Saddle fit ?

[cloudy18]

Another saddle fit thread, I apologize. I have an Arab/Paint cross I’m having a heck of a time fitting. My treeless Bob Marshall is too roll-y on her, and she’s too green, so unfortunately that’s a no go. I got a Big Horn Evolution which the woman at the tack store said fits, seems to fit to me. But my 3/4" 5 Star, and various other pads, slide back and disappear from view. Saddle slides too far forward on hills. I was using my Skito pad which stayed put fairly well, but then had broken hair towards the back after a lesson a couple weeks ago.

I’ve tried on several other saddles. They either pinch the withers, bar angle seems off, another one also slid forward on hills. Saddle fit or conformation? Too wide in the front? I’m frustrated that my 5 Star doesn’t work.

Posting pictures is a pain with our internet. But any ideas as to why the saddle tends to move forward plus lose pads?

[Dani]

Sounds like it’s too wide. Hard to tell without being able to see it.

[beau159]

[QUOTE=Dani;8925533]
Sounds like it’s too wide. Hard to tell without being able to see it.[/QUOTE]

Agreed. Really hard to guess what’s going on without pictures. But my guess also would be too wide of a bar angle, if the saddle is sliding forward or allowing pads to “disappear”.

[NoSuchPerson]

Have you tried an Arab saddle? Since your horse is an Arab cross, that might be a better fit. They will fit a bit differently than your standard western saddle.

Mules often have a problem with saddles sliding forward because of their general conformation. Unlike your typical horse, which is wide at the chest/shoulders and tapers backward, mules tend to be wide-sprung in the ribs/barrel and taper in to narrower in the shoulders/chest. That’s why you so often see mules ridden with cruppers or britchen.

So, while it’s probably a saddle fit issue, it’s also possible that your horse’s conformation could be a contributing factor.

[cloudy18]

I have not tried an Arab saddle, but I’ve wondered if something like that might do the trick. I’d have to demo one because I haven’t found any at tack shops around here.