Saddlepad slipping issues, possible saddle fit issue?

[whoopsy]

I ride a lesson horse, and I’ve been noticing for a bit thay my saddlepads tend to slip backwards and end up slightly behind her withers by the end of my lesson. The saddle stays put. I ride english.

Recently I bought a new saddle pad that is a jump pad, which this horse uses a general purpose english saddle. I did up her girth the same I usually would. Halfway through my lesson, the saddle pad had slipped backwards significantly, behind the withers. By the end of the lesson, i had lost the saddle pad and it fell off, the saddle stayed put where I originally placed it while girthing up.

Why does this happen? Usually I would attach the velcros if the pad has one but this one didn’t fit the saddle as it was for jumping saddles I think.
Though even when I do attach the velcros on other pads they shift and end up bunched near the back of the saddle and under the gullet- typically this happens more significantly on baby pads or thinner pads.

Could this be a saddle fit issue I should ask my trainer about? Or am I tacking up incorrectly or perhaps the pads aren’t the right fit?

I’m going in for a lesson today, I will attach photos if this happens today.

 

[TheLopingPony]

I would use a saddle pad in this case that has girth keepers to help anchor your pad in place so it's impossible for it to come off. As to why they're slipping, it could be a few different reasons.

As its a lesson horse, could you just not use the saddle pad that comes with the horse? That way you don't need to spend money on pads and I'm presuming you'll be able to use the pad that was 'fitted' to the horse when it had its saddle fitted.

 

[whoopsy]

Theres not a saddle pad that’s specifically for this horse, she doesn’t typically ride english and I’m the only one at this barn that does ride her english.

Keepers work for keeping the pad on but tend to bunch quite a bit, some of them don’t so it is probably an issue with the fit of the pads themselves if they do that I suppose? Like too small or big?
After the lesson today, pad bunched at the back and slightly moved backwards— it doesn’t have keepers so that’s probably why.
I’ll use a pad with keepers next time and might update this thread— those seem to work wonders in terms of slipping back, thank you for the reply! :]

 

[kaiserchief]

The saddle is way too far forward and probably too narrow too. The saddle pad is actually the only thing that is in the correct position. Who tacks her up and does the instructor not correct the saddle position? Could you not ride Western if that saddle fits her better and that's what she's used to?

 

[whoopsy]

Thank you for letting me know! I’ve been tacking her up and my instructor has never said anything about the position. Should I ask my instructor about the fit of the saddle?

In regards to riding western, I’ve never ridden western and don’t have a desire to— but there is horses at the barn I ride that ride primarily english and dont have problems with the saddle pad and such but unfortunately he is on stall rest for a leg injury.

Thank you for the insight, much appreciated!

 

[kaiserchief]

- this is quite a good video for showing how to correctly position an English saddle.

Definitely ask your instructor for advice though I'm surprised they haven't already noticed and corrected the saddle position as it is right over the horse's shoulders and must be uncomfortable for both you and her.