Saddle slipping!

Spiritedly

Spiritedly

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 December 2011
Messages
1,632
Visit site
I have a DHP x cob pony who has a very forward girth groove and his saddle is constantly slipping onto his shoulder. It's okay in walk and trot, slips a little in canter but is worst when jumping. Part of this is down to his action, he is a stumpy 12.3 with a flat back and no withers who loves to jump and almost rolls his shoulders to get the height.
It used to slip a little but a grippy saddle pad kept it in place but now nothing seems to work. The saddle has been checked by two different saddlers and they have both said the actual saddle fits him great so the issue isn't the saddle itself.
We have tried different types of saddle pad, a wintec grippy girth and an anatomical girth shaped for horses with a forward groove...collegiate I think...a stubben string girth has been suggested but I am wary of using one as with his breeding he gets very hairy in the winter and I'm concerned it will make him sore and another suggestion is having a ring attached to the back of his saddle and using a crupper.
Has anyone found a solution for something like this? Bonus points if its a solution that I can try before I buy or that doesn't break the bank!
 
sbloom

sbloom

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 September 2011
Messages
11,121
Location
Suffolk
www.stephaniebloomsaddlefitter.co.uk
A million different answers, has it ever stayed back? A saddle can "fit" but if it won't stay back then it's not really fitting. You may need a different saddle, often with flatter rails and seat, and also often with a slightly smaller footprint which may mean a smaller seat size for you. If you don't have a point strap on your saddle that may be part of the issue, however a point strap should only be used on saddles that have flat enough trees and are fitted perfectly at the front so they can't be pulled down by that girthing arrangement.

You may need your current saddle adjusting by someone who really understands the brand, I see the saddles I fit sometimes "ruined" by someone who's used completely different fitting techniques to mine. The Stubben girth is great and not an issue with hairy horses, the only time I've seen it cause issues is where the girth groove is "pouchy" with not enough space for the girth to sit flat, and the strands fold over each other and end up pinching.

What will work is part experience, knowledge and technique (all of the saddle fitter and trying proven things with girthing etc as you have) but part luck.

I would never recommend a grippy pad against the skin as a long term solution, okay, if your horse tolerates it, as a short term solution with temporary weight gain, or when waiting for your saddle fitting appointment. Sometimes a pad between saddle and numnah can help with slipping but it's a bit of a lottery.
 
Spiritedly

Spiritedly

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 December 2011
Messages
1,632
Visit site
sbloom said:
A million different answers, has it ever stayed back? A saddle can "fit" but if it won't stay back then it's not really fitting. You may need a different saddle, often with flatter rails and seat, and also often with a slightly smaller footprint which may mean a smaller seat size for you. If you don't have a point strap on your saddle that may be part of the issue, however a point strap should only be used on saddles that have flat enough trees and are fitted perfectly at the front so they can't be pulled down by that girthing arrangement.

You may need your current saddle adjusting by someone who really understands the brand, I see the saddles I fit sometimes "ruined" by someone who's used completely different fitting techniques to mine. The Stubben girth is great and not an issue with hairy horses, the only time I've seen it cause issues is where the girth groove is "pouchy" with not enough space for the girth to sit flat, and the strands fold over each other and end up pinching.

What will work is part experience, knowledge and technique (all of the saddle fitter and trying proven things with girthing etc as you have) but part luck.

I would never recommend a grippy pad against the skin as a long term solution, okay, if your horse tolerates it, as a short term solution with temporary weight gain, or when waiting for your saddle fitting appointment. Sometimes a pad between saddle and numnah can help with slipping but it's a bit of a lottery.
Click to expand...

Thank you for replying!

The saddle pad he has is a normal numnah but has an almost mesh like underside? We tried jelly grip things between the saddle and saddle 0ad but they did nothing :-(
The saddle used to stay in place when girth was attached to the point strap but this no longer seems to work. We have tried a couple of different saddles on him and had the same issue, they fit really well but as soon as he jumps they slip forward and he loves jumping :-(.
I'm trying to find a local saddle fitter who specialises in awkward ponies and really hoping there is a non made to measure alternative as I don't even ride him he has a loaner.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top