I'm working with a horse at the farm right now, fitting and tuning her up before she's put up for sale.  When she's in shape her saddle fits like a glove, but she was turned out and rested over the summer and is rather plump with quite a grass belly right now.  We're noticing that her saddle is gradually creeping forward as she moves, to the point that if there's no rider on board to stabilize things with their weight her withers sometimes disappear under the pommel (cc saddle).  We expect the saddle to fit again once she's worked off the belly, but in the meantime were wondering what we can do to stabilize it.  We're thinking riser pad, are we on the right track?

Suzanne

What kind of pad are you using now? You might want to try something with more "stick" to it than a typical fleece pad. Something made from a material that will discourage saddle movement. Be careful adding more padding though. Since any fit issues are caused by her getting "plump" chances are if anything the saddle is slightly too narrow; extra padding will only make the pressure points from this worse. I'm not saying don't try the riser, I'm not familiar with them, but do be careful with how much pad your putting under there. I think I would try first going to a thinner pad with more grip personally, but that's me.

Since what you are looking for is no slip you might want to look at something like this:

http://www.smartpakequine.com/ProductClass.aspx?productclassid=1648&cmPreserveSource=true&cmPreserveCategory=true

It won't add the bulk or possibly unnecessary lift of the risers, which are usually used to make minor corrections to an ill fitting saddle on a horse with high withers or low back.  They should be available through most English catalogs.

povertybyhorse:

Since what you are looking for is no slip you might want to look at something like this:

http://www.smartpakequine.com/ProductClass.aspx?productclassid=1648&cmPreserveSource=true&cmPreserveCategory=true

It won't add the bulk or possibly unnecessary lift of the risers, which are usually used to make minor corrections to an ill fitting saddle on a horse with high withers or low back.  They should be available through most English catalogs.

 

 

That is a great pad to get for the problem you are having. Might I also suggest a saddle with an Easy-Change Gullet system. You can get some Wintec saddles for a great price, with that same gullet system. But you don't want extra bulk. I don't see how a riser pad would help anyway..
 

We thought a riser because in order for her withers to be disappearing that way the front of the saddle must be lifting.  We thought maybe if we lifted the back up by the same amount it would level it out and correct it.  None of us has ever used a riser, so it was just a theory... which is why I posted for advice.   They're not going to buy a new saddle for a horse they're hoping will sell before Christmas, but a pad would be okay.

Thanks for the advice guys, keep the opinions coming!

Suzanne

Id have to see the saddle I think the riser might make things worse?  I'd try the sticky pad... I have one :)

I probably would not use the riser pad. It sounds like what's happening is that the back of the saddle is actually slipping up off her back rather than the front coming up. When the back of the saddle lifts off a horse's back, it forces the gullet off the withers which will make the saddle tip forward. Adding a riser will essentially not do anything and might even make matters worse. I would definitely recommend getting a non-slip pad. Here's a chaper one that does the same thing as the one listed before ...

http://www.doversaddlery.com/rider%92s-international-no-slip-saddle-pad/p/X1-19059/cn/102/