Skipping Saddle

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katshouse

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I have a very Chunky Cob (Barrel Body) I've only had him 8 weeks, I've had a saddle fitted by a Qualified Saddler and I use a Sticky Saddle Cloth, but the saddle is still slipping, would a five point breast plate help, please? Many Thanks your your advise.
 
Highmileagecob said:
Think you need to call the saddler back, and show what happens when you ride. Bear in mind that as you ride more, and the work load increases, your horse will change shape as fat moves and muscles build up. He will change shape again in winter when the summer bloom disappears.
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This and you could also get your instructor to check whether you are sat level. Some horses, and some saddles, can make people sit with more weight to one side.
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I don’t know your horse, so not judgemental, but could your cob do with losing a few pounds? When my cob is ‘chunky’ it is extremely difficult to get anything to fit her and her saddle slips. Lose a few cms and all is good.
If in doubt, ask your saddle fitter if she would be easier to fit if she was slightly slimmer.
 
Also, consider the girth. On my ahem, barrel-shaped, coblet, elastic ended girths were an absolute no!
Ended up with a traditional looking string one. Bonus, far less sweating in the girth area.
 
Equi said:
In what way is it slipping? Back? Sideways? Forward?
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Hi, Thank you for your reply, Sideways, always right, even though I'm desperately conscious of it and trying to put my weight through the left. My previous horse was a TB who I lost 2.5 years ago, aged 32 had awful confirmation and I'm wondering if my riding position has compensated for his "interesting" action. I have transport now so will be having lessons.
 
vhf said:
Also, consider the girth. On my ahem, barrel-shaped, coblet, elastic ended girths were an absolute no!
Ended up with a traditional looking string one. Bonus, far less sweating in the girth area.
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That's a very good idea, my saddle fitter said definitely not an elastic one, but didn't suggest a string one, probably too young to remember :) them!
 
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canteron said:
I don’t know your horse, so not judgemental, but could your cob do with losing a few pounds? When my cob is ‘chunky’ it is extremely difficult to get anything to fit her and her saddle slips. Lose a few cms and all is good.
If in doubt, ask your saddle fitter if she would be easier to fit if she was slightly slimmer.
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Not judgmental, honest, and your reply is very appreciated and yes he could do with loosing a pound or twenty!! previous horse was a TB, I'm on a learning curve with the Cob.
 
i have had similar issues with ‘rounder’horses! I would fully reccomend the Professionals Choice non slip girth- really works well.
 
katshouse said:
Not judgmental, honest, and your reply is very appreciated and yes he could do with loosing a pound or twenty!! previous horse was a TB, I'm on a learning curve with the Cob.
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I slipped to the right on my little barrel (who was on a permanent diet)
Putting my weight consciously to the left made it worse, as of course all that happened was that everything tried to compensate!! I am proper wonky, and even on my new string bean shaped TB I have to do a lot of work on sitting straight and using both sides evenly. Saddle would stay upright without a girth (we're working on topline!) but as she's a clean slate, all my wonkiness shows up in how she tries to balance me. I've no idea which of me/previous horses started the compensation first but coblet made it most obvious. Lessons are the way to go. And potentially bodywork (you and horse!)
 
vhf said:
I slipped to the right on my little barrel (who was on a permanent diet)
Putting my weight consciously to the left made it worse, as of course all that happened was that everything tried to compensate!! I am proper wonky, and even on my new string bean shaped TB I have to do a lot of work on sitting straight and using both sides evenly. Saddle would stay upright without a girth (we're working on topline!) but as she's a clean slate, all my wonkiness shows up in how she tries to balance me. I've no idea which of me/previous horses started the compensation first but coblet made it most obvious. Lessons are the way to go. And potentially bodywork (you and horse!)
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Thank you so much for your Top Advice, we sound very similar, Lessons are on the Horizon :) xx
 
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I use a flexigirth on my round flat backed Arab and get no slipping issues now, great girths for the rounder horse they are about £35 or they do a leather version which is a bit more expensive.
 
From your other thread (I'm a fitter specialising in wide shapes):

"The saddle fit needs checking, how long ago was it last checked? I would never recommend using a grippy pad against the skin, especially the super sticky ones. Not only does it irritate the fascia but it can mask more serious saddle fit issues that the slipping shows up (ie when it starts slipping is when you know you need it checked and adjusted).

Bear in mind however that some terrible fitting saddles don't slip, and that it's asymmetry in the horse that's the biggest cause of slippage, but a wonky rider will also cause it, as well as causing their horse to be wonky in the first place!

Breast plates actually restrict movement in front so I'd never recommend using one for saddle slip. Fairfax designed one that is potentially better than others re the shoulders/movement, but not sure of design and it may not help at all with saddle slip anyway."


And to add, the way I fit I nearly always recommend a girth with strong elastic both ends. The Ventech can work but it relies on grip, the elastic is pretty stretchy on them, they can work but they're far from my favourite because of how they work. I can make lots of recommendations for straightness for horse and rider, it's bread and butter for me :), regular lessons will help but in so many cases don't really reach the underlying issues.
 
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