Tipping forwards - feeling frustrated !

Emmangel

Emmangel

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Hey guys. I've been riding for 40+ years and I've never had this problem before now. One horse who is ISH - I ride perfectly well and I don't tip forward (compete sucessfully BD). I bought a PRE gelding this year and when I ride him, I keep tipping forward. My saddler said he is quite "up behind" and so he can understand this. I have tried 3 different saddles and currently riding him in Albion Platinum (same as the other horse). It seems to be mainly in trot and sometimes in downward transition from canter to trot. I thought my core muscles were adequate until now. It's making me feel I can't ride. I don't want to impede my young boy's progress either..... I have just started up with a new trainer and will be enlisting his help going forwards too. Any tips ?? Help !!!! Thank you :) x
 
Is you saddle sitting low at the front? I found that with one of my horses I felt like I was tipping forward, had the saddler out, tried a front riser pad and boy, what a difference
 
My saddler has just fitted this saddle and he feels that if I have the saddle tipping back further, this will put pressure on his back. I think he would rather have it slightly tipping forwards even more but we reached this solution as a compromise between mine and horses' comfort. I looked at some recent pics and it's awful :(
 
Could you find a different saddler? This one is clearly not finding the right solution for you and your horse and putting your training in jeopardy as well. You can also work on getting your boy under himself more so that you are getting him more uphill and helping you to get sat up.
 
I have just had my saddle reflocked and the difference it has made in my position is quite amazing. The flocking had settled a lot at the front so was tipping forwards and tipping me forwards too not to mention the swinging at the back. It wasn't major but now its been rectified, it feels fab.

Perhaps try with a riser or get the saddler back out/another one!!
 
The whole idea of saddle fitting is balance - if you are being tipped forward then it is not balanced.

I have the same issue with my boy, he is 'up' behind (not croup high but he is powerful), the saddle still needed to be balanced with my weight in it. Your saddler should be balancing the saddle with you riding in it. the difference between you being a littel tipped forward and not shoulld be a minimal change and spread your weight better, I would be concerned that all my weight was on my horses shoulders if I were in your position.

HOwever one thing you could try (if it is a marginal problem) is a wither pad (not a massive one) : https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&r...dw63-s-dw-BpMnYucbJ7AhNg&ust=1447423751681916

It lifts my saddle by the tiniest margin if he drops condition and I feel tipped.
 
as a easy cheap test, pop a piece of gamgee under the front of the saddle and see how that feels.
My youngster (growing weed) did this to me, bum high, just lifted enough to help me
Weed pony is now turned away for winter to sort it out!
 
Reflocking etc is all to do with the saddles fit to the horse ,NOT THE RIDER!. One of the biggest factors in the fit of the saddle to the rider is the position of the stirrup bar. The lower leg is effectivvely a compound pendulum about the stirrup bar and its position in relation to the seat is absolutely critical. I have a saddle with an adjustable stirrup bar and it is a source of endless amusement to me to demonstrate to extremely competent riders the effect of shifting the stirrup bar by 1cm !
 
Most saddles have too much rear panel for croup high horses and I hear of all sorts of things like going to a curvier tree to get clearance at the front, don't! You need a shorter, shallower rear panel shape commonly called upswept. The most upswept shapes follow the curve of the cantle, most are foam panelled but some are flocked. Albions have stonking great rear gussets so even if you do lift the front of the saddle the panel shape is all wrong and this is why your fitter doesn't want to do it, however he needs to look at rear panel shape to get a a more balanced fit.

You are being tipped forwards because the saddle is out of balance, the better the fit on the horse the better it feels for the rider, on average, they are not mutually exclusive.
 
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