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Gaits of Gold Gaited Horse Community Messageboard > Tack Discussion > Imus 4-Beat™ Saddle Discussion > Saddle slips backward |
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Gaits of Gold Gaited Horse Community Messageboard > Tack Discussion > Imus 4-Beat™ Saddle Discussion > Saddle slips backward |
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| Saddle slips backward | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Mon Mar 8th, 2010 03:18 am |
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1st Post |
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jariley G.O.G Community Member
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I just bought the 4-Gait endurance saddle used at a tack swap. I have a 15 hh Fox Trotter gelding with a medium/light build. The saddle is gorgeous, looks brand new, but I can't get it to stay put! The first day I rode in it, I used a thick barrel saddle pad and the saddle didn't really slip, but I also had it too far back. It seemed like the pad was too thick and was making my gelding uncomfortable, so when I tried the saddle again I used my waffle weave English (square) pad. I had studied the pictures on the website, so I think I got the saddle put on right this time, but I couldn't keep it there! Within a few minutes of riding, the saddle would be 4-5 inches back from where it started and the girth would be in the middle of his belly. I tried cinching it really tight, but that didn't work (he doesn't really have any girthing issues). I tried tying off the latigo at the front ring rather than the back one, but that didn't help. My gelding has a normal wither and a relatively narrow flat back. My hunt saddle stays in place just fine (though the forward end of the tree seems to restrict his shoulders). I was so frustrated today that I stuck the saddle on eBay, but a few people have emailed me to say there could be something I'm doing wrong. Any advice?
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| Posted: Mon Mar 8th, 2010 03:27 am |
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2nd Post |
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whattarack Pasture Boss 
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Maybe you are doing something wrong or it is the wrong tree for your horse. Did you get the wide tree or the standard? The saddle should not slip back too far. Be sure you have the correct size cinch/girth to use with the saddle. I like one that leave about 6" of space between the saddle D rings and the cinch D ring. Double check that you are trying off the rigging correctly on both sides. Go back to tying off in the rear. It should work fine. Try using nylon straps if you think the leather is stretching? You should not have to ratchet the saddle down extra tight on the horse. A thin saddle pad will generally do the trick or you could try a tacky type. Want to post some pics of the horse with and without the saddle?
____________________ A State Trooper pulls over a pickup on Highway 16 And says to the driver, 'Got any I..D ? ' . . and the driver replies 'Bout wut?' Being Offended is Optional. |
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| Posted: Mon Mar 8th, 2010 04:13 am |
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3rd Post |
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SunnysMum G.O.G Community Member 
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a cheep alturnative to those expensive "tacky" pads , that works just as good if not better. The waffle style kitchen drawr liner stuff that comes in rolls. Also have you tried an Breast Plate?
____________________ Chi ha tegoli di vetro, non tiri sassi al vicino |
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| Posted: Mon Mar 8th, 2010 03:08 pm |
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4th Post |
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sdlepal Ranch Hand 
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I had this problem with my first 4beat. It was a wide tree and I thought I needed a wide because my horse was fat. But after a couple of years I finally sent my pictures in to Brenda (now Jake does that) and she confirmed I needed a standard tree. So I ordered a new one in the standard tree and no more slipping. I was as flustered as you but I keep trying pads, girths, nylon ties, anything to keep the saddle. I did have better luck at a thinner pad and a girth that was 4" shorter then I normally used. These things helped but it was really the tree size that made the final difference. There is a post on here that tells of several people having this problem. Just go to the search and type in saddle slipping. Look under the latigo holder ( in that area) on the left side of saddle and you should see imprinted or stamped numbers. There is probably a S or W for standard or wide, and seat size depending on who made your saddle. Hope you get this worked out before you have to sell it.
