My SADDLE Keeps FALLING OFF TOWARDS ME WHEN I PUT MY FOOT IN STIRRUP WHAT SHOULD I DO/USE .I HAVE TIGHTENGIRTH

Question

I HAVE USED AN EXTRA SADDLE BLANKET AS WELL IS THERE A ITEM TOO KEEP THE SADDLE ON TOO.

Answer 1

The saddle doesnt fit the horse

Answer 2

Yes. The item is called a Girth! LOL

Seriously, tighten the girth, walk the horse around, lunge him/her etc. then tighten the girth again.  If all else fails, or your girth is in the very last hole, you may need a shorter girth. I like my "Smart Cinch" as it has roller buckles that make tightening easier. Good Luck!

Answer 3

You didn't tell us what body type your horse has or what breed.  Sometimes, you can have a mutton withered horse (Really FLAT withers and back) and be using a semi quarter horse tree (For western) or a narrow English treed saddle and that makes the saddle not sit where it should for your horse.  When that happens, no amount of cinching will really make the saddle stay put.

Having said that, if you haven't tried walking him around once you've saddled your horse, then try that.  Tighten the girth, walk him around a little, tighten the girth more and repeat until the saddle stays put.  Then try mounting up.

Answer 4

It sounds like your horse may have what is known as a "MUTTON WITHER".  This simply means that the wither (where the saddle sits) is not thin or high, which is what helps hold the saddle on.. its low, and nearly smooth or round over the top.  (which, btw makes for an excellent bareback riding experience - but a pain with a saddle) - One way you might be able to help keep your saddle still is to use a breast collar.  Its not going to keep it on there completely - and you dont want to put it on to tight - its just to give it a little help.  Because it wont solve your problems - plan to mount from a higher stool - or something that wont require you to "PULL" much on the horn.  Good luck!

Answer 5

the saddle may not fit right

Answer 6

Well, if you're certain that the saddle is tight and that the saddle fits properly - here are a couple of options.

Use a stool!  They are easier on your horse's back, too.  It enables you to get on the horse  quicker so it doesn't slide off.  It also makes your horse worth more if you can sell it as a horse that you can use a stool to get on.  You don't have to buy a fancy horse stool - you can buy a step nice step stool from Walmart for about $15 that folds up really nice and everything.

Buy a "tacky tack" pad.  They're made out of neoprene with little holes to allow the horse to breathe.  Your saddle sticks in place and doesnt move a bit!  Jeffers sells their brand for only about $22.

Best wishes!

Answer 7

I think you have the same problem I had. My brand new saddle slipped when I tried to mount.  I was at a clinic with my horse with the same saddle and was told my new saddle didn't fit my horse.  The clinician showed me how and where it didn't fit.  We tried about 5 different saddles on him and found the type that fits. I was very fortunate to have someone at the same clinic that had a brand new saddle for sale that fit my horse!  I can now mount and my saddle doesn't slip! I also found out that the saddle I had didn't allow his shoulders to move freely. Poor horse! Now I just need to find a buyer for a beautiful western saddle!

Answer 8

I agree with the others that your horse may be mutton-withered or your saddle may not fit. The extra blanket will not help, in fact, it might make things worse.

If you're sure the saddle really fits, you might want to have someone hold the other stirrup for you, or just use a mounting block. Also, when mounting, grab a handful of mane instead of pulling yourself up on the saddle.

Answer 9

I always get my instructor/helper to pull on the other side of the stirrup...it works!

Answer 10

What everyone has said about your horse blowing up is true.

But..I have an issue with this because..well because...I don't weigh 120 lbs ( and I don't weigh 200 either!!)....and when I mount (even with a secure girth)..the leverage I take to get up makes my saddle slip..;-((  (my horse is also 17hh so it is a bit of a climb!!) so, someone usually holds the stirrup on the other side as a counterbalance until I'm up and over!!  When someone is not available, I use a mounting block (like a step stool)...and I feel so independent!!

I hope this helps you.

Answer 11

sounds to me like your sweet horse is pulling a fast one on you. A lot of horses dont care much for a tight girth. When you go to tighten it, they take in a huge breath to make their chest larger, thus preventing a tight girth. Try giving your horse a quick knee to the chest, basically knocking some wind out of her/him and quickly pull the girth tight. You may want to use a girth with a buckle rather than one you must tie to prevent slipping while securing it.

Answer 12

Have you tried putting a small thing like you buy for in your cabinets under your saddle pad? It will grip to the saddle pad and to the horse's hair, but won't hurt the horse. I've found this helpful in some cases!

Answer 13

It could be the horse....some horses, including one of mine have "mutton withers"   In other words, the withers are not well defined and are rounded more or less.

Whether this is the case or not, you need to mount the horse, quickly throwing your weight across the horse's back.  Try not to pull on the saddle because this will cause it to slip and turn.

