Saddle slipping on cob when mounting

[nicolaj]

Hi Guys

I'm sure this may have been asked before, but had anyone any ideas on how to stop a saddle slipping on a cob when mounting from the ground, without somebody holding the other stirrup, and without pulling the girth so tight his eyes pop out.

I've seen the Thorrowgood Conform Saddle pads, which have bumpy things on the bottom (very tehcnical I know!), or there is something in the Robinsons catalogue called a Saddle Stay Pad.

Has anybody tried these or anything else? Any comments about these products, good, bad or indifferent?

Just find it nearly impossible to mount from the ground without somebody holding a stirrup, which can be a problem if need to dismount when on your own and nothing resembling a mounting block nearby!

Thanks

[~*sugarlump*~]

why don't you try a mounting block, it should work, but I don't really have this problem.
some people at my riding school have this problem and they have this wierd nack of holding the saddle down as they mount :rolleyes:
if you really have a problem with it ask somebody to help you.
ash xxx

[chickflick1066]

Hey, I use one of those thorowgood cobby sticky pad thingymajiggys, and for me personally - they dont stop and slippage!

My *fat* cob has the girth so tight she can only just breath comfortably yet still her saddle slips!!

I am not sure about the robinsons brand!

Like Aislinn suggested - a mounting block makes it so much easier and doesnt put as much strain on your horses back :)

[nicolaj]

Generally I always use a mounting block, but there are occassions when you don't have access to a block or anything useful to stand on, such as when out hacking.

[Miriam]

I use an anti slip pad that I got as a Xmas pressie from Katie. Its fantastic but alas came from America and I have never seen this kind over here. I've used the limpit but dont think its as good as the one I have now

[nicolaj]

Thanks Miriam,

What is the make of the pad you use, could always have a look on internet to see if they can send one over.

A friend rode him at a Le Trec competion at the weekend, of course the mounting was a complete disaster as a result of saddle slippage. If we want to do it again, really need to get this sorted.

Anybody else with other ideas?

Ta

[Tharg]

Does the saddle fit properly?

[Gimp]

I think this is one of those annoy things we have to put up with, with cobs lol!

especially the more rounded variety hehe!! :o

I had this problem on my old bosses!..plus they had bad habits of walking of so ended up hoping about with a saddle on the move!!

Mounting blocks best idea then you can almost pop on before the saddle has other ideas..If somebody is around to help get them to hold to opposite striup!

If your on a hack it may be a case of walking till you find a log or a gate to stand on!.. :rolleyes:

I had a non slip numnah, it did help but certainly didnt cure!

Good Luck! :D

[MelanieD]

Some saddles are worse than others, my saddle company saddle was great and I could even mount from the ground without a breatplate. Wintec wide and thorowgood cob slip very easily and my SBS is between the two. I've tried the thorowgood cob numnah and it doesn't really help much. The worst things I've found for making the saddle slip is a thick numnah (especially polypads) and elastic end girths. I've found with a plain thin numnah and a breastplate I can just about mount from the ground with my SBS without it ending up on her belly. I have a nuumed half wool numnah which isnt' meant to be grippy but does seem to help a lot, shame fatty hates it :rolleyes:

[chickflick1066]

Some saddles are worse than others-Wintec wide and thorowgood cob slip very easily and my SBS is between the two. I've tried the thorowgood cob numnah and it doesn't really help much. The worst things I've found for making the saddle slip is a thick numnah (especially polypads) and elastic end girths.
Oh dear, I have an xxxwide cob saddle from thorowgood with their elasticated girth and cob numnah and I must admit that one my wide pony slippage is high! I try and avoid getting on from the floor!

Can you used logs, verges or bricks etc whilst out hacking??

[Moomin]

ooohhh been there done that!! And I've found a saddle pad makes little difference apart from being terribly displaced one you're on board.

