RE: treeless saddle slipping -solutions
This message is from: "Sharon" Hi Rachel, >> but on a long ride if Lily gets a bit hot, or when doing more energetic things than usual, it slips badly. Has anyone got a solution to this?<< I did 2 things to stop my saddle from slipping. Different saddle pad, different girth. 1. Saddle pad- After trying all sorts of saddle pads (skito, dixie midnight, tacky-too) with my Bob Marshall treeless and my round mare, I have found one combination I'm much more secure with. It's a simple 1/2" felt pad I attached to the underside of my tacky-too pad. I was careful to make sure the felt pad didn't go over the spine and possibly press down. It stopped 1-2" short of the underside center of the tacky-too, making a slight buildup for spinal clearance. Whenever I remove the saddle, she has a 1-2' strip of dry hair down her spine. Perfect! The saddle 'sticks' to the top of the tacky-too and the underside is absorbent and not slippery for the horse. If you want to use just a felt pad, that's fine too. I didn't want my pricy tacky-too to just sit in the tack room, so I actually opened up the front seam, attached some velcro, inserted 1/2" of neoprene for padding in the pocket (copied the shape of the skito insert), stuck the velcro together and then attached the felt pad to the underside with a needle and upholstery thread. Grandeur makes a pad very similar to what I made up. http://www.actionridertack.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=149_159&produc ts_id=1390 or in Europe http://www.grandeur.de/en_shop/e_site.php?id=41 2. Girth- The other half of what I did is to switch from a too hot, uncomfortable neoprene girth, to a mohair girth (not rayon which is slippery, but true mohair). Specifically a roper's girth, which is @ 6-7" wider in the center and narrows to @ 3" at each end. This keeps the belly cool, and the saddle extra stable and very secure from slipping. I mount from the ground and it's good. here's a link with a few to look at http://www.mysimon.com/9000-11034_8-0.html?sdcq=keyword-mohair+cinch Maybe either of these or both can work for you. good luck, Sharon Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Re: saddle slipping, follow-up
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 6/2/2004 8:49:13 PM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Anyway, I tried riding with just the foam between the horse and the saddle. Voila! No slip! I have to go on travel, but as soon as I get back I'm going to buy a bigger piece so I can make a pad shaped for this saddle ** Hi Eileen- Great that you found a possible solution! Don't forget that saddle pads are designed to protect the horse's back from the saddle (and vice versa). Manufactured pads are made with materials known to not irritate the horse. Keep an eye out for signs of soreness in your mare's back, as the foam material might cause excessive sweating, an allergic reaction, or rashes/sores because it clings so much. / )_~ /L/L Brigid Wasson SF Bay Area, CA www.Brigid.Clickryder.com
Re: saddle slipping
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 5/30/2004 9:44:07 PM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Has anybody contacted these folks since the fires in California? Jean- When I clicked on the link to place an order, a screen came up saying their home and business had been burned and they did not know when they would be in production again. Quite a shame. I imagine a slightly handy person could make a saddle stabilizer. It's basically a strap, the HotStuff4Horses one is nylon but leather might work too, about 3" across. It attaches to the off side D ring with a metal snap then wraps around the off side leg to anchor the saddle and attaches back to itself. My only concern would be for safety; you wouldn't want something to break apart just as you were mounting, so if you make one, make it well. / )_~ /L/L Brigid Wasson SF Bay Area, CA www.Brigid.Clickryder.com
RE: saddle slipping
This message is from: Jean Ernest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Has anybody contacted these folks since the fires in California? I ordered an item last fall but never received it and have not been able to contact Mandy, either by email, phone or mail..Letter was returned, post office box no longer existed..Post Office maybe burned? In Cedar Glen, California which was hit hard by the fire. I haven't tried lately. Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska, enough rain to prevent forest fires here for a while! >Here is the direct link: >http://www.hotstuff4horses.com/saddle_stabilizer.htm > >Thanks for the tip Brigid... > Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: saddle slipping
This message is from: "Frederick J. Pack" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The link on the page the Brigid gave was a little difficult to find. Here is the direct link: http://www.hotstuff4horses.com/saddle_stabilizer.htm Thanks for the tip Brigid... Fred All Mail is scanned in AND out by Norton Anti-virus 2004. Fred and Lois Pack Pack's Peak Stables Wilkeson, Washington 98396 http://www.geocities.com/friendlyfred98 Subject: Re: saddle slipping This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Has any one tried the anti-saddle slipping tie gismo that goes around the off side front leg then comes off via Velcro after you mount. I heard about them a long time ago. Yep, couldn't mount the round ones without it :-) www.hotstuff4horses.com / )_~ /L/L Brigid Wasson SF Bay Area, CA www.Brigid.Clickryder.com