____________________ Pam and Cowboy Casey |
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| Posted: Mon Mar 8th, 2010 07:21 pm |
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5th Post |
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Jake_R Pasture Boss 
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Hi J A Riley I have been doing a lot of saddle fit pictures lately and would be happy to look at some pics of your horse if you would like. Brenda and I will do a saddle fit and offer a free DVD to assist you in getting the correct sized saddle tree for your horse. I am including two links for you the first is our saddle fit link, we need two pictures of your horse, one from the side and one from behind looking down on the horses withers. From that we can help you make or confirm your saddle tree size. The second link is for our free DVD that will be extremely helpful to you. http://www.gaitsofgold.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=488&Itemid=16 http://www.gaitsofgold.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=483&Itemid=17 I am sure you will find these links useful. Please do not send me a picture of your horses butt we have a wall covered with these photo.  Regards Jake
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| Posted: Mon Mar 8th, 2010 08:22 pm |
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6th Post |
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jariley G.O.G Community Member
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Thanks everyone for the comments/suggestions. I'll take some pictures after work to post and to send to Jake. I'll also look to see the tree size-I didn't know where to look. Julie Riley
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| Posted: Tue Mar 9th, 2010 01:16 am |
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7th Post |
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jariley G.O.G Community Member
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Here's Rambo without a saddle. Keep in mind, he's 19 yrs. old and hadn't been ridden in at least two years, probably more, before I got him last month. I'm slowly bringing him back from mild neglect. Attachment: smallrambo.jpg (Downloaded 92 times)
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| Posted: Tue Mar 9th, 2010 01:16 am |
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8th Post |
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jariley G.O.G Community Member
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Here's the saddle before exercise-maybe I'm starting in the wrong place? Attachment: rambosaddle.jpg (Downloaded 93 times)
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| Posted: Tue Mar 9th, 2010 01:17 am |
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9th Post |
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jariley G.O.G Community Member
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Here's the saddle after jogging around in a large lap around the paddock (no rider). Note how far the girth has slid down the belly. It goes even further with a rider and more exercise. Attachment: saddleslipped.jpg (Downloaded 93 times)
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| Posted: Tue Mar 9th, 2010 03:41 am |
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10th Post |
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whattarack Pasture Boss
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The rear overhead view of the horse as requested by Jake should better suggest which tree size for this horse. Until that is determined, I can (think I can) already suggest a longer cinch because I believe the circular mark in the saddle's leather implies where the saddle D ring is located. It seems too far distance between the cinch D and the saddle D. Once you add a pad, the distance will be even farther apart. I would definitely go longer. Also, the cinch D is behind the saddle D. Straighten them up in alignment (or even make the cinch D in front of the saddle D) and make sure they are the same on both sides. The saddle will follow where the cinch goes. In the pic, the front of the saddle appears crooked of the rear as tho the saddle is slightly rolling in the front only? IMO, the saddle does not appear to be too far back. The amount of distance between the horse's elbow and the rigging will vary from horse to horse. As long as it (the rigging) is out of the way of the elbow and the horse's shoulder is not hindered, the saddle should work. (assuming the tree is correct for the horse). You might be starting too far forward. IMO, the Imus saddle is very forgiving. Therefore, fitting most horses with the two trees offered. Hopefully this one will work for your horse. Keep us posted. 
____________________ A State Trooper pulls over a pickup on Highway 16 And says to the driver, 'Got any I..D ? ' . . and the driver replies 'Bout wut?' Being Offended is Optional. |
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| Posted: Tue Mar 9th, 2010 03:34 pm |
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11th Post |
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sdlepal Ranch Hand
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I would like to add to what Whatta is saying. I just remembered when looking at your photo. It was hard for me to find exactly the shoulder area so I would start my saddle way up and tighten the girth and it laid almost a hands length, sometimes not even that behind the elbow. So when I got on and walked a little bit the saddle would fall back in the same position what some call the sweet spot. The girth would go back but held it's position. I think when we first use these saddles we are just making it so much harder than it really is. Like when we know it is supposed to be "further up than most saddles" we take it really up! Actually we are over doing it, at least that is what I found out. And when I first saddle up now I catch myself doing it again, putting it way up there. My husband just shakes his head and says no saddle can set way up there!
____________________ Pam and Cowboy Casey |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 10th, 2010 02:51 am |
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12th Post |
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TN Trailrider G.O.G Community Member 
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I'm curious as to whether you can get a finger between the saddle and your horse at the front of the bars. In the pic where the saddle has slipped back, it looks as though those bars are sitting low down and pinching. My guess is that this saddle is too wide for the horse.
____________________ Lynne |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 10th, 2010 03:25 am |
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13th Post |
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jariley G.O.G Community Member
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I didn't shrink the pictures where it shows from his shoulder, but I don't see/feel any pinching and it looks like a nice fit. It's so weird. I tried again today and the saddle slid back way more than it ever did before. He is fairly narrow, though, so it could be that the tree is too wide. When I tried my narrow tree Crosby close contact saddle on him, it definitely seemed to pinch. My medium tree Barnsby AP saddle fits his back fine, but the forward flaps seem to restrict his shoulders. I just found out today that I can't show in the fox trotter shows in this saddle because it has no horn, so at this point I think I'm going to give up and just ride in a dressage saddle for now. Maybe at some later date I can have a regular western 4Beat saddle made that fits him properly. I do thank everyone for their input. Julie
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