Vogue GPS - moving sideways?

[ClaireW]

I know this is a topic that has been discussed many times - so apologies for that - but we have three of Heathers saddles on my yard and the YO says that they all move sideways too much and thinks it is an issue with the saddles - but I suspect we are all a bit unbalanced (me having not ridden for 10 years!) and have young horses that are still developing their balance too....

I have a 17" Vogue GPS and use a Lemieux jumping square (high wither) and a Frank Baines girth - so what to do......

Option 1 - try a Pro choice girth and recomended saddle pad - YO does not think this will be any better than what I have and risk of tight girth on yougster restricting her lovely movement.

Option 2 - persevere and see if it improves as my core muscles and balance improve - and just hope I don't confuse my lovely little mare in the process when my saddle moves..and can you guys actually mount without a block and someone holding the stirrup!?

Option 3 - get an EE Saddle fitter to take a look  - but think nearest one is on Mat leave - so not sure who else would come to North Essex - unless you plan to make that visit soon Heather


So really interested to get your opinions as I love my saddle and feel very balanced/stable in it (well Heather did teach me to ride 30 years ago ) and respect YO hugely on just about everything else - but in her opinion it helps me but possibly not my young horse....

Would appreciate your thoughts/suggestions..........

Claire

[Lou79]

Hi Claire

In an ideal world you don't want your saddle to be slipping sideways of course, so it sounds like there are things that you could do to help stop that - and to be honest if you are fighting it slipping then it isn't going to help your balance anyway, so on the face of it I would agree with your YO!

There are various things you could try like the Professional Choice girth (which does make a big difference to most horses) - I don't agree with your YO that this will mean the girth would have to be tight as it iften means it can actually be loser than another type of girth because it is slightly elasctic and more grippy.

Another option is an anti slip numnah (and there are some out there that are 'nice' anti slip numnahs that don't really trap the hairs) - I use ones that I had Nuumed design for me which also have a layer of memory foam in them as well, and correction pockets if necessary which are proving to be great - so feel free to ask me a bit more about them if you like.

I do also tend to find that the thick sheepskin type numnahs don't sit up very well in to the gullet (which is mostly there for lateral stability) and in my experience changing that could make a big difference as well for quite a lot of horses.

The other option is that I may well be up in Essex in the next couple of weeks so I would of course be happy to come and help you and try different options etc, so if you would like to do that then please do let me know.

Hope that is of some help

[ClaireW]

Hi Lou
Thanks for promt response - and yes please let me know when you are coming to Essex as I have some time off work so hope we could tie in a visit - do you stock the products you mentioned (Pro choice Girth etc) so we could try them?

Claire

[Lou79]

Have PMd you 

[Heather]

Claire I had emailed you in response to your query from the Fhoenix website.

 In fact we have had VERY few sideways slipping problems!!!- any that have come up are generally to do with riders not using the recommended products such as the Pro Choice girth that Lou mentions . or the rider sitting badly to one side- and believe me, there are plenty who do and are completely unaware of i until it is pointed out!  :whistle:The high wither cut saddle cloth is another essential! A flat cut cloth causes lateral slipping too!

I ride my Iberians in these saddles as you know, and my big gelding Sudi used to whip round so fast that my head touched his backside. The saddle never moved at all. My ex working students very sharp Welsh cob used to do this too- quite how Anna stayed on at times I do not know, but his Fhoenix never moved either.

I would not continue to sell a product that could be considered to be faulty in design. You will find that many of the treeless saddles require breast plates or similar to keep them from slipping sideways. Ours being 'SoftTree' have far more structure and are far less likely to slip even without the Pro Choice than actual treeless designs.


I hope this helps to reassure you!

[ClaireW]

Heather

I was pretty sure that was the case - and hope Lou can come and sort me out soon...

certainly could be me (remember I had back surgery over 20 years ago so have pins and elastic bands!) - but was interested that YO says she has seen same problem with others (but guess they do not have correct girth/saddle pad either) so just hope I can get this resolved and prove my point!

Already said that I can't ride in anything else because stirrups are in the wrong position for how you taught me all those years ago!

Warm regards

Claire

[SueC]

http://www.flexiworksequine.co.uk/

I'm trying one of these at the moment, don't know what Heather thinks of them?  Has anyone else tried them?

I don't have slippage problems, even though I use a poly-pad and a sheepskin half-pad under the fhoenix, which isn't recommended, but I do stand on something to get on. 

[Bradders]

I like the look of those Sue.

I have a Vogue - I mount from a block (well, an up turned jump stand ) and, as long as I have the girth tight and in the correct place it does not slip when I mount. I can't say that I have noticed it slipping to the side when I ride - but then, I do not exactly ask a lot from it at the moment

(I use a pro choice girth, but have a Stubben one as a spare - not tried mounting with the Stubben one on and no one anchoring the other stirrup)

[lacey]

I'm trying one of these at the moment, don't know what Heather thinks of them?  Has anyone else tried them?

Haven't tried yet, but very interested in how you get on please 

[Lou79]

I have a client who has a Flexi Girth and she loves it. I think my only reservation on the face of it is that some people may overtighten it, but to be honest that happens with most girths anyway  . I have been thinking about getting a couple to test out, but just haven't got around to it yet! Will let you all know one day when I do 

[Heather]

These sound interesting Sue- will order one and see! Lou, so glad you are going to see Claire. She is an old friend, and pupil!- taught her many years ago when I lived in Essex.

[SueC]

I think my only reservation on the face of it is that some people may overtighten it, but to be honest that happens with most girths anyway

Yep. 

This girth should be lightly tensioned, fastened on the same girth strap hole each side, so that the centre of the girth is in the middle of the horse's chest and you should be able to slide your hand under it. 

I'm sure that like with anything it won't suit all horses, but so far Aria, Earl and Sunny (the once I've ridden Sunny) seem quite happy with it.  Don't know how long-wearing it is and how well it stands up to regular washing as I've only had one for a couple of months.  It was cheap enough for me to give it a go when I was looking for a new girth anyway.  I meant to take it to Heather's for her to have a look when I last visited, but I forgot as usual. 

[ClaireW]

Thanks to all for your replies.

Thankfully Lou is coming to visit next week to sort me out  -
 so will report back after that and share ...

Claire

[annep]

How did it go Claire w??

[ClaireW]

Lou is lovely! 

She checked my saddle over to make sure nothing obvious. We tried different girths and pads, and she left me with various things to try - however after a few experiments, the bottom line is I think it is really down to me being unbalanced and my core strength and riding just not being good enough yet (having only returned to riding recently - and have a youngster so taking it slowly).

This was kinda proved out a week ago when I reached for a brush on a shelf and my back went into spasm which rendered me unconcious on the floor - my own fault really as had major back surgery 20 years ago and have to swim/exercise to keep core strong and had just not been doing it consistently for last 9 months.

I am interested to try the new Saddle when it is available - to see if that offers me any help, and I have now started working on my core strength again - so hopefully that is the key to this - because without that balance or core strength I will probably struggle what ever saddle I am on!

So - watch this space....