentaur girth I bought for him before the legend. It is wider than the legend so spreads the pressure a bit more, but isnt so supple as the legend (must condition it more). It is still nice, thickly padded and same shape, and hasnt rubbed him. I also have the same girth in the cut away design, its not angled, and he hates it.

And yes, its the same horse with the bitting issue! My other TB doesnt care which girth or bit I use on him but then he is Irish so much more laid back!
 
Ok, thanks... I love the legend girths.. will get the saddle checked first to see if it saveable before spending ££ on an expensive girth!! She is irish too, but everything rubs! We had to twitch her last week, no mark on her, then 3 days later she had a white ring around her nose!!
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Her rugs also rug even though she has a bib on
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Fussy mare....

I tried one of the dynamics... she LOVES it... so now on the hunt for a cheaper one, as this was only hired
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