Hello everyone,
Long time lurker, first time poster. So a couple of months ago, I had my saddle fitted by a respected fitter. She said it fit well. In the last couple of rides, I noticed that it was slipping back. What could be causing it to slip? I have a call in to the fitter, but they are not know for getting back to people quickly. Just trying to get ideas before talking to them.
TIA!
you can try pads with a sticky bottom to help hold it. I suppose your horse’s confirmation may just not hold the saddle in place. I always needed a breastplate on my TB mare till I had a saddle made for her. I could ride with a loose girth (which is a bad habit of mine) and that saddle never moved.
I don’t know where you are, but we are just coming out of a nasty winter and many horses will have dropped weight from a few months ago.
My saddles were professionally fitted in early winter and I can see that my horse is a little leaner now - saddles want to shift back, so I’m riding with a thin half pad on top of my regular pad for now.
I’m waiting for the grass to come in before assessing whether I really need a refit.
Backward slip can be caused by a few things, with tree shape or panel configuration being 2 of the most common. Can you post some photos like these: http://pantherrunsaddlery.com/?page_id=485? They’d be a big help in determining the cause. A “nekkid” conformation shot of your horse and a photo of the panels (prop the saddle up on the pommel and take a shot of the underside) would be a help, too.
horse conformation.
My saddle slipped on my horse back at the end of last year.
This year it doesn’t slip.
He doesn’t look much difference and during both years the saddle has fit.
His lower back beefed up a bit I think…that may be what is helping.
Saddles slipping back, during light to moderate workouts, are almost always caused by a poorly fitting saddle. The French saddles do not come in narrow trees that many thoroughbreds need, so extra thickness is usually added to the panels. But, before giving up and calling the fitter back try a good pad like thin line that allows room for a lot of adjustment with their shims or a nice thick fluffy pad. Also, a good fitting breast plate will really help keep it from sliding back in addition to pads. Just make sure whatever you do he still is comfortable and moves freely under saddle. Most horses loose some weight and condition after such a rough winter and he may just need a little time to get it back.
I can not get out to the barn for a couple of days to get pictures. It is a wool flocked saddle and I do use a Thinline sheepskin pad. To clarify, I guess I was asking, why is it slipping back now when a week ago it was not? My horse is actually gaining weight not losing it. He had an illness earlier this winter and we have been bring the weight back.
A saddle might slip back for many reasons but you mention that your horse has gained weight. That can cause the saddle to sit pommel high and then slip back. Photos would be helpful, no pad and girthed.
I ride a big draft cross with big shoulders and rubbery skin which caused his pad and consequently his saddles to slip - both jumping saddle and dressage saddle. I switched to Equine Comfort Products no slip pads and they solved my problem immediately and didn’t wreck my bank account. Love these pads and don’t feel the need to ride with anything else between the saddle and the horse.
My experience is that once a saddle starts slipping you need to fix the cause rather than prevent the slipping by using pads or breastplates. Usually a saddle slips back because it’s too narrow and holding it in place will cause pressure points.
However, if the saddle is just a tad to narrow but fits otherwise, can’t you have the tree widened?
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