Saddle slipping

[Lotsoflemons]

You have posted in C&T about this and clarified that it slips to one side, if this is the same with both riders I would be getting another vet to look at her, putting an extra pad on for support to stop her bolting is not the answer I would expect from a vet, it is far more likely she is in discomfort and not working evenly which is why you and the saddle are being pushed over to one side, it may be something degenerative so is only now becoming clearer, the guidelines are now allowing non emergency visits with social distancing and the yard should be aware of that.

It could be as simple as the saddle needs readjusting but there is no quick fix that will allow you to continue riding.

I cant do anything

 

[Lotsoflemons]

You don’t HAVE to ride at all... and participating in a jumping clinic with a poorly fitting saddle is irresponsible. You’ll go and do it anyway I’m sure.

I cant just cancel the lesson

 

[Lotsoflemons]

I cant do anything

My mum thinks its the nummnah because we never had issues before she put the grip nummnah on

 

[bonny]

If everything is impossible then why ask on a forum for advice ?

 

[Lotsoflemons]

If everything is impossible then why ask on a forum for advice ?

Because i thought someone would have common sense and give me some actually helpful ideas instead of being unhelpful

 

[milliepops]

Because i thought someone would have common sense and give me some actually helpful ideas instead of being unhelpful

but the common sense idea is to check the saddle fit out because that's the most likely problem (or it was, until you said the horse was so uncomfortable that it bolted, in which case it probably needs another vet visit).
i think you mean you won't cancel the lesson rather than you can't?

 

[SpotsandBays]

Because i thought someone would have common sense and give me some actually helpful ideas instead of being unhelpful

Rude! There is no quick fix for a poorly fitting saddle! Nobody has suggested anything unhelpful.

 

[Lotsoflemons]

but the common sense idea is to check the saddle fit out because that's the most likely problem (or it was, until you said the horse was so uncomfortable that it bolted, in which case it probably needs another vet visit).
i think you mean you won't cancel the lesson rather than you can't?

The saddle fits perfectly fine the girth is done up tight i just dont get what the problem is because it's still, slipping

 

[vmac66]

If the saddle doesn't fit it doesn't fit. There isn't anything that will make it fit.

 

[Lotsoflemons]

If the saddle doesn't fit it doesn't fit. There isn't anything that will make it fit.

Shes had the saddle for 10plus years and the owner has never had any problems

 

[bonny]

Shes had the saddle for 10plus years and the owner has never had any problems

Maybe it’s you that’s lobsided then, how long have you been riding her ?

 

[milliepops]

The saddle fits perfectly fine the girth is done up tight i just dont get what the problem is because it's still, slipping

OK I am going to assume that you are a young rider because you mentioned your mum, and it doesn't sound like you are very experienced.
A well fitting saddle should not slip badly. it might move a bit, but a good saddler would be able to help you identify the best solution to keep it level on a very round horse.
the saddle either fits as it is, or it needs giant pads to stay put in which case it doesn't really fit. You really need to get someone in a position of responsibility to get involved and get this pony a saddle that fits properly.

 

[Lotsoflemons]

Maybe it’s you that’s lobsided then, how long have you been riding her ?

Since December

 

[PSD]

The saddle fits perfectly fine the girth is done up tight i just dont get what the problem is because it's still, slipping

the saddle doesn’t fit because it’s sliding all over the place.

I think you should do what you want to do, don’t ask for advice if you’re not going to take it.

 

[bonny]

Could well be you that's the problem, get someone to watch you riding from behind and see if you are falling to one side. It’s a common problem and it would make the saddle slip

 

[Reacher]

Horses change shape as they gain/ lose weight/muscle and need their saddle fit checking regularly (at least once a year) and adjusting. If it’s a flocked saddle the flocking can get compressed and need more flocking. If the owner says she has never had any problems, when did the owner last have the saddle fit checked by a qualified fitter and horse checked by a physio? Badly fitting saddles can do a lot of damage

 

[Lotsoflemons]

Could well be you that's the problem, get someone to watch you riding from behind and see if you are falling to one side. It’s a common problem and it would make the saddle slip

Her owner is slipping aswell so its not just me

 

[milliepops]

maybe the saddle did once fit but the pony has changed condition or gained/lost topline. something must have changed if this is a new problem.