In other words, practice!  Another suggestion is to use a stepping stool used for mounting horses.  This will eliminate the problem for sure.  Step up on the highest step and step up and sit down.  You won't be "pulling" on any part of the saddle.  

BOOM!  Problem eliminated!  Yippee!!

Answer 14

First check the saddle fit.  However this often happens with a low whithered mutton backed horse.

Second get a neoprene girth and saddle pad.

Third if you have a really thick saddle pad (one of those fuzzy ones) get rid of it.  The thicker your pad the more leverage you put on the saddle to turn it.  I use a neoprene under a felt pad.  the neoprenes generally need a little extra padding  on the long rides I go on and the felt pad provides that without being too thick.

Fourth walk the horse in three or four small circles and retighten the girth or trailer the horse to where you are going and retighten it before you ever try and get on.

Fifth use a breast collar they help a little.

Sixth Try not mounting from the ground.  You would be surprised how much it will help to get up as little as 6 inches.

Answer 15

get on using the fence or something tall that doesnt't need stirrups to do. then when you get on tighten the girth from the saddle. or your saddle might not fit properly so i recomend getting a saddle fitter in to chek it for u. if it doesnt fit properbly it is bad for the horse and u. if that doesnt work then lose some weight.

Answer 16

I think you would need to get her saddle checked by a saddle fitter my mare I had same problem every time I went to get on it would slip to the left but I kept tightening the girth thinking she was breathing out but she started to get a girth gall from were the girth was too tight. It also used to slip to left when I was riding and from moving it back she went lame. I started to lunge her to se how the saddle sat whilst she was moving and the saddle was too loose around her withers hence the sliding around so definitely get it checked so that your horse doesnt get lame from it.

Answer 17

I don't think that there's another item to use, but maybe that saddle just doesn't fit. I've had that problem once and I replaced that saddle and it worked. It's probably the saddle size.

Answer 18

If your girth is tight, it may be the way your horse is built.  My QHs saddle "rolls" on her when you get on, you feel like you will fall right off.  She is just so round, so I have to use a huge western saddle on her, and that fits her better.

Answer 19

Firstly, when I read this question I thought the girth is probably just too loose.

When you tack up, walk your horse around for a bit so the saddle and girth move a little and the saddle is sitting in place. Then tighten the girth. You'll be surprised at how loose it gets, so just put it up to the tightest possible hole. Also, some horses know to breathe in deeply when the girth goes on, so it feels tight, but then when they relax and blow out the girth will become loose. Do up the girth, wait a while, then do it up again. The walking them around first on the ground before you mount definitely works though.

Also, if the problem continues, check the saddle. It may not fit right, which could be why it is slipping, and might need to be fitted better to your horse, get your saddler to come have a look. Definitely try the first ones first though, often the most annoying problems have the simplest solutions.

Good luck :)

Answer 20

you may want to check your saddle and see if it fits the horse right.

Answer 21

well when I would put my saddle on my horse she would puff up then when I would get on her it would slide off, maybe thats what your horse is doing maybe you should put it on then act like your getting on then tighten it some more and do that until it wont slide off

Answer 22

change girths the girth you have is probily too big

mayb its the way you get in the saddle. If you put your foot in then leen all the weight on that stirup, your saddle is gonna slip. try puting some of the weight on all of the saddle meaning wen you are getting up swing your foot so that it sends equal weight on all saddle and hury to sit sown sont plop but sit

hope it helps

Answer 23

When i saddle my horse i always walk him around the arena for a while and then tighten the girth again before trying to ge on.

Answer 24

Tighten the Girth! If you've done that and its and tight your saddle dosen't fit and you need a new one!

Answer 25

well, if you allready tighted the girth and it still is loose then it might be the girth... it depends if it is a western or a english girth. if its western and you tighten it then it might just be that the girth doesnt fit right or it isnt big enough.. its probably because it doesnt fit right. some just are a little big. its not really a big deal.. if you have an extra person just get that person to pull down on the other sturrup while you get on.

Answer 26

Tighten, re-tighten, and tighten again.  If the girth really is tight, it's most likely something you're doing.

- get on using a mounting block

- put your foot in the stirrup and "jump" before swinging your leg over.  Just puting your foot in and sinking your weight straight down will shift the saddle for sure

- have a friend hold the opposite stirrup when you get on - they put a hand on the stirrup and lean on it to counterbalance your weight

- or, if you can manage to get on without puting your foot in the stirrup at all (either getting a leg up, or having a mounting block tall enough so you can just swing a leg over) that can also reduce the effect of all your weight leaning on one stirrup only.

if riding western, i think double looping the latigo before tying the knot helps to be able to tighten it and keep it tight, too

Answer 27

your horse may be blowing him self up! this makes you think the girth is on right but it is not. walk him around for a bit because a horse can not blow his stomach up if he walks! hope i helped!