Breastplate question from (reluctantly) former eventer

Sophie, being half Irish Draught is rather round…basically shaped like a barrel of Guinness Stout. I am also stout. With her lack of a visible spine and my dicey ankle I have trouble mounting as the saddle tends to shift even when I use a mounting block. I have addressed this with the saddle fitter.

Do you think one of the 5 point brestplates would help?

[QUOTE=carolprudm;8696650]
Sophie, being half Irish Draught is rather round…basically shaped like a barrel of Guinness Stout. I am also stout. With her lack of a visible spine and my dicey ankle I have trouble mounting as the saddle tends to shift even when I use a mounting block. I have addressed this with the saddle fitter.

Do you think one of the 5 point brestplates would help?[/QUOTE]

I have a mare with no withers…she broke them getting caste in the stall.

I just use a traditional hunting breastplate on her and it helps a little but really having the girth tight and getting on from as high of a mounting block as I can is better. Nothing will completely keep the saddle from shifting when you over weight one side.

The breast plate no. A good tight girth and a no-slip pad will help lots. But most of all a higher/taller mounting block, one with three steps. My trainer has a big yellow one.

It will help a little, but how are you getting on?

I find, that contrary to what many instructors say, many horses (especially cold back ones that don’t love it when you get on) do better if you place a hand on the very beginning of their wither and the other on the back of the saddle and get on that way. Many people think that hand on the cantle is the only way, but there are many ways to skin a cat and some horses definitely have preferences. Plus, having both hands on the saddle makes it prone to shift more.

Can you get a 3-step or a 4-step mounting block?

I feel for you, we have a QH who is rounder than a keg - any saddle slips on him no matter how tight the girth is done up. I use the neck hoist and tall mounting block method otherwise I’ll end up on the ground as if the saddle was mounted to a banana peel…

I do find it helps some. I also find that grabbing the part of the breastplate that goes across the neck while getting on helps.

I have a custom made “handicapped access” mounting block. :yes: The top is about 6 inches below stirrup level. It’s a wooden platform built into the edging of my arena with a 3 step mounting block set on it.

I freely admit to a phobia about mounting (and also have a birthday this month and want to go shopping) and lack the confidence to stand on the block and swing my leg over her which would solve the issue.

I’ll try the non slip pad again but I never was impressed with it. The shaped girth didn’t seem to make much difference either, nor did one with dimples (Lettia?). I use a Thermatex saddle pad with an Ultra Thinline half pad, no sheepskin and Thinline girth I’ve also tried a full sheepskin Mattes pad and a Thinline pad with sheepskin trim.

Is anyone else handy? They can hold the stirrup down on the far side.

My gelding definitely got his withers (or lack thereof) from the quarter horse side of his family, so I can relate! I just use a regular hunting-style breastplate, and grab mane near his withers with my left hand and hold the saddle with the other hand while I mount. It seems to help some.

Also, as long as your saddle fits well, keep the saddle pad thickness to a minimum … Fluffy half pads and the like are just one more thing to “give” and allow the saddle to slide easily as soon as the weight in the stirrups is uneven.

[QUOTE=babecakes;8696726]
Is anyone else handy? They can hold the stirrup down on the far side.[/QUOTE]
Yes, I am doing that currently but would rather not have to depend on it. My horses are at home so my choices are limited.

[QUOTE=Sticky Situation;8696731]
My gelding definitely got his withers (or lack thereof) from the quarter horse side of his family, so I can relate! I just use a regular hunting-style breastplate, and grab mane near his withers with my left hand and hold the saddle with the other hand while I mount. It seems to help some.

Also, as long as your saddle fits well, keep the saddle pad thickness to a minimum … Fluffy half pads and the like are just one more thing to “give” and allow the saddle to slide easily as soon as the weight in the stirrups is uneven.[/QUOTE]

Yes, that is why I settled on the plain Ultra Thinline and the saddle was fitted with it. I would hate to give that up as it seems to minimize the pain in my ankle. The Thermatex pad is not particularly fluffy…it would be harder to find a thinner one. It is a bit stretchy though. The standard pad with the shaped withers doesn’t seem to fit her as well, in part because she doesn’t have much in the wither department.