Re: saddle slipping
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 5/29/2004 11:14:05 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Has any one tried the anti-saddle slipping tie gismo that goes around the off side front leg then comes off via Velcro after you mount. I heard about them a long time ago. Yep, couldn't mount the round ones without it :-) www.hotstuff4horses.com / )_~ /L/L Brigid Wasson SF Bay Area, CA www.Brigid.Clickryder.com
Re: saddle slipping
This message is from: "Warren Stockwell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> - Original Message - From: "Ruth Bushnell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > I've always loved the > going-up part, but the coming-down is not so good! ...makes for awkward > balance, and the chance of horsy accidents greater. (in these later years I > dismount on steep descents. =))) My sense of caution has been been enlarged > with maturity! > > Ruthie > With maturity comes brains!!! It's not caution it's brains !!! Roberta Floating in MN
Re: saddle slipping
This message is from: "Debi Williams" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Has any one tried the anti-saddle slipping tie gismo that goes around the off side front leg then comes off via Velcro after you mount. I heard about them a long time ago. I know of a mule rider with arthritis that ties a soft rope with a special knot from the horn to the off front leg while he mounts. He can remove it with just a slight tug after mounted. Debi - Williams Hill Fjords Subject: Re: saddle slipping
Re: saddle slipping
This message is from: "Ruth Bushnell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > This message is from: "jgayle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > I can not imagine how a saddle can slip unless the girth is loose, broken or the rider has one foot pushing the saddle to the side. Actually I thought the rider > might be joshing us. Jean G. In uneven terrain it is a common occurence for a saddle to loosen, and begin to slip, in spite of all possible balance. Here, in the northwest corner of Montana, it is extremely mountainous and riders often use a martingale and a crupper to help stabilize the saddle (as one writer already suggested). Sometimes, when you feel it begin to slip a little one way, you can bring it back by pressing in the opposite stirrup until it's centered again. I guess, unless you've ever tried riding up and down hills, it's hard to imagine what a strain it can be (for the horse =)). I've always loved the going-up part, but the coming-down is not so good! ...makes for awkward balance, and the chance of horsy accidents greater. (in these later years I dismount on steep descents. =))) My sense of caution has been been enlarged with maturity! Ruthie
Re: saddle slipping
This message is from: "jgayle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I hope my message re slipping saddle was not too far out!! I can not imagine how a saddle can slip unless the girth is loose, broken or the rider has one foot pushing the saddle to the side. Actually I thought the rider might be joshing us. Jean G. Author "The Colonel's Daughter" Occupied Germany 46-49 Send $20 to: PO Box 104 Montesano, WA 98563
Re: saddle slipping
This message is from: "jgayle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I can not imagine the mare being able to slip the saddle unless she has developed some muscles not found in other fjords. She isn't reaching around and pulling it with her teeth when you are not watching? She could, I suppose, quietly and secretly make one stirrup leather longer than the other making the rider lean more to one side? Could the ground be lower on one side than the other Jean G Author "The Colonel's Daughter" Occupied Germany 46-49 Send $20 to: PO Box 104 Montesano, WA 98563
saddle slipping
This message is from: "Janet" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> a few suggestions are: try a round skirted western saddle with full quarter horse bars. the greater surface area will help. I have found english style saddles very hard to keep on round horses. use a breast collar (the Y type) and crupper. put the horse on a diet. Most of the fjords I've met to date are horribly overweight, and I'm not talking well muscled, they were FAT. I met a saddle maker at the MN horse expo who makes a saddle/rigging for heavier riders and round horses their contact info is Montana Pack and Saddlery 406 756 8999 or www.montanasaddle.com they use a double cinch designed to hold pack saddles on their double rigged saddles. Good balance may be enough if you are riding in a flat arena, but good balance won't hold the saddle in place on a rough trail, or when a horse shies sideways. I will never again ride in a saddle that will slip, it is too dangerous. Janet
Re: saddle slipping
