Saddle fitting problem, forward girth groove?..

emmathechief · #1 24th Apr 2009, 11:42 AM

How do you stop the saddle moving?

Lou has a very forward girth groove. So I put the saddle on where I want it, then within a couple of strides the girth has sneeked forward and changed the position of the saddle!
Surely this can't be good? I do think the saddle fits, but how can I say it fits when it moves?! I'm pretty sure it's the girth that moves it though... Let me show you what I mean...

This pic was taken before riding, Lou had walked down a steep ramp to the arena only...
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I've put the lines on to show the effect it's having. I don't have a pic of when I'm happy with it (before it moves) but this is a gp saddle and I believe the cantle should not be level with the pommel. So in that pic the girth has rotated the saddle, lifting the front and bringing the knee rolls onto her shoulders.
I will get another saddle fitter out (that's not the problem) what I'm more concerned with is the girth pulling it out of place.
What can I do?

No_Angel · #2 24th Apr 2009, 11:48 AM

To my knowledge pommel should always be level with the cantle, on that pic it looks as though your saddle is too narrow, she doesn't look like she has a particularly far forward girth groove.

emmathechief · #3 24th Apr 2009, 12:10 PM

Oh my days! Could that be it? She has very high withers and there is only 2 and half fingers clearence (she has high withers and I was told that it wasn't ideal but a good fit for her shape!)
So do you not think it's too far forward in the pic?

Iron Maiden · #4 24th Apr 2009, 12:11 PM

The seat should be level, IMO you can't judge anything much by looking at the relative position of the cantle & pommel because some saddles have flat seats & low cantles, others have very deep seats with high cantles, and if you have a square cantle all bets are off!

My mare has a forward girth groove,

The saddle tends to go forward but it's been much better with an anatomical girth (provided I remember to tighten in up

). It might be worth checking that the breastplate you're using isn't pulling it forward too, I noticed the other day that if P stretched her head down to eat with her breastplate on it pulled the saddle forward. I don't think those 5 point breastplates allow much room for a big shoulder - I had to sell mine because it was interfering with P's movement, and one of the side-effects of this was the saddle being pulled forward.

emmathechief · #5 24th Apr 2009, 01:32 PM

How do the anatomical ones fit? They don't look straight

Iron Maiden · #6 24th Apr 2009, 01:56 PM

They go straight down from the billets, but curve forward so the part of the girth that goes under the breastbone is a couple of inches in front of the billets & nearer the girth groove for a forward built horse. This is a dressage type

http://www.saddleupinternational.co.uk/images/2024l.jpg

I have one of these (that is too short

) and a long one for use with a GP saddle.

Joyscarer · #7 24th Apr 2009, 01:58 PM

I had problems with Joy's saddle coming forward last year and here's what worked for me although I can't tell you what made the most difference. Of course some with disagree with my choices but they work for Joy and she's happy so I've found what's right for us

Firstly I had my fitter come out to check the fit again, the seasons make a tremendous difference to saddle fit although on this occasion there wasn't a problem.

Secondly, tubby Joy immediatey went on a diet

Thirdly, I bought a humane girth (I have just bought a humane atherstone shaped girth as she's gone down 2 sizes and this one should eb even better). The humane girth is when I noticed the biggest difference as within days Joy stopped being girthy.

Lastly, I have a Stephen's Gel Eez non slip saddle pad.

emmathechief · #8 24th Apr 2009, 02:30 PM

Thanks guys!

Joyscarer, I already use a shaped girth that is cut away behind the elbow and although I always am watching her weight I still think she have a girth groove

little fatty

Iron Maiden, So the curved bit should sit in the groove then the girth angles back to where the saddle "should" sit?
would this one do the job? It seems cheap -3rd one downhttp://www.equusuk.co.uk/girths.htm
or just found this?http://www.hold-your-horses.com/epag...lectSubProduct

HashRouge · #9 24th Apr 2009, 04:46 PM

I have no suggestions, but just thought I'd say snap because I also have a mare called Lou with a forward girth groove

western-saddler · #10 24th Apr 2009, 04:59 PM

My friend has the same shaped horse and had the same problems. I recommended she try this cinch (but they do girth equivalent) by Mattes and no more problems! Saddle stays put beautifully! Has cured a number of customers horses with the same problem. See it here http://www.numnah.com/shop.asp?pid=586

Really comfy too!

Iron Maiden · #11 24th Apr 2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmathechief

Thanks guys!

Joyscarer, I already use a shaped girth that is cut away behind the elbow and although I always am watching her weight I still think she have a girth groove

little fatty

Iron Maiden, So the curved bit should sit in the groove then the girth angles back to where the saddle "should" sit?
would this one do the job? It seems cheap -3rd one downhttp://www.equusuk.co.uk/girths.htm
or just found this?http://www.hold-your-horses.com/epag...lectSubProduct

They are both the sort of thing I mean - and good prices too!

unicornleather · #12 25th Apr 2009, 10:26 AM

From what we can actually see, it looks like it is not fitting properly at the front, even though you say you can fit a couple of fingers in it still looks like it is sitting up off the horse, get a saddler out to check it.The cantle needs to come up a bit too, again suggesting the head is too high.
Oz

emmathechief · #13 26th Apr 2009, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HashRouge

I have no suggestions, but just thought I'd say snap because I also have a mare called Lou with a forward girth groove

hehehe It must be a "lou" thing!

emmathechief · #14 26th Apr 2009, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unicornleather

From what we can actually see, it looks like it is not fitting properly at the front, even though you say you can fit a couple of fingers in it still looks like it is sitting up off the horse, get a saddler out to check it.The cantle needs to come up a bit too, again suggesting the head is too high.
Oz

I couldn't agree more! Before the girth pulls it all forward, the cantle sits alot higher, the saddle is further back and doesn't look as high at the front. That's when I'm happy with it and IMO (and the saddlers) that is where it fits. But because the girth sneeks forward into the groove it pulls the whole saddle forward (only slightly, about 1 - 2" but it seems to rotate it as well; pulling the cantle down and lifting the front