Saddle Slipping

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6103claire

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I am having problems with my sadlle. It is a wintec with an adjustable gullet which i had froma previous horse and I got it fitted to my 4yr old about 5 months ago and at the time the saddler said that it was a good fit as my horse was uneven over the shoulders it would sit slightly to the right. At the time i had only just got the horse, which had neen backed last year and turned away, and had been at a yard to be brought on to sell 6 weeks before i got her. Obviously the saddle used by the trainer was not a good fit to cause such a change in muscle build over that short time.

She advised me to try and build up the muscle on the right shoulder which i have been doing. However, i have recently noticed the slipping to the right is becoming worse. Yesterday i had look and the saddle is shifting alot to the right so the panel is over her spine.

Obviously i was horrified as this is definatley not good! Especially for a four year old. Its not too bad just when hacking but when schooling its no good as its constantly shifting about. I have put up with this for a while whilst trying to build her up but surely she wont be able to work properly and build herself up if the saddle is shifting.

I am going to take her to a diffent saddler to see what they say as i cant keep working her in that. has anyone else had similar problems etc?
 
Not sure why you are going to try a different saddler, as you don't seem to have been given particularly poor advise. Your horse will be changing in shape as it puts muscle on (occupational hazard with youngsters), and it sounds as if your saddle simply doesn't fit any more, and a new one is required.
 
I wasnt sure whether to try a new saddler or not. might get the same one out then and see what she says. It has a changeable gullet so may just need a different size.

Thanks
 
Ive a pregnant mare and her saddle is always slipping, i was advised to put a padded numnah below the saddle and also to use a breast plate.

I know where you are coming from, as when her saddle slips i feel awful as im so worried that im going to hurt her.

I would return to the saddler and explain that to him.
 
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I wasnt sure whether to try a new saddler or not. might get the same one out then and see what she says. It has a changeable gullet so may just need a different size.

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I think that sometimes people chop and change because they get told things they may not want to hear - when the truth of the matter is if the saddle doesn't fit - it doesn't fit. End of story.
 
I know what you mean, if it doesnt fit, it doent fit and i would have to have a new one. The only thing that is making me wonder is that a friend had the physio to her hoorse with a back problema dn she said not to use the saddler which i have used as she doesnt always fit them very well. This is the first time i have heard this and so i'm not sure what to do as this saddler has always been ok in the past. Sorry should have put this before but was worried i was making the post a bit long!!
 
There is nothing wrong with getting an second opinion, what saddler does your friend use now? Cant you go see them?
 
Yeh they are a few junctions up the motorway at throstle nest saddlery, junc 37 of M1 i think. i'm just a bit concerned as she is only 4 i dont want her starting with back problems due to dodgy saddle!
 
My saddle slipped to the right constantly, saddler said his left shoulder was over developed, but didn't seem to think there was anything I could do about it (but Chex is 20 years older than yours!). I was going to get a second opinion, but decided to get a treeless instead, and it doesn't slip at all! If you have another decent saddler I would get them to have a look.
 
If one shoulder is bigger than the other, the saddle should be fitted to accomodate the bigger shoulder and then you could use a shim on the side with the smaller shoulder until it filled out. Alternatively you could have your saddle converted to Flair - the airbags are adjustable unlike the cair in wintec saddles. More air can be put into the appropriate bags to straighten the saddle up and then removed when the shoulders have evened out.
 
thanks, what is a shim? i had flair in my saddle a few years ago. my then horse had wonky shoulders but they couldnt get enough air in one side to make it fit so had to have it removed - ended up being expensive for nothing.
 
A shim is just a pad that goes on one side of the saddle only to fill in the weak area.
I had the same problem as you a few months back - my mare has one shoulder slightly further back on the left hand side rather than being loads bigger. I could not get the air adjusted to get the saddle to sit straight. Fortunately I have a WOW saddle which is very adjustable and spoke to the manufacturers about it - they suggested putting a point strap on the right hand side of the saddle only and that straightened it up perfectly - and I no longer needed vastly different amounts of air in one side to the other.
I think you need a really good saddle fitter to assess the situation and I have found to my cost that there is a massive difference in one fitter to the next.
 
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