This message is from: ulli <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello All, I'm in desparate need of some advice. For the past month my vet and I have been both having problems with my saddle slipping sideways on my classic barrel-shaped mare. I'm using a wide tree (38cm) all purpose saddle which seems to fit her well. After searching the archives, I tried the Professional Choice girth, per Gayle W's suggestion. I also use one of those "non-slip" rubber pads you put under throw rugs. These have helped, but the sideways slipping is still really dangerous. I know it's not just me because my vet is an excellent 3-day event rider, skinny and *way* more fit than I am, and she's having problems. My vet has been cranking up the girth, which I hate to do. And that doesn't solve the problem. Yikes, we haven't cantered my mare yet, 'cause trotting is still such a challenge. Any suggestions? (PS sorry if this is a repeat - I tried to post twice before and didn't see my message). Eileen and 'Jane', the beautiful barrel with legs Hello Eileen, Does the saddle always slip to the same side all the time (ie off to the right?) & does it happen when you ride without your stirrups (crossing them over the saddle)? Maybe your horse isn't flexible/bending yet? Riding in a tight space in the same direction all the time, horses seem to have a favored direction that they are more flexible in, maybe both of you aren't quite balanced/flexible yet? A couple of things, have you tried riding bareback until you get your balance (in case it's a balance issue)? I hadn't ridden for 20 years (yikes!) & started on my chubby mare bareback until I got my natural relaxed balance back. We both needed the gentle conditioning & bareback trot did the trick. (that's just in case you don't have relaxed balance on the horse yet). Another great way to get balance is to work on the lunge with a helper & work on walk, trot & eventually canter with no reins (just side reins) & (again, eventually), with no stirrups (cross them over). If you do that every day for a few minutes, you will develop a better seat (& posting with no stirrups is a great work out!) - of course this isn't a good idea if the saddle still slips even when you aren't using stirrups. The other thing, maybe the saddle is too far forward, try moving it back to set just behind her withers. I have a close contact crosby & a passier dressage saddle & both will slip no matter how tight I do the girth if it's too far forward on one of my larger girls. Does the saddle actually fit your horse? Maybe it's too big? I'm no expert, but I had this problem to a lesser degree when I first started working with some of my fjords several years ago. cheers! catherine
RE: Help needed, English saddle slipping sideways
This message is from: "Skeels, Mark A (MED)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi Eileen: We had a similar problem. A couple suggestions we did. The first is we got a Wintec girth, the one we got is sorta soft rubbery type. Second, one of our instructors was using a rubber saddle pad they made on their Tennessee Walker. She loaned it to us and it worked great. Where we got the material was at Farm and Fleet. They use it in tool boxes to keep your tools from rattling around. It looks like very soft rubbery large mesh screen, about 3/8 inch thick foamy rubber that when you hold it up it has holes all over it about 1/4 inch in size. The mesh is also approx 1/4 inch cross hatch type stuff, sorta looks like a bunch of black rubber beads. Anyhow they have a piece about 2 foot by 6 foot. We folded it over on itself so the pad is 2 foot by 3 foot. Then my wife and daughter sewed them together with some sort of edging she got at Joanne's Fabrics. It was sorta hard to sew they said, as the rubber would want to stick to the machine and stretch some, but with a little patience, it only took a hour maybe to make and turned out real nice. The other thing we found is when we started riding the horse every day, and trotting or cantering about 10 minutes or so each day so the horse worked up a light sweat, the horse actually started to muscle up and trim down, lost maybe 150 pounds. That also helped the roundness factor. Gave my daughter a good workout too, and she toned up. A positive side benefit. Could also ride bare back some trotting and cantering if your saddle rolls, until the horse gets into shape. We leave the last inch or two of the main hairs long just in case you loose your balance so you can grab onto something while riding bare back, the last couple inches right over the whithers. If you ride bare back, your balance while riding will greatly improve, which would also help you in the saddle. That's about what we learned about the saddle slipping issue. I think sometimes we all have similar problems, and go about fixing them in various fashions. Sometimes what we do don't work, so we try something else. And it also helps to share ideas, which can help someone else go thru the learning curve a little faster. Mark Skeels Any suggestions? (PS sorry if this is a repeat - I tried to post twice before and didn't see my message). >Eileen and 'Jane', the beautiful barrel with legs
Help needed, English saddle slipping sideways
