Saddle Slipping

[laura kevin]

Hiya

Whenever I get on or canter, my saddle slips. The girth is quite tight. If I tighten it further, my share horse hates it. Whenever I get on, the saddle slips a lot. I move my weight over to the right to try and get the saddle central. It helps a little bit but it doesn't get it competely central. The saddle slips to the outside when I am cantering. This sometimes moves the saddle to the centre but if I canter more, it slips more to the outside. My share horse's withers are quite flat so this may be the problem. The back of the saddle doesn't slip, just the front. The slipping stops before it goes over the withers. This affects my stirrups and I have to keep adjusting them to make them level when the saddle slips. The horse isn't mine so I can't get a new saddle. Help me please. I waste most of my time when I'm riding, adjusting my stirrups.

[Stella2]

Its a problem if the horse isn't yours as he clearly needs the fit of the saddle looking into by a qualified saddler.

[nutkin]

I agree the saddle needs looking at.What happens if you try to ride without stirrups.Does the saddle stay put then or does it still slip.It may be possible that you are putting more weight in the stirrup to the side that slips without realising it.I am not saying you are a bad rider just that all of us are more one sided than the other.If your saddle still moves without stirrups then you really should get the owner to have it checked as it will eventually damage the horses back if it doesn't fit properly which will lead to problems like napping,bucking and avoiding work.

[smaggi]

It could also be a problem with your balance. My saddle used to always slide to the left at the canter. I started cantering with loose reins so I could not hange on them and it really gave me better balance. Now the saddle doesn't slip anymore.

[Lucy J]

i've recently bought a pad from New Equine Wear, its called a Saddle Sure Pad and it is especially for young horses/novice riders to stop the saddle moving around. I got it as my native has a back like a table and it has been a great success. At £22 it is much better value than some of the other pads I've seen.

http://www.newequinewear.co.uk/index.htm?ac=JG6C6-4

[laura kevin]

Thanks for the advice. I think that I could be putting more weight onto the outside stirrup. I do work without stirrups to see if it makes a difference. How can I stop the saddle slipping when I get on?

[smaggi]

How can I stop the saddle slipping when I get on?

Make sure that when you mount your knee is very bent so that you are very close to the horse. If you extend your knee a bit, the saddle slips a lot more.
Also grab a bit of mane to get on instead of the saddle.

[louise4oscar]

are u using a mounting block? if you have one, or a bench or something that will get you closer to the saddle brfore mounting would help...if not is there someone there who could give u a leg up (bend your left leg, they hold it at knee and ankleyou count to three and then jump, with your helper pushing you up. THis should stop it slipping when you get on. lou xxxx

[Nimbus65]

Well, I find I have the same problem, but it's because I collapse my left hip and end up putting more weight into my right stirrup (which makes the saddle slip to the right). Synthetic saddles don't help b/c even w/ a numnah, they're slippier than leather ones. I'm now uber-conscious of riding "straight" and reaching down more w/ my left leg and it has helped enormously.

HTH.

N

[laura kevin]

Thanks for the advice. It is a synthetic saddle. I do use a mounting block. Any more help?

[Scarlett 001]

There have been a few posts on here about saddles slipping. It may be you are putting more weight into one stirrup, but it is also very likely the saddle. If the saddle is off-balance then your stirrups may be different lengths and you might end up with different weights in stirrup because of that.

Really you need a professional saddler out to examine the saddle. Difficult if it is a share horse. But there may be nothing you can do about it by changing how you ride if it is the saddle. Anyhow, I am struggling with a slipping saddle for a while now (got rid of my old saddle). I've been riding unevenly because of the saddle, but ultimately the saddle was the cause, and it has forced me to ride uneven.

[Skib]

I am old and absentminded. But have stupidly once or twice forgotten to tighten the girth and got the reputation of being able to ride without a girth.

Last week a new girl at the yard sent me out without tightening the girth at all, though she swore it was all right. My escort noticed after trotting that the saddle was sideways onto the shoulder of the horse, we stopped and took it up three holes!!

I am telling you this because it is a safety issue. If you cant tighten the saddle of your share horse enough to hold it in place on the horse, then either the girth is too long or the saddle doesnt fit the horse properly.

Of course, mounting can pull a saddle over to the left. Most of us can centre both ourselves and the saddle again. But nothing you do to improve your riding can alter the fact that your saddle sounds to be wrong for both you and the horse.

[laura kevin]

ok. Thanks for the help. It sounds like the saddle. I'll get the owner to check the saddle. If anyone has any more advice, it will be greatly appreciated.

