I purchased a wonderful Arabian endurance horse this year and have had my dressage saddle fit to her. She has a flat back and the saddle will slip forward when we trot. Her forward “girth groove” contributes to this. I am not able to use a crupper because the saddle does not have any place/D-ring to attach one on the back. Are there other things I can try (someone suggested a thinline pad) to see if the saddle will stay put? Thanks!
You might benefit from having the saddle fit reviewed. There may be a basic problem if you’ve got to start using “devices” to hold it in place.
If it otherwise fits you might be able to have a D-ring installed so you could use a crupper.
G.
http://www.thedistancedepot.com/Leather_Crupper_T_p/fth-lct.htm
I’ve used on of these on my English saddle and have been pleased with it.
I agree that the fit is likely off is the mare is not butt-high. IME, too much flare at the front of the saddle is usually the culprit, or billets that don’t fall down to the girth groove.
[QUOTE=Guilherme;8398245]
You might benefit from having the saddle fit reviewed. There may be a basic problem if you’ve got to start using “devices” to hold it in place.
If it otherwise fits you might be able to have a D-ring installed so you could use a crupper.
G.[/QUOTE]
This.
It’s possible her forward girth groove is the entire problem. An anatomic girth (check out Total Saddle Fit) could help. However, as others have noted, there may be other problems with your fit. One possibility is that your panel length may be too long for her back… when she starts really moving, the motion in her loin could be shoving the saddle forward. If you can, show us a pic of her wearing the saddle without a pad, girthed as normal. Take it directly from the side and show the entire horse in the photo.
There are several possible culprits and there is no way of knowing which without some pictures, at least. It may be that the tree is the wrong shape, wrong size, flocking is wrong… Or you may just need an anatomical girth.
I would definitely caution that the slippage is a symptom of a problem, and that you must seek to solve the problem. Attaching a crupper would not be fixing it, just covering it up.
Have you been in touch with your saddle fitter to see what he/she says?
