We’ve come to have a lease on a pony who is. .um… slightly portly. She’s ROUND ROUND ROUND and even though she is out of shape, i have a feeling this is her general body type. Both of DD’s saddles slip forward… BADLY. Her primary saddle is a CWD… the other one is a beval jr. We’ve tried a no slip pad under the saddle and that helps a bit. My next thing to try is a neoprene type girth (professional choice type). Is there any alternative thing to use besides a crupper? This pony is a little diva and WILL NOT tolerate a crupper. The saddle slips so badly that after one course of jumps we have to reset everything. Any suggestions?
The only real solution is to get a properly fitted saddle. A neoprene girth might work for 3 minute intervals if you are lucky and use in the no slip pad.
[QUOTE=myalter1;7421796]
This pony is a little diva and WILL NOT tolerate a crupper. [/QUOTE]
If this pony is tolerating those saddle which do NOT fit her in the least, she is FAR from a diva - she is being very sweet & tolerant :lol:
The crupper, non-slip pads etc, etc are all only going to work v.e.r.y temporarily - if your kid is light (weight wise) & balanced (able to compensate for that sliding saddle & keep it somewhat in the middle of the horse) pony won’t end up too back sore … most lease ponies tend to the kind, stoic sort.
Have a fitter or rep out that can guide you as to sorts of saddles that will work for this pony (e.g., CWD does occasionally make a w.i.d.e tree pony saddle), if Antares (or any other company) still has their Young Rider Program, you might look into this sort of thing.
Beval has their sale coming up very soon, talk to them about a possible pony saddle (they do have a wide pony tree as well but it may not be enough).
I don’t know, I have a pony like this and even with a custom saddle that was adjusted often (Schleese), it still slipped half way up her neck, and then the girth would rub as well. http://www.victorycanter.com/Ovation-Silicone-Anti-Slip-Pad-467081.html This pad, under a normal square one with a fleece girth seemed to do the trick. It still slipped forward a tiny bit, but not too bad. Of course, if the saddle doesn’t fit then that won’t help. But the idea that all saddles that slip forward don’t fit is false IMO, many don’t I’m sure, but not always.
a diet… 
[QUOTE=Tea;7421989]
I don’t know, I have a pony like this and even with a custom saddle that was adjusted often (Schleese), it still slipped [/QUOTE]
I’ve seen one of these Schleese’s too 
and it’s STILL my opinion that saddle did not fit
- great saddle for the rider - who loved it - except she needed to constantly reshift the saddle back to “home”
(the S rep though it was fantastic on the horse 
)
FP is like that: the saddles slip as soon as the fit is not truly precise - this is also true of his custom saddles … except after the rep has fine-tuned the panels, saddle is awesome again :yes:
(unfortunately he goes into Protest Mode as soon as saddle is not just right - & he feels that bareback is not an option thankyouverymuch :mad:)
[QUOTE=flyracing;7421845]
The only real solution is to get a properly fitted saddle. A neoprene girth might work for 3 minute intervals if you are lucky and use in the no slip pad.[/QUOTE]
This. If I can fit a saddle to this utterly shapeless back: https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/t1/313_77501740214_8506_n.jpg and not need any crupper/breastplate/etc to keep everything in the right spot, then any other back can be fit to! :lol:
Agree that you simply need one of the specific pony-tree saddles…wide, flat, and probably hoop-shaped vs. a-shape.
Yes, like Maytay said…A diet & exercise program will make a difference. The girth will fit better and not be pushed in her armpits from her pot-belly habitus. Her withers should narrow a little bit and become a little more prominent to help the saddle fit better. I personally wouldn’t invest in a saddle until the pony lost some weight and gotten into shape.
Its not always just because they’re fat. Having no shoulder is an issue as well.
You can get a shaped girth and put it on backwards so the rounded part goes forward.
Well, I’m curious too. I have one of those round, no-wither fatties. I have a treeless saddle, and can’t really afford to replace it right now.
