So I’ve resigned myself to the fact that EVERY saddle is going to slip back on my horse. It’s just the way he’s built. I do use a Fairfax girth, which helps a lot but am wondering what else to try. Do anti-slip saddle pads really work? Am I allowed to use a breastplate in dressage? Or do I just leave it alone and accept that’s where the saddle needs to be on my horse? He is going well and it doesn’t seem to bother him.
I am having the same problem with my horse. He’s just got massive shoulders. I put an anti-slip rubber mesh (not sure exactly what else to call it, I can’t find pictures of the material online) under the saddle pad. That has helped the most, along with an anatomical girth. But I feel like some slipping is unavoidable.
I’m meeting with a saddle fitter in two weeks, so I’ll let you know if I get any more suggestions! Long term, I will probably buy my guy a different saddle (I have ridden in the Verhan Odyssey Free Shoulder saddles and will probably look into those). Since he’s 5 1/2 and still growing, I’m not ready to bite the bullet yet as long as he seems comfortable.
The anti-slip saddle pad worked very well for a saddle that was slipping sideways. Don’t know if it would help with a saddle slipping back.
I have that same problem and a couple of things helped (but not completely stopped it).
I use the last two billets on my saddle (it has four). It seems like the further back the girth is attached, the more it pulls the saddle forward.
My girth is lined with non slip neoprene (I noticed the most improvement when I switched to this girth).
I also use a front riser pad. My saddle slips back because my horse has the genetic form of lordosis and his back is lowest behind the withers. I think horses with hollows behind the wither/shoulder have this “dip” that the front of the saddle wants to fall into, so a riser pad seems to help keep the saddle more balanced and less likely to slip into that dip.
And when I’m saddling up, I put everything REALLY far forward. Like, it looks like I’m riding his withers. After I get on I tighten the girth as tight as I can get it. The saddle then slips back to a “normal” position within probably the first dozen trot steps my horse takes, and it stays there. The only time it slips further is if my girth isn’t tight or I don’t have everything far enough forward at the start.
My saddler is moving the billets back on mine because of that. Saddle has an ‘almost’ point billet. The pony has a Loooonnnngg wither, forward shoulders, and a far back girthing spot.
He made a comment that there used to be a lot of horses w/ this type of conformation, but now most of them have saddles slipping forward, so more saddles are made that way.
Mattes has also started making a girth they call ‘athletico’ that is supposed to help…
A shaped girth put on backwards can help. A non-slip pad or serge panels, too. If your saddle has a point billet you can have that removed and another added further back. But mostly when people claim their saddles are slipping back what is actually happening is that the person is placing it too far forward and the saddle is going to where it actually belongs. Not always, but way more often than not. Pictures may help get more specific answers.
Have one that slips back. Saddle fitter shortened the points. That helped quite a bit. Need to try an anatomical girth.
YES you can use a breast plate. DR121.7 …A breastplate and/or crupper may be used, except that a breastplate is not permitted in USEF High Performance Championships, USEF High Performance Qualifying and Selection Trials. …
@NoStirrups is there a way to tell if it’s moving too far back or just finding the spot where it’s meant to be? I kind of felt it was just settling into the right spot but my coach is always telling me it’s too far back. My horse actually has a vey forward girth groove so moving the billets back wouldn’t help, I don’t think. In fact this is the first saddle I’ve had where the billets actually hang close t his girth groove and not a mile back.
It could be a matter of panel or tree shape or that your horse has a very forward girth groove and/or billet configuration. Photos would be helpful. Is your horse very uphill? Is the saddle too narrow.
[QUOTE=BigMama1;8432880]
@NoStirrups is there a way to tell if it’s moving too far back or just finding the spot where it’s meant to be? I kind of felt it was just settling into the right spot but my coach is always telling me it’s too far back. My horse actually has a vey forward girth groove so moving the billets back wouldn’t help, I don’t think. In fact this is the first saddle I’ve had where the billets actually hang close t his girth groove and not a mile back.[/QUOTE]
If you feel it’s settling into the right spot and your horse is comfortable, then you are most likely correct.
Most people have their saddles too far forward, in my opinion, especially hunter people, or I should say, often, hunter people. Unless your dressage coach is particularly experienced with how dressage saddles fit, I would lean towards your own advice. You realy really do not want a saddle up on his shoulders/muscling at all so that his shoulder is free, so if the saddle sits well and its off his shoulders, I would suspect its correct for him.
