Saddle tilting

[sttm16gerv]

Hi all!
Just wanted to ask some advice as I’m really at my wits end with saddles.
So when I bought my pony a 14.2/3hh cob x we went and got him a saddle fitted which I used for 2 and a half ish years although during that period I would always find that it sits at one side more than the other and every time I put it on it was always tilted. It was a gp saddle. Last autumn I got it reflocked however it still didn’t help the problem, although I am aware that since my horse is a cob that he is the barrel shape, so I bought one of them grippy girths… still no use. I finally went and got a new saddle fitted in august which is an Albion k2 jump saddle. The saddle fitter told me that the previous saddle was too narrow for my pony so this one is wider and should stop the tilting. Great! I thought, and it was great when I rode in it at the fitters however my first ride at home I nearly cracked. It was still uneven, and tilting. I’m told that the k2 saddle has a changeable gullet or something so I’m unsure whether changing it would work or not to make it narrower/wider?. I really like the saddle but I’m not sure whether I need a new one or what to do. If anyone else has a cob type horse with barrel back what do you find helps this? Or if there is any solution.
I also see that my pads are slipping as well and I looked it up and that can be due to a saddle problem. To be fair the new saddle is definitely a lot better than the old one and has made a difference but any tilting sort of triggers me now lmao. The saddle fitter said it fit perfect as well but the tilting may tell me otherwise? Please leave any advice you may have as it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[saddlesore]

What do you mean by tilting? Is the whole saddle moving to one side? Is it twisting- pommel staying relatively still but the cantle moving?

 

[sttm16gerv]

What do you mean by tilting? Is the whole saddle moving to one side? Is it twisting- pommel staying relatively still but the cantle moving?

Yeah it feels like the entire saddle is a little tilted, I’d even notice that my stirrups don’t feel even either, even though they are same hole and quite new so they aren’t stretched either. When I stand behind and look from the back I see at the front that the knee rolls look a bit uneven too, like one is more down than the other.

 

[Griffin]

I have experienced this with my cob. I have found a few things help:
- A non-elasticated girth.
- Thinner saddle pads.
- Get your horse's back checked and work with an instructor to even up the muscles on both sides if they're a bit wonky.
- Improve your own core strength so that when you ride, you're also sitting centrally (Pilates is excellent for this).
- Start off with your saddle in the middle and use a mounting block to get on.

 

[planete]

My cob has one shoulder more developed than the other, could this be the cause of your saddle problem? If your saddle fitter made a template of his back during the fitting process it would show any asymmetry. Alternately an equine physio could check for you.

 

[Lois Lame]

Is the saddle itself twisted? How does it look when viewed at from behind when it is off the horse and positioned on a saddle rack?

 

[Red-1]

I'm sorry to say that, in every tilting saddle I have had, the issue has ended up being in the hocks or stifle of the horse.

I wouldn't worry unduly, if he is happy in his work, but if there are other signs (reluctant to canter, reluctant to jump, reluctant to stride out freely, generally unhappy in work) then I would call the vet to book a performance workup (as opposed to simple exam).

Meanwhile, if the new saddle is still new, I would call the fitter back for another opinion. They may be able to correct it, or put a different girthing arrangement on to stop the tilt for you, even if the horse is still tilting when walking.

 

[Kaylum]

You could try a saddle pad with removable shims and try the different options.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

How straight and relaxed are you as you ride? It is possible that tightness in your body is causing you to influence the way the saddle is sitting. Perhaps have someone video you so that you can analyse if you are creating the problem…I mean no disrespect to your riding style just offering another avenue to explore.

 

[rextherobber]

How straight and relaxed are you as you ride? It is possible that tightness in your body is causing you to influence the way the saddle is sitting. Perhaps have someone video you so that you can analyse if you are creating the problem…I mean no disrespect to your riding style just offering another avenue to explore.

This! When I thought there was a problem with the saddle, the real problem was me...

 

[ester]

As red said, there is a strong correlation with saddles moving sideways and there being a soundness issue with the horse.

I would consider that, and your straightness (get someone else on him and see if if does the same) before the saddle at this point

 

[Goldenstar]

Saddles moving almost always indicate pain .
I would get a vet that does work ups to do a basic work up as a start .

 

[Barton Bounty]

I say start with pads if there is no sign of pain.
my horse has one hoof bigger than the other and one shoulder bigger than the other, yes hes a weirdo, and how he won as a racehorse Ill never know lol , however if his saddle doesnt feel straight I adjust the shims, its the easiest way.
Could it also be you favour one side than the other, I have one leg shorter than the other and it’s noticeable when riding as I always need my stirrups different as I tend to favour weight in one leg more than the other, just a thought ?

 

[sttm16gerv]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. Me and mum looked at him from behind today and seen one of his shoulders is bigger than the other so don’t know if this causes it, but we are also going to get a vet out to check him out as well!

 

[ester]

So the first person to flag up my own boy's possible spavin was actually the saddler who noticed that his shoulder (I think on the same side it was while ago !) was slightly smaller, and we shimmed it for the time being.

 

[Lady Jane]

As others have said get your horse checked (I would get a good physio) and if they say your horse is straight get you looked at. I would expect the physio to watch you ride given the particular issue you have

 

[mini_b]

I'm sorry to say that, in every tilting saddle I have had, the issue has ended up being in the hocks or stifle of the horse.

.

Same experience here. Once we medicated hocks, proper chiro and rehab whilst I did some work on straightening myself as I had exacerbated issue then it stopped slipping.
I bought pads, girths, breast girths.

nothing wrong with the saddle.

 

[sbloom]

Saddle fitter here, horse-saddle-rider, all three take a role and there are literally no completely symmetrical straight horses OR riders. Ask your fitter for more help, ask them why they think it is slipping (tilting is when it's straight on the spine but looks lower on one side at the back). It doesn't have to be serious enough for a vet to see/diagnose as lame to cause the saddle to slip, it's a compensatory movement pattern, and even mild ones, especially in a round horse, can cause slippage.

Compensatory patterns nearly always lead to lameness so this is could be an early heads up...though I will warn you not many vets or bodyworkers necessarily talk about equine movement like this. Gillian Higgins sent me down this path a few years ago - "the vast majority of injuries are caused by repetitive strain" - ie they are not sudden injuries, they are weaker tissues giving way under strain.

There is no magic answer for the saddle - I would not recommend a grippy pad against the skin for this though they can sometimes work between saddle and pad, and I use elastic girths a lot, they are not the cause of slippage the way I fit, but they might be for other fitters. And yes, changing the width and/or flocking may help which is why you should always go back to the fitter in the first instance.

Horse - groundwork, learning how to really look at musculature (there will be more than just one should bigger than the other, there always is), whether the horse is pushing up in front or going on the forehand and through one shoulder....all things best fixed from the ground, without the extra challenge of the rider's weight and own asymmetry.

Rider - off horse work such as Rider Reboot programme (ie more than just a weekly pilates class) and then ridden biomechanics, there are several different types from Mary Wanless RWYM to Franklin Method, all can be very helpful but best to work off the horse first to correct significant issues.