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Kirsty5278
Platinum Member
 England
2682 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Jul 2008 : 9:20:26 PM
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Horses back is fine
teeth all fine
feet are fine
saddle checked a master saddler and is fine
new humane girth is fine
- so whats the problem then??
The saddle now slips forward - alot! He seems to "shunt" me there! its fine in walk, but when we go into trot he shunts his bum up and forces the saddle almost on his neck.
I have a barnsby anti slip pad - which was great at stopping out sideways slip. Obviously I have to get off and re-adjust his saddle.
Does any one please have any suggestions as to what I can do.
I have a crupper (I think thats what its called - t bar under the saddle and then under his tail) I tried it for a couple of moments in walk tonight - but I don't think he's going to like it  anyone used one?
Just another little spanner in the works 
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PhoenixBoysOtherMummy
Silver Member
England
299 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2008 : 10:40:53 PM
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It possibly just isn't the "right" saddle for your horse if it shifts that much? Does he have small or narrow shoulders? I've had a couple of native ponies with narrow chests and have had similar problems, but only a small shift forwards.
I hate to say this but i had a master saddler fit a brand new saddle for one of mine and it NEVER fit. In teh end i found a different saddler and had more success. So maybe you could seek a different opinion?
Sorry, maybe not much help. |
  
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2008 : 10:45:44 PM
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| I agree, get a second opinion on the saddle. You could also consider the shape of your girth. Many arabs have forward girth grooves and need a specially shaped girth. Kay Humphries makes an excellent one. |
    
Hampshire |
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lovehorses
Silver Member
England
390 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jul 2008 : 09:14:51 AM
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I'd say to try a different saddle too!
On the subject of cruppers, most horses do get used to them but they can be odd on arabs! the trouble is the tail carriage, you fit the crupper and everything is doing as it should and then something excites the horse.....up goes the tail and the crupper is loose! I have no end of troubles with this as I drive! |
Trudi x
trudi.pelham@googlemail.com
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Nashiba
Bronze Member
235 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jul 2008 : 12:29:31 PM
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| Have had major problems with my mare in the past-now have a sticky gel pad Stephens I think the make is -cost about £30 .Have a look in the numnahs section on e-bay or saddlery shop.Best thing I ever bought.My mare lives on fresh air and is round ,she is 14.2hh and had to have an extra wide saddle made with a point strap fitted through the front of the saddle to anchor it as she does not have a place for the saddle.We would lose it over her neck at a walk and to go up hill well I'm afraid I just slid off over the back on severeal occasions.Try it -brilliant. |
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Kirsty5278
Platinum Member
England
2682 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jul 2008 : 1:53:54 PM
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| Just been down to local tack shop... there's a lady in their who seems to be very knowledgible so have taken her advice and got a sure non slip... she also mention about a point strap on my saddle, so if still slipping after this numnah thing I'll go and see her again.... fingers crossed - I'll let you know the otcome tonight... |
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fidodido
Gold Member
England
797 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jul 2008 : 2:13:45 PM
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Both of mine have point straps on theirs and it does help. But I would get a second opinion on your saddle as it should not move about that much if it fits. I was also once told arabs can be difficult to fit as a lot of them are coned shaped(narrow chest and wide behind). I think with most saddle fitting it is down to finding a very good master saddle fitter.
What type/make of saddle do you have? |
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rosyw
Platinum Member
England
3756 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jul 2008 : 2:16:33 PM
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Point straps may well help, but - be VERY careful about who does the work. I had a customer a few years back who got a local harness maker to put point straps on her saddle, against my advice, they were put on unevenly and after a while twisted the tree so badly it had to be replaced |
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Kirsty5278
Platinum Member
England
2682 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jul 2008 : 2:34:19 PM
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Its a manor custom saddle... the main trouble is that he has uneven muscle tone on one side, bum high, forward girth, narrow at the front, wide at the back (very pear shape), very low withers.... I really do think the the saddle is the best fit I am going to get... it took several months and several saddle fitters to find that one... The saddler has a very good name and had no reason to lie.... i don't think???
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fidodido
Gold Member
England
797 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jul 2008 : 2:56:17 PM
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Fingers crossed the numnah works for you.I know what it's like to have one with uneven muscle tone, thankfully one of mine is almost even now and has just has his saddle re-stuffed and is much better.
I have also known some not like point straps. One a purebred and the other a small hunter and both had made to measure saddles with point straps inculded from new. Both saddles did fit said horses though without the need to use them.
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jul 2008 : 3:44:50 PM
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I hate point straps.
They strap the front of the saddle down - sure it stops it slipping forward BUT the only reason it can't slip forward is because it is rammed down digging in behind the shoulder blades.
See if you can get booked to see Kay Humphries at Amanda Sutton the physio's yard. She specialises in hard to fit horses especially uneven ones. He will need padding to make up for the 'missing' muscle. He cannot be using himself properly if he has uneven muscles and top that with an uncomfortable saddle you'll be going round in circles. |
Hampshire |
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Geena
Platinum Member
England
1510 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jul 2008 : 3:57:40 PM
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How long ago was the saddle fitted? Any chance that he could have altered shape since?
I definatly would ask for a seeond oppinion. Don't forget they can be a master saddler but not registered as a fitter just as a master saddler. |
  
