I’ve always used a crescent girth with the C opening toward the front 
it seems counter intuitive, maybe, but it actually works. I thought this was how they’re supposed to be used? It didn’t pull the saddle forward either.
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Is this second picture how your trainer girthed the saddle or where it ended up at the end of the ride?
I think the crescent girth doesn’t have a sewn-on D ring, so I can’t with 110% confidence say for sure-sure that’s the way it’s supposed to be used, but if you look at any anatomical girth that has a sewn on clip in the center, it’s clear the C is to open towards the back.
Examples:
The saddle in the photos isn’t too extreme. It’s an Aviar and may be a tad too wide? That can create some movement.
I’ve had both an Aviar and a Fairfax, and both were fine saddles for their respective horses. I kept all 3 billets on my Fairfax, so if you get one that still has all 3 you’ll have some options to play around with. I was able to tuck the unused billet into my girths keeper and it never got in the way.
There are pros and cons to point billets, but ultimately, you use what works best for the horse.
Getting their core fit and eliminating any belly bulge that you can will help, IME. Some do have more “well sprung” ribs than others, but if I let mine get too out of shape and/or too “shapely” then his saddle and girth tend to want to go forward more because he becomes a bit wedge shaped in his mid section.
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Yes, but some of the anatomical girths are different than a crescent girth. Some of those are focused on shoulder/elbow relief, and that’s not necessarily the full intent of the crescent girth.
Here’s some with a D-ring:
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You’re right, I’m not sure then. OP if it has a D ring , the D ring should face the front!
EquineEverything, the saddle is a new Aviar Rook 3 that I have on trial. Have to make a decision very soon, my trial period is up. I can take a pic of the underside tomorrow. I appreciate any thoughts you have on fit.
Endlesscllimb - you are right, your billet does look much more forward than mine. I honestly haven’t looked at the underside to see the attachment point. I can do that tomorrow when I go out. Will also ask fitter if there is an option to move the billet, if I decide to get this saddle. I have a love/hate relationship with point billets. They help keep a saddle from sliding forward as much, but I have also found some horses to get sore in front from them.
GraceLikeRain - 2 cd pic is my girthing after he was lunged. 3 rd pic is how it sits after my trainer girthed and lunged.
Cantering Carrot - you think it might be a smidge too wide? I was thinking too narrow because they come from the factory preset at med wide, and the fitter did not change it for him. I will have to consider the too wide possibility.
I don’t think a crescent girth is for him if it is meant for wide barreled, narrow shoulder horses. This guy is just wide everywhere. Wide shoulders (though not big shoulders, that is one saving grace), wide barrel, wide hind end (yes he makes my rump look small(er)).
I agree on the belly, I have only had him for 2 months, and it has already tightened up a bit. He was not being worked correctly before, owned by a kid, only rode 2x/week, just wanted to run and jump. And he only jumps when cantering, so basically the trainer had the kid bombing around courses at a dead run flinging himself over 2 ft 6 jumps. He didn’t even have proper steering when he came, that is comely along nicely at least. They just rode him in a wide tree HDR, that sat on top of him like a party hat.
It just seemed a little low infront/high in the back in the first 2 photos, but I probably don’t have enough of a view on all angles to really tell. I think that their MW is decently wide. On my Rook 2.5 the “factory” MW setting is a bit too wide for my guy who is a MW or almost too wide for MW in other brands. I use a Mattes pad with a thin shim in each pocket since he’s young and will likely widen a bit.
I used a crescent girth on mine that didn’t necessarily have narrow shoulders, he just had a wide barrel (especially behind the girth) that tapered a bit to his girth groove area. The Ovation Crescent girth probably has one of the more “friendly” price points if you wanted to try one.
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Thank you CanteringCarrot, I will post a naked side view of him and the view of his back from on top. Literally when I bought him, I stupidly did not think “will any of my saddles fit him”…
With his head down he kind of looks like he might have a wither, but he doesn’t. It was the only way I could get a straight side view, otherwise he was wiggling and looking at me.
Might be more of a hoop tree candidate? But I’m sure that a good fitter could advise better on this! He’s cute though!
After so many saddle frustrations myself, I’m about to find a saddle that I really like and only buy horses that the saddle fits 
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I suspect he is def a hoop tree candidate. This Rook 3 appears to be “hoopish” the fitter says it isn’t A shaped or hoop, it is its own thing, but it seems to fit very hoopish.
I love my Custom Gemini R that the fitter said would fit almost anything in my future. Apparently it fits anything EXCEPT the one I bought! May need to call Lovatt and Ricketts.
Lovatt and Ricketts would be a good shout. Black Country too.
Custom allegedly makes a hoop tree but when the fitter showed me what they (or maybe just that fitter) called a hoop tree, I didn’t necessarily agree that it was a true hoop tree. I cannot remember the model though!
If it’s doing that just after lunging I for sure wouldn’t consider that saddle an option.
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I ride my barrel-shaped arab in a L&R Rubicon and an Ovation crescent girth - FWIW, I have the C facing the front like the ones @CanteringCarrot posted. I cannot find any pictures that clearly show the girth (my wide trail stirrups are all blocking the view), so I will try to remember to snap a picture on Friday when I hope to ride again. My horse does not have narrow shoulders, so I don’t think the crescent girths are only good for that.
This is what I use on my very pear shaped horses. Works better than the anatomical shape. The “longer” side is to the rear so it gives the barrel more room.
The LeMieux and TSF girth in those photos clearly have the buckles slanted towards the side with the dee ring - making the dee ring side the smaller side of the crescent or C shape.
The other two have their buckles in a straight line orientation - making neither a crescent or C shape.
All four would be better described as off set girths rather than any kind of crescent or C shaped girth.
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The tsf stretch tec girth did not work for my house but the regular shoulder relief girth does i think for the reasons your trainer says it’stoo stretchy.
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New saddle to try. My trainer knew of a saddle that was available thru the local Stubben rep that was custom made for a very wide horse with a similar build to my guy. Am attaching photos for any comments anyone has. Of course she recommends the Stubben equisoft girth, so what the heck, I think I will give it a try.
stubben rear view.heic (246.2 KB) stubben side view.heic (257.1 KB)
This is the Stubben Aramis II
I am not a saddle fitter but I don’t think that’s the best fit.
Some concerns about the panel contact, and how much space is under the pommel (it looks like a lot, which isn’t necessarily a good thing).
If you place one hand on the pommel and one on the cantle does it rock at all?
A photo from the front would be interesting too.
I just don’t think it’s the right shape for him either, but again, I’m not a saddle fitter.
FWIW, mine does like his Equisoft girth.
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