Has anyone else dealt with this? None of my other pads slip, but this one does. It’s one of those shiny fancy ones (Christmas present), and by the end of my ride, the front edges of the pad have slipped behind the front of the flaps on my saddle. Looks terrible and probably uncomfortable for my horse! I know my girth isn’t optimal but I’m waiting on an order to come through. It’s a straight girth and the horse needs a contour girth. But if that’s not the problem, I don’t know what is. Any thoughts?
I had that happen with my previous saddle because the saddle was too narrow for the horse. If it is only happening with this pad, that’s probably not the case because if it is one of their square pads, they’re not super thick. Is the saddle being pulled forward due to lack of contoured girth for a forward girth grooved horse? Maybe the material is slick and not helping the matter?
I have the same issue with the pricey Schlockenmoel (?) grey pad I bought a few years ago. Knit bottom is the culprit I think. Sad really because it is really pretty…
Does it not have billet straps and girth straps? Easy enough to add them if not.
I also have had pads slip when the saddle does not fit well (sliding back as you describe). I’ve looked at their site recently and have been tempted by the gray and pink pad that they have which really shows off the sheen an smoothness of the fabric – it is super-luxe looking. You might try one of those rubbery no-slip pads? http://www.horsehealth.co.uk/equipment/gel/acavallo-non-slip-gels
If you can bear to loan it to someone, it might help to see if the pad slips on another horse/saddle combo.
Good luck!
Saddle pads often slip due to saddle fit and/or horse asymmetry. If it doesn’t happen with any other pad then it’s likely due to the pad.
I volunteer! hahaha.
Ahem. Sorry.
More seriously, I have not yet tried the ES pads that I have - but I don’t have any with the ‘leather’ on them. You’re welcome to try one of my ES pads if you’d like, in case it’s something weird with the construction of that one pad.
It does have them. I use them, but the pad still slips and is probably even more uncomfortable for the horse because it’s pulling on the straps.
Other than the slippery/satiny top surface, I can’t really tell a difference with it vs. my other pads. I’ve used Dover pads, Le Mieux pads, BOT pads- all fine. The pad doesn’t look weirdly constructed or off in any other way. But there’s no question the top is slippery and the part that lays against the horse has a mesh which might slide I guess. It looks a little slidier than my other pads. And my horse does have a very fine coat so maybe he’s slidier too.
R- Try your pads so I can know if it’s just me! Your horse has a similar coat to mine. I don’t think the “leather” trim is the problem. And then come visit! It’s, er, warm in the indoor. (No, no it’s not at all. )
Could you try a babu pad on top of the slippery pad? Just as an experiment? Or even a towel to see if it’s the surface of the pad?
Will do, the next time I’m out. I won’t generally ride in single digits… but I might have to break that rule just to toss a leg over and pretend that he’s still broke 
I DO need to visit. Maybe your indoor is warmer than mine. Empirical testing!
I’ve also heard of people using a non slip pad or something like shelf liner or a shammie (Shammy?) under the pad or maybe saddle to help with slipping. Maybe you’d have to find a solution like that when you use this pad.
I’ve had zero issues with mine. I’ve found that sometimes the saddle/pad/horse combo just don’t work. For example, my personal horse doesn’t gel with LeMiuex pads (spine curvature of the horse and pad don’t match up).
Maybe that’s it. The LeMieux pads are perfect on this horse. So maybe the ES pad is just shaped differently.
In addition to changing the girth, I’m going to get a non-slip layer to try as well. This pad is too gorgeous to give up on!
R- come when it’s warmer. The indoor is still really flipping cold. We will all be around still in the spring!
Also, if the horse is clipped, try the pad again in the spring. One pad that was fine all summer suddenly started slipping badly after the horse was clipped (including the saddle area). We added a second thin pad and it was fine.
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Interesting. I will try it when we thaw out in the spring!
Geez, I’m only allowed to visit once?! I have a battery-powered coat! I am unstoppable (until the battery dies).
I’ll try to remember to toss my ES pad in the car on my way out tomorrow.
One good thing about the fleece-top (only) Mattes is that the saddle has to work really hard to slip off the pad. Of course, before the last fitting, the whole shebang slid like a mofo.
What girth are you going to try?
Come any time!
I don’t use a Mattes with this saddle and horse so that’s out. I have an Ovation Europa sheepskin contoured girth coming. http://www.englishridingsupply.com/ovation-europa-shaped-high-wither-dressage-girth-470218
But if you come visit, I wouldn’t mind trying your Stubben Equi-Soft…
Of course!
What size does he wear?
