Weird feeling in trot - help me diagnose why

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curiosity101

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Hoping for some help here.

I was riding my loan horse earlier today and I've never felt a trot quite like today on any horse. Her trot itself was fine (I have video and can see she was moving fine).

But if I was to describe it I'd say that it felt as though my legs were being pushed backwards by her shoulders as she trotted. I felt like I was constantly being pushed backwards (in rhythm with her movement). This led to me not feeling like I was properly able to rise and felt quite off balance with a lot of movement in my hips.

So... Any ideas? My thoughts are that her saddle may have slipped back a bit and then her shoulders were pushing on the knee roll? It didn't look out of place though. Or could it have slipped forward a bit onto her shoulders? Would that have this kind of effect?

Anything I can try out next time if it happens again to help diagnose it? From talking to her owner her saddle does have a tendency to move, especially right now while she's getting back to fitness. But I don't actually know for sure what it was.
 
Nope, definitely the correct diagonal at all times. I'd describe being on the wrong diagonal as uncomfortable, but certainly nothing like this. This was like someone pushing one of your lower legs back on each stride. I can't think of another way to describe it.
 
Nope, she's a Fell.

I don't think it was anything lateral. I had wondered if she was really off balance or something at the time so I specifically asked her to go very straight down the long side of the school, expecting it might ease off but it was still exactly the same. And very even feeling on each of my legs too.
 
I've just compared beginning of the ride to the end of the ride. The saddle has slipped forwards by a good couple of inches. And I've noticed from the video I was almost compensating by sitting further back in the saddle.

So next question - why do saddles slip forwards and is there anything I can do to help avoid that in future?
 
curiosity101 said:
I've just compared beginning of the ride to the end of the ride. The saddle has slipped forwards by a good couple of inches. And I've noticed from the video I was almost compensating by sitting further back in the saddle.

So next question - why do saddles slip forwards and is there anything I can do to help avoid that in future?
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It shouldn't slip forwards if it fits correctly, I'd get a saddle fitter out to check.
 
I was told by a saddler that if you use the back 2 girth straps it helps stop saddles slipping forwards. my 2 are both slightly croup high.
 
I ride a lot of steep hills and have a crupper on the saddle, you can get a fitting to screw on the saddle if yours hasn't got one. Most soon get used to it but lunge first and take it off if you are jumping.
 
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