Tight breastplate...

I would stand horse on flat remove numnah put on saddle girth up take pics side and front and back, then ride and repeat pics will give better idea of how its sitting. Lovely horse.
 
Hollybear and Emmasmummy, if you're looking at the picture that Skippysmum doctored I can tell you that it is very inaccurate - the original I put up is a far more accurate representation (on page 2, I think it is).

My horse isn't built uphill and that doesn't represent the lie of the land on the yard, although I think what she was trying to do was a brilliant idea.

With regards to both being level though, I was only going on what the saddler said, which was that the cantel was significantly higher and the saddle was rocking from front to back. She therefore put inserts in to make it very slightly narrower, which stopped the rocking and rasied the pommel until it was pretty much level - which she showed me.

When ridden, the cantel is very slightly higher than the pommel.

I have NEVER seen the pommel higher than the cantel on this saddle (and that is a fact, knowing the horse and the saddle in real life, not just a photo).

With regards to it being a Wintec I can't really comment... it came with him and was apparently fitted to him in the first instance and then the saddler said that it was as good a choice as any (she could have told me it was rubbish and flogged me a different saddle!)

Meesha, thank you for your kind comments :-)

In all honesty, I think we have pretty much exhausted this subject now as we seem to be going round in circles. The only clear conclusions are that:

a) the breastplate shouldn't be tight... done, I've already adjusted it.
b) we can't agree across HHO whether we like the fit of the saddle or not
c) a photo is a very limited resource and no substitute for seeing the real thing
d) it wouldn't hurt to get a second opinion

I'm very grateful for everyone's input and when I next ride I will bear these various points in mind and look at it again with consideration of everyone's comments.

I will seek the advice of my trimmer, who I trust above anyone else and, if I do involve a physio as I am considering, I will also seek their advice, especially with regards to his slightly uneven muscle development.

If necessary, I will have the saddle fitter back out... possibly the same saddle fitter as I was incredibly impressed by her and I know many others who have been, too. Lets not forget, on here she is being judged by a photo... in reality, the saddle no longer rocks, the horse seems happy and very free moving and my terrible back aches have stopped since the saddle was refitted. If, however, my trimmer, etc, advises, then I will seek the advice of a different saddle fitter.

Thanks once again for your advice everyone.
 
metalmare said:
To give you an idea, this is where the saddle was after 40 mins hacking, including up hill canter.

It isn't a huge shift, but slightly affects my back and seat.

picture.php
Click to expand...

This saddle is actually positioned a little too far forward (and this is after you say it's slipped???). So I'd say it was handler error, rather than saddle fitter error.

Smashing little horse btw.
 
Slight sideline...don't take off the girth with the elastic on both ends. It ensures a more even support and my saddler highly recommends them. It makes sense. An older girth with only 1 insert is likely to stretch.

As for the photo editing... It was brilliant...now if that poster could edit out overly large riding thighs, she could have an alternative career!
 
Looking at your picture your saddle is further forward than I would fit it.

If you are convinced its slipping then you might find one of the huane girths - the sort with the plasticy tube that has heaps of holes in it. They help keep the saddle from slipping really well. I have one on my Clydesdale as her saddle slips around, with the girth it stays put.
 
meesha said:
I would stand horse on flat remove numnah put on saddle girth up take pics side and front and back, then ride and repeat pics will give better idea of how its sitting. Lovely horse.
Click to expand...

I would do this and come back with some pics. Also regarding your back ache, when I has a wintec I used to get awful lower back pain, a friend came to see me and made me realise it put my legs so far forward that I was trying to correct this and was arching my back to get my legs straight and me having to lean forward to get keep my legs in the right position. Wintec stirrup bars are set quite forward.

I would have a look at professional choice smx girths, they are fab and have used mine on many horses without any saddle slippage.
 
Sorry if I am wrong, but shouldn't it be the middle of the saddle (seat) that should sit straight and level, not the cantle/pommel level, especially if saddle has a high back?

Try moving the saddle back a few inches and then see if it slips. If its too far forward, it will want to slip back into the correct position.
 
Wintec's are the synthetic version of Bates saddles so are actually excellent saddles.

It's hard to accurately judge the fit, because the horse is not standing square it's also standing uphill - and the lines of the clip and the roof behind make it hard to truly see if the saddle is fitting.

wallykissmass - if your legs are constantly too far forward then your saddle is too narrow. May need some flocking removed to level it out.
 
Tnavas said:
Wintec's are the synthetic version of Bates saddles so are actually excellent saddles.

It's hard to accurately judge the fit, because the horse is not standing square it's also standing uphill - and the lines of the clip and the roof behind make it hard to truly see if the saddle is fitting.

wallykissmass - if your legs are constantly too far forward then your saddle is too narrow. May need some flocking removed to level it out.
Click to expand...

The saddle was fine just the stirrup bars, wintecs are further forward, I have now replaced with with a leather which works for both of us :)
 
Thank you amymay; I trust your word on this.

Thank you to everyone... It's good to have a 'sounding board' as I don't have one at the yard.
 
No real slippage here. I was pleased after this ride with where the saddle was (first go at using the breastplate which at that point I had adjusted to be quite slack). That's pretty much where I usually place the saddle.

Prior to using the breastplate the saddle might be a little further back than this at the end of a ride. A matter of a couple of inches.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top