[QUOTE=sublimequine;3033771]
FWIW, I use a non-slip (‘sticky’) pad, and have never had any hair loss from it. Even now when she’s shedding, it isn’t any different for her than using a normal pad.[/QUOTE]
I’ve had a couple of bronc episodes :eek: on otherwise exceedingly stoic and unflappable horses caused by grippy pads and the neoprene girths. Especially with winter coats. Grippy though they may be, I won’t use them any more. :no:
I’ve noticed some really crabby behavior with them too. I sold everything I had that was neoprene or pebbly grip.
A2,
I have a mutton-withered Morab with the same problem. I ride with a Thinline on top of a thin Diamond Wool pad, but I really think the Crupper/Breastcollar combination helps me. It does not matter if I am doing hills or not, the crupper goes on, every time, just like normal tack. I will get some slippage, but never anything more than a little sideways hitch in the saddle won’t fix.
Elaine from Thinline told me that the Thinline pad helps with slippage… I cannot remember how.
Let me know what works once you solve the problem!
Steph
I had the same problems with my BM, I tried every pad under the sun. Finally I bought the Sport Sincha girth and it was a miracle, no more slipping, even mounting from the ground not a problem at all. So my problem was definetely in the girth.
Is the saddle “broken in”? I just got a Barefoot treeless and noticed it took a few rides to settle. The first ride or two it didn’t feel very stable and after that it seemed to just settle into its shape or something and its working great. I would also suggest the proper padding for a treeless. My saddle slides back going up hills, so I have to wear a breastcollar. All saddles slide on this horse though, he has pretty much no ribcage so no “groove” to hold the saddle forward. Thank goodness he has a wither, or else I’d need a crupper!
I don’t care for the “tacky” products. Though, if I get anything like neoprene near my horse I think his hair just automatically starts falling out!
My Half Arabian is quite mutton-withered and built downhill. The only thing that I have consistently found to help with saddle slippage (particularly riding down hills) is a Thinline pad.
I had a near-death experience riding down a bluff at Fort Robinson, NE–let’s just say that between my fear of heights, the narrowness of the trail, the SHARP dropoff with nothing but a few stumps between me and the bottom of the ravine, and my saddle heading towards my horse’s ears (and thus making him VERY cranky), I was totally and completely terrified. I was shaking when I got to the bottom.
After that, I bought a Thinline pad. Since then, I bought a second one so that I have a square one for my western saddle and a more shaped one for my hunt saddle.
They are not pebbly, they are smooth; and help with both side-to-side slippage and front-to-back.
I have tried NUMEROUS pads that were allegedly non-slip, and the Thinlines work the best for me–hands down, far and away the best.
I use them right next to the horse–NOT sandwiched between the saddle and another pad. They are “open cell” technology, which is supposed to allow the skin to breath better than closed cell. I usually use a thin pad in between the Thinline pad and the saddle, too (a navajo pad for western, and sheepskin half-pad for my hunt saddle).
I can now mount from the ground when I have to get off my horse while I’m out foxhunting, without pulling the saddle down underneath him!
If you let them get dirty, they don’t work as well, so make sure that you keep it clean. A simple wipe-down with a wet rag will do the trick.
In terms of “ripping the hair out”…well, I don’t find that it pulls any more hair out than most other pads. And my horse is MUCH crankier when I’m riding between his ears than when he loses a few hairs on his back. 
A2: Besides using a thin-line pad you might want to try a Sensation girth. They have a cool centering ring and its elastic and stretchy across the whole length. The ones I have are felt-backed which are nice. Both ends have roller buckles. I really think this girth adds significantly to lateral stability. You can order one from foresthorse.com Good luck.
Thanks everyone for the continued good ideas. 
I’m having a MUCH better time since I put the pommel back in. I now have the Toklat Woolback with the Ultracell inserts which seems to give some more stability also. I don’t care what anybody says, nothing sticks to a horse’s back like a good, real wool pad. That sucker doesn’t BUDGE a smidgin. Every other pad I’ve ever used (fleece, pebbly, cotton) ends up creeping back or to the side. I think the pads was a portion of my problem.
A thinline is definitely on the list of “to buy next” items though. As soon as I save enough $$$ I am definitely ordering a thinline to go on top of the Woolback.
I use Thinlines in my hoof boots and they’re amazing. I can only imagine how great they are under your saddle!