I love these Equine Comfort Product non-slip pads. They’re cheaper than the Ecogold and still get the job done: http://marystack.com/equine-comfort-products-air-ride-dressage-saddle-pad/?gclid=CM_kpq2Ym80CFdgLgQodWS0GzQ.

With a tall enough mounting block you should basically be stepping on so there isn’t alot of pull/weight to drag the saddle to one side. I do grab mane with my left hand (also holding the reins) and steady my saddle with my right.

[QUOTE=FatCatFarm;8696804]
I love these Equine Comfort Product non-slip pads. They’re cheaper than the Ecogold and still get the job done: http://marystack.com/equine-comfort-products-air-ride-dressage-saddle-pad/?gclid=CM_kpq2Ym80CFdgLgQodWS0GzQ.

With a tall enough mounting block you should basically be stepping on so there isn’t alot of pull/weight to drag the saddle to one side. I do grab mane with my left hand (also holding the reins) and steady my saddle with my right.[/QUOTE]

Thanks. I was using the earlier version of http://www.bitofbritain.com/Nunn-Finer-No-Slip-Ultra-Pad-p/1176.htm

but had forgotten about Mary’s tack.

[QUOTE=carolprudm;8696843]
Thanks. I was using the earlier version of http://www.bitofbritain.com/Nunn-Finer-No-Slip-Ultra-Pad-p/1176.htm

but had forgotten about Mary’s tack.[/QUOTE]

I don’t use any other pad but that one unless I’m jumping and then will add a fleece half pad for extra cushioning beneath the saddle but on top of the saddle pad. Multiple layers do seem to compound the saddle slippage problem. I have found these pads to do what they say and cushion well without the need of adding on other pads.

The only pad that took care of the slipping on my fatty who is no longer a fatty is an acavallo gel pad. Those are like glue. But it seems like having the block on the platform is not working as well for you as a taller wider mounting block would.

I have a Professional’s Choice neoprene girth that is non slip. I have also used a regular hunting breastplate, a nonslip pad, and a tall tree stump for mounting. My ID finally developed some withers.

[QUOTE=AKB;8697605]
I have a Professional’s Choice neoprene girth that is non slip. I have also used a regular hunting breastplate, a nonslip pad, and a tall tree stump for mounting. My ID finally developed some withers.[/QUOTE]

LOL, how old? Sophie is 16. She’s by Touch of the Blues.

Carolprudm, how good it is to read your posts again!

With my two round, no withers Fjords and no mane to grab, I use a tall three step mounting block, which DH so nicely built for me. Both horses are saints that have learned to stand quietly at the mounting block for a long as I ask. I literally step down over them.

I use a Roma dressage pad and a fairly tight girth. I did borrow and try a 5 point breast plate at one time, but felt it impeded my one horse’s very nice long forward trot stride. Maybe I didn’t have it adjusted right, but I didn’t really find it helped with the saddle shifting issue.

(Not really a mounting issue, my shifting was more in the riding than the mounting.) What really did help was getting the horse stronger and more even on both sides and my learning to ride straight over my horse rather than sitting to one side of leaning when he dropped a shoulder.

My mounting block is 32" high (20"x 36" platform) and placed about 3.5 feet from a solid wall (keeps the horse straight and close) and there is a post on the off side of the block if I need to stabilize myself. I’m 5’9" and “aged”, but my primary ride is a 17 hand TB. This works great for me!! I was dragged many years ago by a green horse…I never climb on using only the stirrup!! Plus it is sooooo much nicer for the horse!!

A breastplate is to help with a saddle that slides back, not really side to side. I know you mentioned that you have a saddle fitter. Is your saddle a hoop tree? Just curious.