I have had a forward cut Bates GP Saddle for around the same time as I have had my horse so about two years, it has been regularly checked by the saddler I bought it from, most recently this morning. I asked her to check it because it has started slipping forward, it has always had a tendency to go forward but only in extreme situations like hunting for example where we're going over very variable terrain at speed, most of the time it is fine. However, my mare has got into a habit of tapping poles with her front feet whilst jumping and I thought possibly the two were related i.e. Saddle slips onto shoulder, makes her uncomfortable and so she doesn't lift through the front end. The saddler looked at it and said it sits on her back beautifully which I would agree with but my horse has very narrow shoulders and my guess is as her back has got stronger and she's filled out, the shoulders haven't and that is why the Saddle is now moving more often, so even when it is sitting in the right place on her back the knee rolls are almost over her shoulder anyway because there's no real definition there. The saddler has suggested a few options.1) try a crupper, whilst I would feel rather silly being the only adult out competing with a crupper on I'm willing to try it and I think she would probably tolerate it.2) get a non elastic girth3) try a different saddle, she has lent me an older model Falcon which I've not had much to do with but I rode in it and it seemed to stay still (wont have an opportunity to jump in it till Thurs) and the knee rolls were just about big enough for me to feel comfortable jumping. I event, hunt and show jump so I need to have something with enough knee roll but the saddler seemed to think the Bates is just too forward cut in general for the shape of my horse. I also have a cheap and cheerful non slip gel pad which doesn't seem to have much effect at all. I've seen good reviews for the new X Grip Le Mieux pads but they are very pricey and the saddler was sceptical about how much difference it would make.So my question is, has anyone else got a horse with non existent shoulders and how do you keep your Saddle from sliding up them? Would like to add my horse is a good weight so its not her tummy pushing the Saddle forward as it sometimes is.
01-22-2018, 05:41 PM
Saddle issues.
العرض العادي