I have a no-slip pad and a really good girth. It all works well as long as everything goes perfectly. But I am afraid if something went wrong, the saddle would roll. Fortunately, my horse is pretty steady. 
OP - Can you post a photo of the pony?
I third, fourth, fifth everyone that a properly fit saddle will not move. On ponies a lot of times it that the panels on a regular saddle are simply too long. As they use their back their loin pushes the saddle forward. Adding a crupper will only cause the pony much pain as the lower back will get no relief. I know it’s the WORST to hear but you must must must keeping looking for a saddle and find one that just fits. Agree a round pony needs a hoop tree. If the girth groove is set forward a point billet and/or anatomical girth will help. I went through the same thing with my pony and couldn’t believe when we finally got a perfect fit I didn’t even need a non-slip pad.
Well, I hate to say this and I know I should put on my flame suit. BUT… i don’t own the pony. A custom saddle, or one specifically fit to this pony is out of the question. DD has great balance and is light (less than 60 lbs at almost 11 years old). The pony eats next to nothing (lives on air) and has dropped a few pounds since she has been back in work. Looks like she will just be a “reset the saddle after each trip” kind of pony.
I completely understand about a well fitting saddle. However, it’s just not going to happen here. We don’t know if we will have this pony for a month or a year. DD rides 4 others and her saddle fits each of them. Therefore, just have to try to make it work.
I’ll trade you. I’ve got an 18 hand true narrow bohemoth with shark fin withers, HUGE, long sloping shoulders, back muscle atrophy and a very forward girth groove that turns into a whining little brat if anything pinches or he feels his rider is in the least behind the motion.
Ha ha ha Tinah - I had one of those too. I can’t tell you how many saddles we went through. He had a saddle for every season!
DD rides 4 others and her saddle fits each of them.
There’s your answer then, only lease/ride ponies that will actually fit the saddles you have.
just have to try to make it work.
perching a too narrow saddle atop a wide pony is not really trying to make it work … no one suggested “custom” I think for what is obviously a very temporary horse for you … finding a wide tree used pony saddle is possible for MUCH less than a CWD, & you’ll be able to sell it on for much the same price as you brought it in at (& quickly).
WOW - I hope you also don’t mind running & leaping in shoes that are 2 sizes too small, after all you can take them off & put them back on every block or so …
Really just send this pony back - admit to the owner that you have no interest in committing any $$ in saddle fit (or treating the inevitable soreness issues or probable training issues that will develop) - if owner decides to provide a suitable saddle, then you can reconsider.
Also consider if pony spooks etc & saddle slips enough, your kid could be in rather more danger
sorry I even asked.
I have to say I’m inclined to agree with the poster who said that you are taking advantage of this pony’s kind nature with a terribly fitting saddle.
DD is regularly riding four ponies in a CWD and you can’t spend $400 to get this saddle for the fat pony? http://www.smithworthington.com/index.php?p=product&id=469
Smith Worthingtons are great for the fat little ponies…plus, if you buy new, you send them your wither tracings and they will fit both the tree and the wool flocking to them. Then, when said pony moves on, you can resell for basically the same price that you paid.
[QUOTE=GoForAGallop;7424066]
I have to say I’m inclined to agree with the poster who said that you are taking advantage of this pony’s kind nature with a terribly fitting saddle.
DD is regularly riding four ponies in a CWD and you can’t spend $400 to get this saddle for the fat pony? http://www.smithworthington.com/index.php?p=product&id=469
Smith Worthingtons are great for the fat little ponies…plus, if you buy new, you send them your wither tracings and they will fit both the tree and the wool flocking to them. Then, when said pony moves on, you can resell for basically the same price that you paid.[/QUOTE]
What a great deal! Looks a lot like a Beval Devon.
[QUOTE=myalter1;7423771]
sorry I even asked.[/QUOTE]
I’m sorry you feel that way - in the end, the owner really should be standing up for this pony, you should be standing up for your kid & showing her that with all the wonderful things ponies & horses do for us, we owe them our best … and sometimes our best is saying it’s not OK to ride that pony/horse unless …
