Saddles that slip forward! What to do?

sidesaddlegirl

sidesaddlegirl

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I had my first lesson on Hattie today and had to change saddles mid lesson as my Wintec dressage kept slipping forward and got on her nerves causing her to have a bucking fit. My instructor had a look and said to try and change the gullet down to a medium (I had a medium/wide in) but chances are that I'll need a saddler to come out and look.

Anyways, changed to the saddle that she came with (A nearly new Stubben Genesis in size 29) and that was better but it kept slipping forward as well. My instructor had a look at that and showed me where it was pinching her on the shoulder. It had been fitted by the Stubben guy too which was fairly recent as the saddle is pretty much new!

Anyways, going to try the medium gullet in the Wintec and get the saddler out to look at both saddles as well but my instructor said that because she has a bit of a roach back and a powerful hind end that that this may be causing the saddle to slip forward and about having a point strap put on my saddle.

I don't think I can do this with a Wintec and the Stubben came on loan with Hattie so it isn't mine to mess about with so going by this and depending on what the saddler says, it looks like I'll probably have to sell my Wintec go saddle shopping again.

Does anyone have any saddle suggestions for horses whose saddles lip forwards? Dressage primarily but am open to GP's as well!
 
I had awful trouble with Kizzy's saddle, she was croup high, no shoulder, wide barrell so the girth just slipped to the narrowist point. Had a point strap on my gp, but always felt it restricted her shoulder a bit, & the saddle felt like it was tipping down in front, tried various non slip pads, & have found the Barnsby grip pads the best. Use one on both my dressage & jumping saddles & have had no further problems, though she has changed shape now as well.
 
If your saddle has three girth straps, try a conbination of, say first & third, or second and third. This often has the effect of stopping a saddle moving in an unwanted direction, either backwards or forwards, as quite often this occurs due to the horse's shoulder action. The good thing is, it won't cost you a penny, if it works!
 
A saddle should never be girthed up on second and third girth straps only due to the girth straps being sewn onto the same web, if it breaks you lose the saddle.
The front girth strap is a separate web, so if one web breaks you always have a spare to keep your saddle on, always girth up on either the first and second or first and third.
Oz
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Try a thin non slip saddle pad--loads on the market including from the racing world which can be cut to size as required--evazote race pads spring to mind
 
My pony has a Wintec that slips forwards even though it's been professionally fitted (it only moves when she bucks and yes, I've had her back checked). I use a Barnsby Grip Numnah and that works pretty well for us
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Unforutnately, my dressage saddle only has two billets so can only use those two. I tried 1st and 3rd and 1st and 2nd on the GP but it doesn't make any difference.
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I never thought about a different girth but aren't those banana girths £100+? I'd need two, a short black one for my dressage and a long newmarket one for my jumping so it would probably work out cheaper just to get my saddles reflocked or sell the Wintec and buy a correctly fitting 2nd hand saddle.

I shall ask my saddler about a thin non slip pad then, maybe she has some to try.

I wonder if it's Wintecs in general that won't fit her. Hattie bucked because mine slipped forward and hurt her so don't really want to ride in it again if it is going to slip forward during normal riding (we were only doing walk/trot transistions at the time the saddle slipped forwward causing her to buck) and cause her pain!
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Get a saddler out. Some horses are a pain to fit a saddle to.
I knew a little pony that no matter what saddle he was put in, it slid forewards. The girl put a crupper on it and it seemed to minimise this.
I would lunge in the crupper first though so that they can get used to it..
 
I'd get a saddle fitter out too, just to make sure, a second opinon is better than havning a saddle that doesnt fit 100% as it could cause long term damage to your horses back or indeed attitude to work.
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Anatomical/banana girth?
A

[/ QUOTE ]

Just what I was going to sugget - I had to get a Kentaur anatomical Girth for my co as his saddle kept slipping forward.
 
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A saddle should never be girthed up on second and third girth straps only due to the girth straps being sewn onto the same web, if it breaks you lose the saddle.
The front girth strap is a separate web, so if one web breaks you always have a spare to keep your saddle on, always girth up on either the first and second or first and third.
Oz
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Most riders and saddle fitters have moved on from this viewpoint. As long as the saddle is of good quality and the webbing the girth straps are attached to are checked regularly, it is perfectly safe to girth up to the second and third girth straps. If it solves fitting problems, and the horse and rider are happy it is a safe, sensible option.

As to saddles slipping forward, usually its the shape of horse that's the problem rather than the saddle. Some makes will resist slipping better than others and you just need to try loads of different ones until you find one that suits.
 
Some horses have a forward girth groove, which combined with a big action behind make it a nightmare to stop the saddle inching forward just enought to block the shoulder - which is why I suggested a banana girth. Personally, I have to ride my pony with a crupper - it is the only way to keep the saddle from blocking her shoulder. I am not a fan of point straps.
A
 
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