Shires performance jump saddle- opinions please?

[astridday]

Does anyone have one of these saddles and if so what do you think? I have a lovely prestige golden star saddle that I love but I have a niggly doubt that it might not be ideal for my boy. I'm not sure if it's just my imagination but he just isn't doing his magnificent big trot when we're hunting and I'm thinking it is probably the saddle. Will be gutted tho' if it is as it's the first saddle that doesn't inch forward throughout the hunt. ( I think the panels curve up quite steeply at the rear of the saddle???)

 

[sbloom]

The most common reason for saddles to move forwards is if it is cantle low. The other reason might be a lack of girthing options, or using the wrong straps - if the horse has a forward girth groove then you may need a point strap, and certainly see if not using a rearward-attached strap helps. Even if you use a point strap if you then also use it with a balance strap the saddle may be moved forwards.

I know nothing about the Shires saddle - I know that fellow fitters who have seen them have recommended against the Optimus synthetics, and these are at least made in Walsall (mind you at that price it does make me thing that short cuts might have been taken tbh).