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Vik1
Platinum Member
1711 Posts |
 Posted - 05 Sep 2014 : 2:15:02 PM
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I just wanted to emphasis how important it is to get your saddle checked regularly by a good saddle fitter, esp with young horses or those changing shape rapidly and share my recent experience.
I bought my dressage saddle in april off a saddle fitter. My boy was a bit leaner and didnt have quite the same muscle tone he has now. I tried it for a week and told her it was slipping to the right. She came out and adjusted the billets on one side. Most of the time it felt fine but very occasionally I felt like it still did it. My right leg feeling longer after left canter.
Since maybe june he has started to 'nod' on the left rein in trot intermittently. I thought bridle lameness, I had too strong a contact, not enough oomph from behind into the contact. Over last 2 months, its got worse..again still intermittently. No 'nod' with no rider.
He gets regular physio/massage every 8 weeks or so. Last time he was tight along the right side of his back and right medial glute (it previously was the left but much more prominent this time).
Dressage judges in past few weeks have picked up on this 'nod'. His left canter transition has got worse (previously right canter was always his worst rein) so much so, its now became an issue (ridden and not ridden...same on lunge). Noticed he dips in centre of his back when I run my fingers along too.
Decided to get saddle checked by different saddler this morning.
Saddle is totally wrong for him! Tree width is spot on but its the panel configuration. He needs standard panels, this one had thoroughbred panels with too much wool, which was causing it to tilt back putting pressure under the back of the saddle and obv me in wrong position. He also checked the soundness of it before sitting it on his back. The panels had 'collapsed' on the right hand side half way along which is why it was slipping to the right. He showed me how to check for this.
Im so pleased I got it checked out instead of battling on..but how many would think he was just being 'awkward' or 'stubborn'?!
He has physio booked for next thursday and I now have a new saddle. He is a total wimp when it comes to any discomfort. His other signs which made me think it was time for saddle check were.....kicking at stomach when girthing, going to back of stable when approaching with saddle, getting very 'chompy' with mouth while ridden. Think the latter, many people would of put on a flash or crank noseband or assume its teeth.
I think many horses suppress their discomfort and are not allowed to express how they feel.
My motto for saddle fitting in future....go with your gut instinct!
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 05 Sep 2014 : 4:20:35 PM
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Our saddles are checked probably 6 times a year, have a great guy who visits, after a few phone calls (!!!) and doesn't even charge unless he actually does anything. We have two 7year olds, so feel it's important for their well being. Also new saddles which bed down pretty quickly.
I do think sometimes he probably rolls his eyes and thinks 'not her again' but in a nice way  |
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glo
Gold Member
England
1297 Posts |
Posted - 05 Sep 2014 : 6:11:20 PM
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Few years ago I had the same problem, saddle slipping to one side, in the end shortened the stirrup so I felt even,a one day a friend came out riding with me and after telling her about the slipping she rode behind and I was sitting on the horse back bone to back bone and the saddle was to the side ( left I think) and I wasn't in the middle of it, on return we looked at the saddle and the panel has moved / collapsed which was making it slip to the left.
So yes if you have a problem,do check your saddle, if it don't feel right it probably is not right. |
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flosskins
Silver Member
345 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2014 : 07:38:57 AM
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| I completely agree but then I get stuck with who do you trust? Every saddler appears to have a different opinion! |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2014 : 09:11:28 AM
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| Quite, Lily is off to be fitted again next week, she is not trotting out properly under her latest saddle - it moves from side to side at the back, despite being fitted approx. 6 weeks ago by a master saddler (although her back has been checked and is fine, so it hasn't done any damage). This will be saddle number 8, the main problem being finding a solution that we can both comfortably spend hours in and that she can't shoot me out of too easily when she teleports sideways. Obviously we are now going to a different Master Saddler..... |
  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
Edited by - Callisto on 09 Sep 2014 09:14:14 AM |
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Mags
Silver Member
354 Posts |
Posted - 10 Sep 2014 : 7:26:31 PM
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Dont even start me on saddles 
Seems my boy is never going to be ridden. My last saddle fitter was all but useless but I had a good relationship with my horse I had at the time and he would tell me which saddle he would like off her.He would simply refuse to go forward till he liked the saddle. I only had to do 2 strides in each saddle to know.
Mr T however isnt broken and I need to trust my saddler that its right Rang another lady, nothing to suit. Rang another they didnt return my call. Rang another just get answer phone every time and they wont ring me back either.
Any others I know of round here I wouldnt use. Thought about a flexee but no guarentee they will suit.
And its my birthday today and I just wanted a saddle so can hack before winter   Rant over haha |
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
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Mags
Silver Member
354 Posts |
Posted - 10 Sep 2014 : 7:29:29 PM
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| Should have added the lady who had nothing to suit was trying to sell me adjustable gullet type saddles when I had just told her he had withers but flat back |
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Mags
Silver Member
354 Posts |
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
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Vik1
Platinum Member
1711 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2014 : 09:00:16 AM
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Flosskins...it is hard to know who to trust!
You automatically expect someone who is qualified to be trustworthy. From now on, if my horse says 'not sure' or 'no likey'...Im going with it. If my instincts are saying 'your just selling me the best of a bad bunch'..Im going with it. Instincts are always right.
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Mags
Silver Member
354 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2014 : 10:45:09 AM
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| That always makes me angry Vik, when you see a fitter dismiss a saddle as not right but then by the time they have gone through the rest as no good that one they dismissed suddenly fits! |
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saddle fitting...do you listen to your horse?
