Saddle slipping sideways

[KEK]

Does anyone have any suggestions about anything I can do to stop my saddle slipping off to one side? Saddle is a black country dressage 16.5 inch , it fits the horse, saddler has been out recently. Horse is a 14hh Connie, slightly overweight. I get on from a step and instructor holds the stirrup. Girth is as tight as I would want it. Today in my lesson it slipped right off to the L when we were cantering.
Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[Polos Mum]

This will sound mad but try a stud girth (borrow if you can or second hand they are reasonable)
Made a massive difference to stability having a broader contact under the belly of mine

 

[teapot]

How straight are you sitting?

 

[Nari]

Does he have a lot of shoulder movement, and does the saddle sit clear of the shoulder at it's full range of movement?

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

I was going to suggest an anatomical girth but as Polos Mum suggests, an stud girth will do the same.

My saddler recommended an anatomical girth for some very minor slipping (she recommends a new saddle but also said now isnt the right time for him, he'll just change again).

For the amount of slipping you're describing I'd want the saddler back out.

 

[KEK]

I've got quite a wide girth, its short and wide, pressure ease or something? Bought it with the saddle.
Yes, it might be me not sitting straight, did wonder that, but it can go off to either side. I find it hard to get it to sit straight on the pony when I put it on, too.
His trainer doesn't normally have an issue with it slipping though so maybe it is me. She does the girth up very very tightly though, which I don't like. Lol, I think I sound pathetic!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I have a similar issue with my arab I use the point strap with a flexi girth and it keeps it stable, having a shorter girth sometimes helps with stability or a non elastic one has worked for me as well.

Funny mine always slips to the right if it slips

 

[KEK]

Does he have a lot of shoulder movement, and does the saddle sit clear of the shoulder at it's full range of movement?

Hmmm not sure. Would a saddler normally check that? I've had her out recently for the saddle slipping and she says its fine.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Hmmm not sure. Would a saddler normally check that? I've had her out recently for the saddle slipping and she says its fine.

Yes, the saddler would check that...its the one thing my saddler focuses on a lot (big shoulders)

 

[KEK]

I have a similar issue with my arab I use the point strap with a flexi girth and it keeps it stable, having a shorter girth sometimes helps with stability or a non elastic one has worked for me as well.

Funny mine always slips to the right if it slips

Thanks I will look up that girth. Mine is short anatomical and non elastic. Its irritating me that I can't remember the brand, was pretty expensive, $2-300 I think.

 

[KEK]

Girth is this one:

 

[ycbm]

Girth is this one: View attachment 81396

If that doesn't work, try one where the buckles point towards the top of the picture. Essentially, that's a straight girthh with a kink in it. Truly curved girths can make a very big difference.

 

[KEK]

If that doesn't work, try one where the buckles point towards the top of the picture. Essentially, that's a straight girthh with a kink in it. Truly curved girths can make a very big difference.

Thanks. Sounds like the consensus is its a girth problem. How tight do people do them up, should they have to be done up +++++++ for them to work?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Thanks I will look up that girth. Mine is short anatomical and non elastic. Its irritating me that I can't remember the brand, was pretty expensive, $2-300 I think.

They are about £40 including postage I really rate them and the guy at the company that makes them is really helpful.

 

[Birker2020]

Does anyone have any suggestions about anything I can do to stop my saddle slipping off to one side? Saddle is a black country dressage 16.5 inch , it fits the horse, saddler has been out recently. Horse is a 14hh Connie, slightly overweight. I get on from a step and instructor holds the stirrup. Girth is as tight as I would want it. Today in my lesson it slipped right off to the L when we were cantering.
Thanks for any thoughts.

A quick google search says there are many reasons for saddle slippage:

It can be caused by unequal saddle panels, the flocking should feel the same both sides.
It can also be caused by rider imbalance
It can be caused if the stirrups are longer on the one side than the other
It can also be caused by the girth not being tight enough or an elastic girth being used
It can also be caused by a physical issue with the horse - my last horse used to make any rug put on her totally straight droop to one side after 500 yards due to her rolling movement behind. If the saddle slipping continues maybe a physio can assess.
Girthing onto the point and balance straps really helps. (Point straps are attached to the tree points, and balance straps are attached to the tree as far back as possible under the seat of the saddle. If your saddle doesn’t have them they can be put on by a saddler.)
A limpet pad or similar might help.

 

[Nari]

Hmmm not sure. Would a saddler normally check that? I've had her out recently for the saddle slipping and she says its fine.

They should, but that doesn't mean they all do.