[QUOTE=IAPonyGirl;3122620]
A2: Besides using a thin-line pad you might want to try a Sensation girth. They have a cool centering ring and its elastic and stretchy across the whole length. The ones I have are felt-backed which are nice. Both ends have roller buckles. I really think this girth adds significantly to lateral stability. You can order one from foresthorse.com Good luck.[/QUOTE]
Question: Does this girth have a keeper for the excess billet strap that hangs down? (I couldn’t tell from the website pictures) I have the bandos as well and I know there is always quite a bit of strap left to deal with…even with the really short dressage girth!
[QUOTE=paintedtrails;3123753]
Question: Does this girth have a keeper for the excess billet strap that hangs down? (I couldn’t tell from the website pictures) I have the bandos as well and I know there is always quite a bit of strap left to deal with…even with the really short dressage girth![/QUOTE]
Yes, it does. I need that too, I’m actually riding in a Barefoot London with uber long billets. Here’s a link to a better pic:
Thanks IAPonyGirl! As I start to get more time in the Bandos I may consider a new girth if I find some slippage issues. Can’t wait for the nice spring days!
how does the thinline work vs. tacky products? I have never laid eyes upon a thinline, so this is not a loaded question, I swear .LMS
Spring Fever!
So, with the weather finally beautiful in MI I had a chance to do some real riding in my Bandos outdoors! No trails yet, my guy isn’t ready for that (still working on the stop issue) and all 3 horses were a bit loopy today! Spring fever right?
A2: I had 2 big episodes today with a buck and spook…I had my HAF pad, Prof Choice girth, and Bandos without the Breast Collar hooked up and had NO saddle slippage issues! Now, if I can just work on my flexibility a bit, I hope to start mounting from the ground (he’s taller than the previous mount) and hopefully get the same results. I am however looking into the thinline pad as an option later, and possibly a better girth if needed.
How’s it going for you?
I had a “Saddle slip issue” two days ago with my barefoot treeless saddle. I was galloping wth a friend. I waited to go and wanted to waited till my friend stopped, but that wasn’t happening. We ended up going FLAT out, when I thought he was at max speed, he picked it up another gear… several times, everything was a-ok untill he started to slow down then skeetered a bit to the side to avoid something on the ground. My saddle ended up around the belly:winkgrin: I haven’t figured out a way to keep it in place, but I haven’t searched very well either… good to know i’m not alone! My back as of now is very swollen, hard, and at times, hot, it appears I landed on some gravel and got road rash. Ouch! My saddle works very well for just long trotting, walking, cantering, some galloping, jumping, and little spooks… it held for bucks once as well, but anything else and it has a nice habit of sliding, especially when the girth is wet!
I feel for you - that’s the exact reason I sold my Ansur. Could not stay upright on flat, round pony and for sure could not get back on if I had to get off on the trail somewhere.
Well, yesterday i couldn’t even mount from the ground in my aussie saddle. My horses are just so round and flat. I have always had this problem. Also I was having troubles with the aussie slipping. So I suppose at this point it would be no use going back to treed because it’s the same issues.
Treeless Slippage
Have you tried the Weaver Tacky Tack pads under a Skito or another treeless pad? I’ve never had slippage issues with my Barefoot Saddle and Skito, but folks that have, SWEAR by the Weaver Tacky Tack. They are stickier than most “non slip pads”. We carry them and our customers LOVE them.
Kim
www.GallopingGrape.com
The Galloping Grape
65 East Franklin Street
Warrenton, VA 20186
540-428-1002
I even used an armpit strap for mounting and was able to mount from the ground without the saddle moving.
I saw that contraption on the internet several years ago, but my bookmark is now a dead link and I couldn’t find the product in a search.
Can you tell me where you bought it, and post a link if possible?
I came here looking for info on the Bandos treeless. I wonder if other treeless saddles would slip the same on that particular horse, or if the Bandos is worse. I was just at their website and they do recommend th eHAF pad and other good ones very strongly. If I buy one, I will definitely go with the HAF pad.
Wow this is an old thread. :lol: The Bandos has been gone for a long time and I bought a Bob Marshall. I’m MUCH happier! :eek: :yes:
I know, lol!
I found it on a Google search about Bandos saddles. I’m glad you’re still here and I found it, because it’s info you’d never get from the mfgr. website.
What is it you love about the Bob Marshall? I sure hate the way they look - except the Stitchdown model. What makes it stable on your horses where the Bandos was not?
Wendy
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