[little mel]

I rode a friends pony recently, a little 13"2, she has a very flat back and no withers, the saddle kept slipping. The owner insisted that it was my 'balance' that was wrong and not the saddle. Another friend I spoke to suggested a gel pad might help keep the saddle in place. (tis not my balance had no probs with any of the other 52 plus horses I have ridden) Havent tried this yet but will let you know if it helps.

[x.fat-pony.x]

Thanks for the advice. I think that I could be putting more weight onto the outside stirrup. I do work without stirrups to see if it makes a difference. How can I stop the saddle slipping when I get on?
Is there anyone who can hold the stirrup down on the other side? This usually stops the saddle slipping when you mount! I hate the feeling when you're just about to get on, you put your foot in the stirrup and it slips all over the place! it's like trying to climb on a boat! lol

[kyanya]

It sounds like a saddle-fit problem. I hopped on a pony in a completely wrong-fitting saddle once (when I went to try it out for a possible share), and the result was the saddle slipped right to the outside as soon as we did anything other than walk.

Does anyone else ride this horse? If so, it'd be worth asking them if they have any problems with the saddle slipping.

I'm pretty sure that it is related to the saddle fit. My balance isn't all that, but I've never had major saddle-slipping problems.

How far is the saddle slipping? Is it just slightly off central, or is actually going further than that?

[Gnasher]

Very round ponies can have rolly saddles even when they have been professionally fitted ;) I testify to this as my very round pony has a very rolly saddle!

I can mount without someone holding my other stirrup, but I have to have quite a tight girth to do so. My other option is to use a reasonably high mounting block and swing my leg over without putting a foot in the stirrup...that stops the rolling.

I would suspect that your saddle is never 100% straight after it slips when you mount, and that in canter a slight inbalance on your part is exacerbated by the rolly saddle, and hence...it rolls ;)

So...advice... Firstly, as others have said, get someone to hold your other stirrup or leg you up when you mount, or do as I have described above. Secondly, get that saddle straight once you are on...gently shift it round until it is completely straight. Even my sensitive-backed fat rolly pony will tolerate me rolling her saddle round if I do it bit by bit (it often slides with the girl I give lessons to). Thirdly, check and double check that girth...it could be that s/he puffs out when you check it so it feels tight, you could also be being a little too 'kind' and leaving it a bit loose.

Fourthly, never adjust your stirrups to suit the slipped saddle, you'll only make it slip further. Check your stirrups are level when the saddle is straight and keep them on those holes...as I said before, shift the saddle round be be straight again, never change the stirrups. Lastly...practice makes perfect. I can now ride my very round pony in my very rolly saddle on a loose girth (not intentionally, you know those 'oops' moments when you realise you've not tightened it) without it rolling because I'm so used to it my left-right balance has really improved. My natural balance is pretty poor but I have more luck in that saddle than more experienced riders because I'd had to stick with it and learn to stop it rolling!

Good luck :)

Karen xx

[jenren!!]

You'll find roly poly horse's saddles slip a bit, but if it slips more one side than the other it could indicate a problem with the saddle or you are not balanced enough. Ask someone to look while your saddle is steady and see if you are leaning. Also, as simple as it sounds, but make sure your stirrups are even also.

[Gnasher]

Just wanted to add that although a well fitted saddle can still roll on certain horses, you should get yours checked first before ruling out saddle fit ;)

If it's impossible to get it checked (I do understand share-type situations) then try to rectify the situation by other means, but I wouldn't pass up a chance to check the fit if it arises :D

Karen xx

[cathUK]

I had the same problem with a barrel shaped pony and a synthetic saddle.

I recently bought a GelEase pad (looks like a bathmat!) and it is brilliant. Not a single bit of slippage, even when jumping went 'wrong':) .

A bit expensive (£40) but worth its weight in gold as I am more confident and Pepper is less tense (I'm sure a saddle slipping can't have been comfortable for her).

I also tried a limpet pad, but it wasn't as good.

Hope this helps,

Catherine

[Trewsers]

I've just had my mare's saddle checked as I thought it wasn't quite right and it slipped a bit and the saddle cloths kept wrinkling up underneath. I'm glad I did - (tho it wasn't quite what I wanted to hear!!!) Turns out the problem is me and not just the saddle (tho it is having some more flocking put in and some adjustments are being made). Another thing the saddler told me was that I put more weight in one stirrup when I shouldn't do. I knew I had a "good rein and a bad rein" but I didn't realise just how it could affect things. (Not that I'm saying its your riding thats affecting the saddle). If its possible I'd definitely try and get it checked - even tho its not entirely your horse.