Saddle slipping forwards

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alice1234

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What would people recommend for a very round cob with no withers, to stop the saddle slipping onto her shoulders? Before anyone says anything, the saddle was fitted a few weeks ago and it is a good fit, just because of her current roundness it slips forwards. Obviously I am trying to get the weight off her but while I'm doing this what would people recommend? I've looked at the stephensons gel eze pads but worried about them being too sticky and not allowing saddle to move if it's uncomfortable (anyone have experience with them?) and I've also looked at prolite pads and sheepskin pads etc but don't want to spend over about £30. Or would a non slip/anatomical/humane girth be a better solution? I've read different things about all of these things so not sure what to get.
Ps she also has v forward girth groove!
 
Really you just have to try things because what helps with one horse won't with another .
For saddles moving forwards ( and of course you need to get the fit checked )I would use a limpet pad.
 
For under £30 you could use an acavallo back pad. I have an anatomical one and it is invaluable to stop saddle slipping forwards as even with saddles that are a good fit she cannot be ridden without it as they still slip forwards. It is the only thing that has stopped a saddle going forwards on her
 
I haven't tried, but I think it still would. She's quite sensitive too and I know a well fit saddle is supposed to be fine without a numnah, but I don't want anywhere to pinch!
 
ideally you should get saddles refitted about every 3 months due to the fluctuation in horses weight it can considerably change the fit of your saddle. Horses can gain or lose upto 5kgs in a week (i wish i could do that!) so imagine the difference between the seasons!

Especially a round coblet, you will also find that her shoulders will be moving the saddle.

My new forest (when i was a child) saddle used to slip, we used a limpet pad and had a front point strap added and that helped somewhat but it wasnt perfect.

A friend has just had a solution saddle for her maxi cob. I have tried it and its very comfortable ... and she has finally solved the slipping issue! Also for a treeless saddle it looks pretty conventional but you obs dont get the issue with the shoulders or short back moving the saddle around.
 
If the saddle is slipping forward, then it isn't fitting properly - either because the saddle itself is not right for the horse or you, or because the girthing arrangements are not right for the horse and the saddle. Using a pad or a limpet pad just masks the issue, and could set you both up for other issues later on.

As you are also asking for advice on spurs, I would also be of the opinion that the saddle could be hindering your horse and is causing it to be 'lazy'.
 
mine has similar conformation. forward girth groove, very rounded back and saddle slips forwards onto withers and shoulders. Sorted mine by having a thinner numnah and putting the girth onto the first 2 girth straps. Well chuffed.
 
I'm really sorry but, speaking as someone who fits mainly wide tricky horses, your saddle doesn't fit, by definition. Unless the slippage is minimal, you know the reason why, and there is a plan in place that means eventually it won't slip (ie a true remedial fit) then it doesn't fit. How else do you define a well fitting saddle than including the fact that it should stay where it is supposed to?

A sticky pad won't make it fit but may make your horse very sensitive and unhappy, and as the saddle doesn't truly fit, you are sticking a saddle that doesn't quite fit in place.

Go back to you fitter and explain what is happening and see what they advise.
 
My horse is the same and whilst I agree partly with sbloom above, would like to add that adding a gel (sticky)pad (no numnah) and using first two girth straps on an anatomically shaped girth (saddle company- expensive but worth it) helped me sufficiently to work her through the rolypolys and I now ride in the same saddle, pad and girth but use straps 1 and 3 with no problems at all - she is a sensitive horse but has never found the gel pad uncomfortable and has never shown any adverse effects- she went into full bronco mode in her previous brand new, fitted (but ill-fitted and nothing to do with sbloom at all) native pony saddle!
 
Golden Baubles said:
If the saddle
is slipping forward, then it isn't fitting properly - either because the saddle itself is not right for the horse or you, or because the girthing arrangements are not right for the horse and the saddle. Using a pad or a limpet pad just masks the issue, and could set you both up for other issues later on.

As you are also asking for advice on spurs, I would also be of the opinion that the saddle could be hindering your horse and is causing it to be 'lazy'.
Click to expand...
I really don't think the saddle is the reason she's lazy at the moment, as she used to have another saddle before I started loaning her and she has always been ridden in spurs and has always been like this. I understand Spurs aren't a good solution but I don't think they have anything to do with the saddle! Will look into some different girths though
 
sbloom said:
I'm really sorry but, speaking as someone who fits mainly wide tricky horses, your saddle doesn't fit, by definition. Unless the slippage is minimal, you know the reason why, and there is a plan in place that means eventually it won't slip (ie a true remedial fit) then it doesn't fit. How else do you define a well fitting saddle than including the fact that it should stay where it is supposed to?

A sticky pad won't make it fit but may make your horse very sensitive and unhappy, and as the saddle doesn't truly fit, you are sticking a saddle that doesn't quite fit in place.

Go back to you fitter and explain what is happening and see what they advise.
Click to expand...
It fit before she gained so much weight (been out of work) so I think it literally is just her stomach, is doesn't slip a ridiculous amount, just sometimes a bit in canter or if she bucks (she doesn't buck badly just occasional excited one)
I get what you mean about sticky pad though, I don't think I'll get one of those, I'll just make sure she loses weight!
 
Perfect - she'll currently probably be tipping the saddle back, a common cause of forwards slippage, and then her belly has dropped and widened too, this places pressure on the back of the whole saddle and girth, and pushes the girth groove even more forwards. Get some weight off and it will probably be a lot better as you say.
 
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