Always use a mounting block or the fence or something, this also saves you having to winch the girth up vv tight! I know nature doesn't always provide one, I often have to walk a while if I've got off when out hacking until I find something, otherwise saddle often ends up round pony's girth! My saddle is particularly bad for this (its a balance international one wouldnt swop it for anything!

I also found the type of girth you use makes a profound difference. The higher up the billets you have to pull it to tighten it fully, the worse your slippage will be - so try a shorter girth - this does work. Also does your girth have elastic on? if so try a fixed-ended one. This makes a world of difference too. If I used an elastic girthI haven't a hope of getting on! Moo and I compromised on an aerborn humane girth which does the trick nicely - she can still breathe in it as I don't have to hike it up so tight to keep the saddle in place, and you can make minute adjustments to the fitting of the girth so it kind of contours to the horse a bit more.

Another thing you could try is a breast plate. I never thought this would actually work when the saddle company told me about it, but it does! You have to have the old style hunting ones with a martingale type front and straps long enough to go round the girth billets NOT the type that attach to the D rings. You don't do it up tight at all on any part - yet it stabilises your saddle brilliantly, and aids with the problem you have.

And finally - practise getting on and off - tie your stirrup to the fence and practise til you can spring up so the saddle hardly has a chance to slip.

[General]

My friend has a lovely round cob and yes her saddle slips. As she is 5ft 9inch on a 15hh cob and im 5ft 1inch on a 16.2hh SHE is the one that always gets off for gates etc etc. So we devised a method of her getting back on. As we are both slightly older ladies (late 30's so not REALLY old lol) we dont have an enourmous amount of bounce left. As both our 'boys' have grown up from foalhood they are really good together so we stand them together and I lean down and pull against Lynnes stirrup leather whilst she gets on. Works great for us but prob. not very helpful for you. Sorry!

Logs are always helpful and fences etc but other than that Lynnes not found anything much that works.

[chickflick1066]

Why do saddles on the larger cobs slip then??

[Ella2004]

Ive tried everything on my roly poly pony lol n nothing seems to work, i have just decided to stop trying and get someone to hold my stirrup or stand on something!

[Miriam]

Thanks Miriam,

What is the make of the pad you use, could always have a look on internet to see if they can send one over.


Ta



Unfortuately i have tried to find it on the internet and cant. You could Pm Katie_85 and see if she can remember. Tell her its one she gave me for Xmas year before last and one that I asked her to order for me for Xmas gone

[nicolaj]

Why do saddles on the larger cobs slip then??

This because they tend to have broader flatter backs and not much wither and nice rolly poly sides! Hench there is not much to help keep the saddle in place when mounting from the ground.

Even slipped when friend at Trec competion rode him, and she is 6stone wet through and can spring on very quickly!

His saddle does fit, think it is just on of those breed things, I believe similar can happen to Arabs as well.

Always mount from block at the yard, can't see the point in making things difficult when they don't need to be.

Thanks for the tips, we shall see what works. (Can't have a new saddle, hubby wont let me!)

Ho Hum.

[Funky MeerKAT]

You could learn to vault!! I had to learn to do it for games at pony club ages ago, its lots of fun and very handy!! I can now do it on my 16.1hh horses!!

[LindaAd]

I know about that one: I'm old and fat, so I don't fly into the saddle.
But if you use a mounting block, hold onto the stirrup leather on the far side, and lean well over the horse before you put your weight on the stirrup, it's ok. Oh, and hold on to the mane with your left hand, not the saddle (or the neck if the horse is hogged). And - very important! - use a mounting block.

Linda

[happy herman]

i use a tacky tack pad with my "full figured" gal. works great to keep the saddle from sliding forward when going down hill but doesn't seem to do a thing about keeping the saddle from sliding side ways. LOL when i'm on i feel any shift of my weight causes the saddle to move from side to side.
i use a turned over bucket to mount when available but out on the trails i can usually find a stump or log or at least a low place in the ground to stand her in.