Zebedee |
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Kirsty5278
Platinum Member
England
2682 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jul 2008 : 4:22:56 PM
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I googled kay humphries but nothing came up for her... but i'll have a look under amanda sutton...
I really do want him sorted out and riding comfortably, I don't want a quick fix... The uneven muscle tone is due to an old back injury which went unseen for quite some time (he wasn't being ridden much by the last owner) so now his back is definately right again I don't want to make him sore again will an ill fitting saddle...
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gg
Bronze Member
England
202 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jul 2008 : 6:54:18 PM
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| kay humphries fitted my last two horses and have ben very plesed with them. I have a barrell shaped arab with no whithers. Surge panels on the saddle. Kay works from a shop norton and newby, buckinghamshire and travels. I live in the midlands. She also wrote a book on saddle fitting( those thin ones that cost about£4.95- sorry can't remeber the name but they publish lots of different topics). |
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Jamana
Gold Member
England
682 Posts |
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jul 2008 : 9:25:49 PM
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Its a girth strap attached to the points of the saddle, in front of the stirrup bar. It pulls down the front of the saddle.
Kay fitted Dennis's saddle at Amanda Suttons yard, she holds monthly clinics there, alterations can be done on the spot for the perfect fit.
I met her when she held a saddle fitting clinic, I am pleased to say that I passed, along with only three others out of 30  . |
Hampshire |
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Pixie
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
6586 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jul 2008 : 9:34:58 PM
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I'm with Vera on the hating point straps. I'm sure if they are used/fitted properly they have a place. I've only ever seen them used as "oh that'll do". And I hate that kind of attitude. I don't wear shoes that don't fit my feet I don't expect my horse to have a saddle that doesn't fit his back. Just my opinion and I'm no expert.
Since looking for a new horse the amount of saddles I have seen that just do not fit is unbelievable. Some I'm told have been fitted by a saddler - well not a very good one then - or people have just guessted. Awful awful awful.
sorry Kirsty 2468 wdwa when into one there. I know you will forgive me. Good luck with getting your saddle sorted and persevere it'll be worth it. |
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Kirsty5278
Platinum Member
England
2682 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jul 2008 : 11:02:46 PM
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pixie - you do like your rants!  my turn.....
This certainly isn't a "that'll do" measure - nothing is when is comes to my horse.... I have done everything I can where it comes to saddles... I have taken advice from every "expert" going.... but what do I do? - after 18 months, do I just give up and say this really is an impossible task - which I don't think it it...
I couldn't stand the thought of being branded as someone who just came along and uncaringly and without thought, plonked a saddle on his back because that really isn't the case...
The trouble with saddles is that the average horse rider/owner does not know how to correctly fit a saddle - this is why we have "experts" who have trained to advise horse owners for the benefit of their horses.... some of these experts have chosen to take advantage of the untrained horse owner to line their own pockets.....
but on a brighter note..... there does seem to be a little glimmer of a light at the end of a long tunnel....
I have been pointed in the right direction of an expert that I think really will get to the bottom of whats going on...
I have also tried to phone amanda suttons yard but couldn't get through so I have sent an email to see if kay humphries can help......
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Pixie
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
6586 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jul 2008 : 09:52:38 AM
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Oh Kirsty2468WDA I wasn't referring to you as a "that'll do" person. I know you keep trying and trying.
Some of these 'experts' are useless. Look at the bloke who told me in 1999 that I'd never find a saddle to fit my boy and really he should retire that Summer and be PTS that Winter. Yes a saddler not a vet. His take was well if he can't be ridden whats the point of keeping him. I told him to leave as I wouldn't be using his services.
I know eventually the saddle had to be custom made buts its 2008 and he is still going strong.
Frankly some of these experts are just doing their job to line their pockets and couldn't care less about the horses or the owners. Ka'ching is all they hear.
One horse I went to look at the saddle was about 9ft too long. The pony was a 14.3hh and quite short coupled. I asked the lady how tall her daughter was thinking she must be a tall girl with very long legs to have an 18 inch saddle. Nope she was about 5.3 and when she got on the pony she had a load of saddle sticking out the back. The saddle wasn't even centred. It looked ridiculous and the saddle was new that year.
A friend of mine had a saddle fitted to her horse and it kept rolling round his barrell like body. Saddler went back to check it said no saddles fine he is just that kind of pony. She had my saddler go and check the saddle and he said that the tree was basically the wrong type of tree for that kind of pony. One Ideal Jessica Extra Wide saddle later and no rolling.
If you find a good saddler who cares and doesn't just hear Ke'Ching keep him or her and treat them with the upper most respect. They are worth their weight in gold.
There endeth todays sermon or rant and just for good measure a raspberrie to anyone who wants one. |
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Kirsty5278
Platinum Member
England
2682 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jul 2008 : 10:07:10 AM
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I didn't want to post this last night - i thought I'd get a bit of a hammering for it but.... I bought a sure non slip pad the other day and we tried it last night... the saddle did not slip a millimetre! It sat deep into him, away from his shoudlers... Raz didn't have any "moments" and I really felt like for once he was enjoying it.... he actually wanted to go forward into the canter (which we have rarely done because of the problems) so I did let him take a few strides of canter...
When I dismounted he seemed to be very pleased with himself and quite excited.... When I took the saddle off, his fur hadn't moved, he had a perfect line down his spine that hadn't been touch by the pad or the saddle... even the girth was furth back than usual...
I really was so pleased....
I am still going to carry on with the appointments I have made... because I think I will gain so much more than just the saddle issue out of it....
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jul 2008 : 10:11:56 AM
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Good news Kirsty
All saddlers have different opinions on saddles and it is really difficult to know who /what to believe! |
Hampshire |
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Pixie
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
6586 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jul 2008 : 10:39:37 AM
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Oh thats good - bless Raz clever boy.
Vera - you are so right. |
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fidodido
Gold Member
England
797 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jul 2008 : 2:22:19 PM
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Good news about the numnah and hope everything works out with the appointments you've made
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jul 2008 : 10:03:56 PM
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| Well done Kirsty, glad its all going in the right direction at last! |
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