Saddle pad slipping, any thoughts?

[RC_amp_W]

@Peggy

Short term, and for peace of mind at Nationals, I’d use something to physically keep it from slipping, like the pad that Inclined suggested, or one of the shelf liner things this one - https://www.amazon.com/Non-Skid-Draw…/dp/B00IXYIWC8

Long term, talk to saddle fitter.

Good luck and have fun at Nationals!

Thank you!

[alibi_18]

@RC&W

Saddle fitter coming out tomorrow.
Today rode in the LeMeuix pad, with the small from straps attached to the d rings as directed. Also used a different girth, one that is more of of anatomical shape. My saddle slippage seemed a bit better, but not great.
Thanks for more suggestions, hoping this is all solved before I leave in 10 days! If not, we will make it work some how. Todays after ride pictures.

According to your picture, your saddle is placed too forward by a few inches.

If this is where it is supposed to be, your saddle is too narrow and sits too high in front and makes it low at the cantle. Do you fight a chair seat?

[kcmel]

@outerbanks77

I would try the LeMieux pads. They have straps that go through the D-rings by the pommel, which make it nearly impossible for the pad to slip. The girth loops also have individual loops underneath so you can put each billet through the loop that is in the best position to hold it in place. The mesh air pads are fairly substantial, so they would be too thick to sort of crumple up and wriggle their way back the way some thinner pads might. I only have the Mesh pads and the Merino lined pads, so some of the others in their line might also have the same thickness and substance as the Mesh.

This is what I was going to suggest as well. I use a padded LeMieux on my jump saddle because I have a problem with the pad slipping. I had the same issue with the previous jump saddle, so I think it is my horse’s conformation (fairly wide draft cross).

[CanteringCarrot]

I use Lemieux pads and love them. Especially the D-ring attachments for my monoflap. I have a horse that my saddle creeps forward on, due to his conformation. An anatomical girth and Acavallo gel pad have greatly stabilized everything. The gel pad is very thin, and I imagine something like what MVP linked to would work great as well. That is only once saddle fit is ruled out.

[lorilu]

I jsut looked at the saddle pics you posted. Try pulling the saddle pad up into the gullet at the front before you girth up. In my experience, it’s the PAD - some pads slip, others don’t. Are you finding the SAME pad slips some days but not others? Do you use fabric softener on the pads?

[Libby2563]

I had this happen with a very large and big-moving Oldenburg, training at Grand Prix. I noticed that it did not happen when I rode in lessons, so I think it must have been that I was riding / he was going slightly incorrectly, but I couldn’t pinpoint exactly how. I did have the saddle adjusted by multiple fitters, but it didn’t help. I never tried anatomical girths or sticky pads though.

[Dr_Doolittle]

@CanteringCarrot

I use Lemieux pads and love them. Especially the D-ring attachments for my monoflap. I have a horse that my saddle creeps forward on, due to his conformation. An anatomical girth and Acavallo gel pad have greatly stabilized everything. The gel pad is very thin, and I imagine something like what MVP linked to would work great as well. That is only once saddle fit is ruled out.

This! My mare is shaped like a tube, takes a wide tree, and the saddle would always try to slide forward on her until I got an anatomical girth AND an Acavallo gel pad - now it doesn’t budge.

Your horse looks short coupled, and also like the girth needs to be more forward IN the girth groove (using an anatomical girth); this might help stabilize the saddle and pad.

I second the suggestion to pull the pad up into the saddle channel, also maybe move the pad forward so there’s more of it in front, and put the loop on a different billet?

[sascha]

Your saddle doesn’t fit, is badly placed, or your horse doesn’t yet have enough muscle up front to stop it sliding forward. Maybe a combo of all 3.

If the saddle is sliding forward, and I suspect it is unless you tack up with your saddle that far forward, there are a number of remedies. 1. Hop off and move that saddle back a couple of times during your ride. It will make a difference to how quickly your horse muscles up properly, ime. 2. Change your girth to something even remotely “anatomical” so that the saddle isn’t trying to creep forward to the girth. 3. Ogilvy pads, the plain ones, tend to stick like glue to the horse. If something gets ruffled, it’s your saddle moving … see points 1 and 2

To make all of that work even better, pull your saddle pad up into the gullet at the pommel and the channel at the cantle. When you do up your girth, slide the front billet down through the girth keeper thingy on the pad. Leave the back billet on top of the girth keeper thingy on the pad. <- not even joking, it makes a difference. Cut the stupid top tabs off all your pads (because if you need them, your saddle doesn’t fit, you’re placing your saddle wrong, or the horse is under-muscled in which case you need to keep moving that saddle back until your horse is muscled up properly and a slipping pad is going to be your cue to hop off and do so)

[Mondo]

I think it’s way too far forward as well. I question the saddle fitter and/or trainer if this is how she rides in it.

I also have to wonder about all the wonderful responses to the original question. Do none of you have slots for the girth on your saddle pads? Or the little velcro straps, which are specifically there to hold it in place? I have never had a pad slip. This is all very weird to me.

[scruffy_the_cat]

I started a thread last year about the saddle pad slipping and got lots of responses about using billet straps, girth straps, Etc, as if I had never thought of such a thing. My problem was that the saddle slipped DESPITE using these things. I suspect the same is happening with the OP.

[sascha]

@scruffy the cat

I started a thread last year about the saddle pad slipping and got lots of responses about using billet straps, girth straps, Etc, as if I had never thought of such a thing. My problem was that the saddle slipped DESPITE using these things. I suspect the same is happening with the OP.

I dunno, I think if the OP is posting pix of a saddle that is either placed too far forward or has crept forward and swears the pad is slipping, maybe some basic help is in order. NOT to dis the OP at all, there is a lot that a lot of people don’t know about fitting/placing a saddle, especially a dressage saddle.

[RC_amp_W]

Update. Thanks to all who took the time to respond.

Fitter was here yesterday. He worked tweaking my saddle to get it right. The fit is still very good, as it was before. Each time he tweaked it the pad slipped still to some degree. Tried several dressage square pads. All my regular pre problem pads.
We definetly have the pad pulled up a bit into the gullet space to start. Also moved the billet straps to different position.

We ended up trying a mattes dressage full pad and everything was back to normal. No slipping. Everything stayed put.
he then again tweaked the saddle to use with the mattes.

The whole thing is weird. No major changes, and this started happening. I did start washing my pads with Persil, but double rinsed. My horse did not grow a winter coat again this year, and is smooth as silk.

The fitter is the saddle maker, super experienced, and well respected. Luckily he is in my general area. I know many who have his saddles and love them and the fit. My horse is not sore at all.

I, too, am not a newbie. I am an very experienced AA dressage rider through FEI levels, this is my 5th dressage horse, and 5th saddle.

Again, I really appreciate all the advice and experiences you all have shared.

We are off to Nationals next week. Glad to have this solved, at least for now. I will however, ask for a second opinion if there is a good fitter at Nationals. I am sure there will be several to pick from. Not going to make any major changes there, but I am open to opinions.

[kcmel]

Well of course it took the most expensive pad in the world to fix the issue:lol:. Good luck at nationals!

[demidq]

Just in case, go to the Dollar Store and pick up that rubbery shelf liner stuff! Cheap, ventilated, non slip- place directly on back under pad.