This message is from: Eileen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello All, I'm in desparate need of some advice. For the past month my vet and I have been both having problems with my saddle slipping sideways on my classic barrel-shaped mare. I'm using a wide tree (38cm) all purpose saddle which seems to fit her well. After searching the archives, I tried the Professional Choice girth, per Gayle W's suggestion. I also use one of those "non-slip" rubber pads you put under throw rugs. These have helped, but the sideways slipping is still really dangerous. I know it's not just me because my vet is an excellent 3-day event rider, skinny and *way* more fit than I am, and she's having problems. My vet has been cranking up the girth, which I hate to do. And that doesn't solve the problem. Yikes, we haven't cantered my mare yet, 'cause trotting is still such a challenge. Any suggestions? (PS sorry if this is a repeat - I tried to post twice before and didn't see my message). Eileen and 'Jane', the beautiful barrel with legs
Re: Help needed, English saddle slipping sideways
This message is from: "Ruth Bushnell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Hello All, >I'm in desparate need of some advice. For the past month my vet and I have been both having problems with my saddle slipping sideways on my classic barrel-shaped mare. Any suggestions? >Eileen Dear Desperate, Tell that vet to vacate your saddle, one per saddle is quite enough! HAH, just kidding! =))) We don't like the newer neoprene (sp?) cinches and feel that they are inclined to slip more, on the other hand... our son prefers them. (maybe it's a generational thing =)) but my husband says that he thinks they are also more likely to gall. It usually doesn't hurt to tighten the girth very soundly as horses seem to deflate within the first few hundred yards. Some claim they deliberately inflate in anticipation of the tightening girth, whatever the case... it's always wise to readjust the tension a short ways out. Sometimes people pull the saddle off center as they mount, if they use the saddle as leverage for hoisting themselves up... and from there it's on the way. (use a stepping stool instead if necessary) Could it also be that you are seated off center by maybe favoring one side (maybe you're reaching for the brake =))) Ruthie, nw mt
Re: Help needed, English saddle slipping sideways
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 5/27/2004 6:04:54 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I'm in desparate need of some advice. For the past month my vet and I have been both having problems with my saddle slipping sideways on my classic barrel-shaped mare. ** Welcome to the world of Fjords ;-) I'm using a wide tree (38cm) all purpose saddle which seems to fit her well. ** Most of us use something super wide or treeless or gullet-less to fit those lovely round bodies. After searching the archives, I tried the Professional Choice girth, per Gayle W's suggestion. I also use one of those "non-slip" rubber pads you put under throw rugs. ** Those girths are great, as is anything with felt which works especially well in the winter, bonding to all that fur. These have helped, but the sideways slipping is still really dangerous. I know it's not just me because my vet is an excellent 3-day event rider, skinny and *way* more fit than I am, and she's having problems. ** I'm curious as to when the saddle slips? Is it while mounting, or actually riding? Technically (and I know we can all ride this well!) you should be able to stay in a saddle with no girth at all. It's all about balance and staying over the center of gravity. Sometimes the deep seated saddle and big pads riders use to feel more secure actually make matters worse, lifting you higher away from the horse. Now, I must loudly say that being skinny is not a prerequisite for being a good rider ;-) Also, you may be impressed with your vet's perfo rmance, but she may actually have balance no better than yours. If she's been riding razorbacked Thoroughbreds, she can get away with more weight shifting and less saddle slippage. My vet has been cranking up the girth, which I hate to do. And that doesn't solve the problem. Yikes, we haven't cantered my mare yet, 'cause trotting is still such a challenge. ** Sounds very much like a balance issue. Without seeing the horse in action, I can only guess that she is stiff and falling forwards in the trot. When this happens, you have no bending and the horse turns "like a bus" as a friend once said of her Standardbred. These sudden lurching turns will upset just about anyone. Good for you for not cantering till you feel safe. My suggestion would be to work on softening and bending for the horse and balance for yourself. / )_~ /L/L Brigid Wasson SF Bay Area, CA www.Brigid.Clickryder.com
Re: Help needed, English saddle slipping sideways
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 5/27/2004 6:59:56 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Could it also be that you are seated off center by maybe favoring one side (maybe you're reaching for the brake =))) Ruthie, nw mt Yes, Ruthie! My left hip is higher than my right, due to an old injury in the heyday of aerobics. When I ride, I can look down and see my left foot, but not my right foot. Back to the chiropractor... / )_~ /L/L Brigid Wasson SF Bay Area, CA www.Brigid.Clickryder.com