 

[Lotsoflemons]

Horses change shape as they gain/ lose weight/muscle and need their saddle fit checking regularly (at least once a year) and adjusting. If the owner says she has never had any problems, when did the owner last have the horse checked by a physio? Badly fitting saddles can do a lot of damage

I don't know shes had the same saddle since she bought her when she was my age

 

[Lotsoflemons]

maybe the saddle did once fit but the pony has changed condition or gained/lost topline. something must have changed if this is a new problem.

Ye the thing is it never happened when i rode in a half pad so im going to try some things today and if it doesn't work then ill try and speak to someone

 

[Suby2]

I have a rotund cob and my saddle kept slipping - only to the right. I initially thought it was because I have a dodgy hip so maybe I was tilting to one side.
I had the saddler out who discovered that my cob is asymmetric and as he has a larger shoulder one side than the other this was pushing the saddle over.

 

[ponynutz]

Sounds like you need a saddler out! I'm in a similar situation, because my horse changes shape very quickly (I made a post about it a couple of weeks ago). Because of Covid-19 I've continued to ride but only hacking, and also have been schooling bareback (which has been very good for my seat lol). Especially as you loan I'd talk to the owner and explain why you think a saddle fitting is a good idea

Don't really understand extra padding bit, assuming it's for muscle atrophy? Or is it just an ill-fitting saddle?

 

[scats]

Hi OP, it might actually be you that’s causing the issue. I say this because I had a major problem with my saddle slipping to the right, no matter what I did. Then I rode another horse and had the same problem. Alarm bells started going! I went to a chiro and I was wonky. I thought I was straight but when the chiro stood me in the mirror, my shoulders were level but my pelvis had tilted. Chiro sorted me out and problem solved.
However if I don’t keep going regularly, I notice the saddle slipping again.

 

[Lotsoflemons]

Update-ive just come back from a hack and wr think the problem was to many saddle pads as we just used the grip saddle pad and th saddle didnt slip

 

[Gloi]

A saddle always slipping to the same side is often an early sign of hind limb lameness developing.

 

[Goldenstar]

The horse needs a work up from a vet .
This is a classic presentation of hock lameness .

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

I have a rotund cob and my saddle kept slipping - only to the right. I initially thought it was because I have a dodgy hip so maybe I was tilting to one side.
I had the saddler out who discovered that my cob is asymmetric and as he has a larger shoulder one side than the other this was pushing the saddle over.

Similar but mine slipped due to slight muscle difference on his bum between one side & another. We built him up correctly but he's always had an issue with the most correctly fitting saddle due to being a flat backed cob with minimal wither. I manage it with a breastplate & also I found girthing on different straps mine made a difference e.g I now girth up on the second & fourth straps.

 

[Lotsoflemons]

Update incase people haven't seen my other post we didn't go jumping she has been checked this morning by the yard owner and manager and we believe she has fat pockets we aren't sure how this has happened as she is ridden regularly and there's not alot of grass in her field but they have said to restrict her grazing so she will be out in the day for a few hours and in at night to restrict her grass

 

[Lotsoflemons]

And ridden and lunged every day

 

[sbloom]

I cant just cancel the lesson

Looks like you did so it's probably unnecessary to say tha yes, if your saddle has issues then clinics are not a good idea and should be cancelled.

The saddle fits perfectly fine the girth is done up tight i just dont get what the problem is because it's still, slipping

A saddle that suddenly starts slipping can#t be said to fit, full stop. If you have been working with a fitter, which everyone should do, then many are offering a basic remote fit check from photos. Definitely have it checked at least every 6 moths minimum going forwards, and yes, gaining weight can affect saddle fit badly. This extra pads will have been making it tip back more but proceed with caution and actually I would say not to ride with a grip pad against the skin, they can make some horses not only very uncomfortable at best but actually cause fascial damage.