What do I do? No saddle fits!!!

[sidesaddlegirl]

I have the saddler out nearly everyday this past week and have tried various Jeffries saddles (dressage, VSD, Falcon event, Perflexion), Barnsbys (dressage, close contact), some other ones and even a Thorowgood and a GFS tonight and all slide forward onto her shoulders.

I tried all seat sizes in each one incase the 18" size that I need is too long for her back and it was the same for eveyone. Tried mediums, medium/wides and a wide and all did the same thing.

A few had point straps (Perflexion and the Thorowgood) and they still slide forward. Tried all the different permutations of girthing arrangments too (point and third, first and third, point and 2nd)- all the same, ends up on her shoulders.

The only saddles that come REMOTELY (and I mean remote) to fitting seem to be close contact saddles girthed on the 1st and 2nd straps although the two I tried tonight (barnsby and GFS) still slide onto her shoulders but not as much as the others.
Both has super flat seats (which I love anyways) and super flat panels.

I looked at my friends Albion dressage saddle and although I couldn't try it (too wide for Hattie), i don't think the panels would work on her anyways.

I only have £700 tops to spend on a saddle (and would prefer not to spend that much as I need to pay for the Wykham pad on my side saddle out of that money which is going to be £300) but am wondering now will I have to go with the custom route?

I had wanted a dressage saddle as I don't jump anymore but those are out now due to hattie's conformation but I don't mind getting a super flat close contact saddle in black to do dressage in.

I have NO saddle to ride in so really am in a hard spot!

 

[MrsMozart]

I vote again for my saddler Bridlepath International

.

http://www.bridlepathinternational.co.uk/

 

[ladyearl]

Have you thought about treeless? I don't know about prices but second hand might be ok for your budget?

 

[sidesaddlegirl]

Where are they though? I don't recognize the 01359 area code, sounds far away from me

 

[sidesaddlegirl]

I wouldn't rule out a treeless but I would have to try one before buying and I don't know anyone that has one. Hattie is VERY good at bucking at saddles she doesn't like!

 

[marinitagsd]

I had a similar problem with my youngster, tried a few saddles and they all slipped, until I found my Harry Dabbs (Jaguar) it fits her perfectly and doesn't move at all.
Anita
x

 

[Flame_]

Take a template so you know what width you are working with.

Don't commit yourself to one saddler. Shop yourself. Go around looking at saddles, take your horse to shops to try them. If you find something you think is ok, you can ride on it, it doesn't move and the horse seems happy in it. Get an independent saddler to check it for you and make any possible/necessary alterations.

Saddles direct give you time to try saddles well and have a good range. They can post out to you then you can use any saddler, but you need to get a good idea of what might do or you could be trying on random saddles forever.

Second hand saddles might just be better for staying in place being well worn in and often moulded to horse-shape a bit better IMO.

Just find out what width you need, try all makes - not just the ones the nearest saddler happens to stock, then get it checked. Good luck.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

A friend of mine has just got a treeless for her pony. She was having terrible trouble with the 'normal' saddle slipping forwards. The treeless seems to have cured the problem.

ETS saddle company saddles are custom made and mine only cost about £500

 

[JoBo]

Welcome to my world! Have you tried a Fusion saddle? I tried so many different makes (all the ones you have tried) and none fitted but phoned Fusion and they found me a fab saddle. They also aren’t that expensive. Have a look. http://www.fusionsaddles.com/

Oh and personally I hated treeless, the only saddle I have ever fallen off getting on!

 

[sidesaddlegirl]

LOL, I have spent HOURS on Saddles Direct and there isn't anything at the moment that either will fit Hattie (most of the ones on there are brands I have tried but Albion or Harry Dabbs which I can't afford anyways) or me (the ones that I think would work are tiny for my fat arse!

I subscribed to their RSS feed to see when any new saddles come in just incase there is the odd one that will be a gem.

Yup, you are right about the used saddles though, I think my mare needs one that is already "beaten up" so that it sticks to her.

The trouble is that I don't have any transport to take me to any tack shops so have to rely on my husband bringing me (and the tack shops letting me bring things home to trial) or what my local shop has.

I know there is Milners here in Leicestershire but someone said that there is a 4 week wait? Although I may ring them tomorrow and BEG if they can come out

 

[MrsMozart]

[ QUOTE ]
Where are they though? I don't recognize the 01359 area code, sounds far away from me

[/ QUOTE ]

They're based near Cambridge, but seem to travel the country

.

Email them, the response is usually pretty quick

 

[KatB]

Don't use Milners, had an "interesting" fitting experience with them!! Bridlepath are in Bury St Edmunds but is in Notts/Leic on an almost weekly basis. They are fab, give them a call

 

[sidesaddlegirl]

I did come across the Fusion website the other night and I did like the look of the saddles (and they are in my price range too) but wondered about the panels as they seem curved or banana shaped in the photos?

Are they flat or are they curved?

 

[sidesaddlegirl]

Yes, my OH refuses to take me to Milners after one "interesting" shopping experience there too which is why I am hesitant about ringing them.

 

[ladyearl]

I haven't ridden in treeless so can't comment on that - just know a few people that have cured the "unusual" shape problem by going that way. Like all things though I think there are good and bad out there!

 

[sidesaddlegirl]

OK, will get into contact with Bridlepath International (another one for my list!)

 

[Ebenezer_Scrooge]

I have to say that I have nothing but excellent service from Milners and my cob was like a barrell and difficult to fit. It's so frustrating trying to find saddles for some horses.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I promise I don't work for them

but the underside of SC saddles is a kind of serge and so doesn't slip like leather. Maybe some of the other synthetic saddles would be the same. I know I had one years ago which was much softer against the horse's back than a leather one.

 

[crabbymare]

If you can find one secondhand Jaguar is good, and Black Country do a close contact that can be useful on a horse that saddles slip forwards on, the main problem is finding them!!
The other one may be Farringdon as the front strap on the dressage one comes from under where the knee roll is if that makes sense, so the saddle will sit a bit further back.

 

[rlhnlk]

If you can find one that fits you and her before it slips then how about getting on of those grippy gel pads and putting that underneath to stick it to her back a bit?

 

[Louby]

I had this problem on my last horse, we ended up with a Ryder VSD that didnt move.

 

[trundle]

FWIW, i would be very careful about treeless saddles. The owner of my last loan pony had a VERY nasty fall and lost all her confidence (very novice 13 year old) when she rode him in a treeless, and it slipped - saddle and child ended up tangled round pony's back legs and it was NOT a nice experience for any of them.

I think treeless saddles do have their place but they do have a tendency to slip unless you are very careful.

 

[ladyt25]

I would second maybe trying a treeless saddle althpugh i guess it depends what 'look' saddle you are after or if you don't mind.

We recently saw a pony a friend has with a Torsion treeless saddle and she couldn't praise it enough. I am considering trying them for a pony (and possibly my horse). Think you can try them too

http://www.torsionsaddles.co.uk/

 

[ihatework]

2 things to try ....

Professional choice girth (this has virtually eliminated the problem of my horses saddles slipping back) combined with one of the non slip numnahs/pads (throwgoods do a cheap one)

 

[M_G]

Have you tried Mark Fisher? he really is an awesome master saddler and he has loads of second hand saddles as well as new