 

[[153312]]

If my saddle was slipping that much I'd want the saddler back out and physio appointments both for myself and the horse to make sure you are level; different girths etc are good and will help but won't cure fundamental unlevelness, if present. Good luck - it can be a really frustrating issue to get to the bottom of. There's so many factors that come into it.

 

[rextherobber]

If my saddle was slipping that much I'd want the saddler back out and physio appointments both for myself and the horse to make sure you are level; different girths etc are good and will help but won't cure fundamental unlevelness, if present. Good luck - it can be a really frustrating issue to get to the bottom of. There's so many factors that come into it.

This. If the saddle is straight and evenly flocked, I would suspect myself and/or the horse.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Slipping saddles can also be caused by hind limb lameness.

 

[dixie]

When my saddle was slipping it turned out my horse had some tight muscles behind the saddle. Might be worth getting a physio out.

 

[Lady Tinseltime]

Have you consulted a physio for the horse

 

[Gloi]

Slipping saddles can also be caused by hind limb lameness.

Developing hock arthritis in our case. Hadn't been noticed by anyone before the saddle started slipping

 

[GreyDot]

Slipping saddles can also be caused by hind limb lameness.

Yep, for me it was an issue with the right stifle - after injections and once back in work, the saddle sat perfectly straight and never slipped.

 

[KEK]

Thanks very much for all the replies, I appreciate it.
Saddler has literally just come out, but I could try someone else.
Pony has just turned 5, and is not lame that I can see (im a vet but a small animal one, canine rehab vet though so pretty tuned into lameness). I could definitely get a physio out though, will look into who is doing that here. My friend who hacks him also has problems with it slipping so that's interesting (although not the pro). Thanks again

 

[Nari]

It could be that the pro is subconsciously shifting to hold the saddle straight, or so strong in their core that they stay in place and so the saddle does too.

Could you borrow a different saddle that fits and see if that slips?

 

[KEK]

It could be that the pro is subconsciously shifting to hold the saddle straight, or so strong in their core that they stay in place and so the saddle does too.

Could you borrow a different saddle that fits and see if that slips?

Haha interesting you say that as I said something to her today and she said it was slipping with her as well, and she was having to lean on it on one side in his jump off last weekend! So, I think I can rule out rider issues. She agrees he is not lame, but I will get a physio to check him. I feel it's the saddle and or girth, have contacted the saddler (yet again).

 

[Courtneydressage95]

Does anyone have any suggestions about anything I can do to stop my saddle slipping off to one side? Saddle is a black country dressage 16.5 inch , it fits the horse, saddler has been out recently. Horse is a 14hh Connie, slightly overweight. I get on from a step and instructor holds the stirrup. Girth is as tight as I would want it. Today in my lesson it slipped right off to the L when we were cantering.
Thanks for any thoughts.

I had a Black Country Vicini saddle and mine did this to the left. I thought it was me so

Does anyone have any suggestions about anything I can do to stop my saddle slipping off to one side? Saddle is a black country dressage 16.5 inch , it fits the horse, saddler has been out recently. Horse is a 14hh Connie, slightly overweight. I get on from a step and instructor holds the stirrup. Girth is as tight as I would want it. Today in my lesson it slipped right off to the L when we were cantering.
Thanks for any thoughts.

what about an acavallo gel pad under?
my saddler also told me once loosen the point strap off one if you have one as if that’s to tight it Can make it go to one side (obvs make sure the other strap is done up tight enough)
I’ve also seen this when a horse had a weeker hind one side the saddle goes to one side. They all have a weaker rein don’t they maybe he/she finds one rein harder and the saddle goes? Good luck saddles have been the bane of my life!

 

[Red-1]

Every time I have encountered this, if it hasn't been an obvious saddle imbalance or rider injury, it has been hocks. Often a sore hock has then caused a slightly altered gait and cramped muscles, so the hoof beats still sound...sound. The cramped muscles can mean one point of hip is carried further forward or higher.

IME, the horse appears sound by carrying himself differently. They can do a good impression of sound, hardwired not to be a victim of a predator. If you are a vet, keyed into lameness, I would take photos from behind and above to reveal any musculature differences, and video from behind to see any twist or holding one side higher. Photos and video seem to reveal more than being there, easier to be judgemental when removed from the cold outside. Your own horse is always harder to diagnose, IME!

Personally, I would have an equine vet out to do flexions. They can reveal what is rumbling below the surface.

 

[scats]

When all my saddles started slipping to the same side, i realised it was me. A chiro sorted me out.

 

[Suby2]

Mt cob’s saddle consistently slipped to the right until a different saddler discovered that he was asymmetrical in that one shoulder was larger than the other. As his weight varies we chose to use shims to correct it.