Non slip options (saddle pads)?

Question

Yesturday morning I was having my lesson on my horse, Sam, and my saddle kept slipping everywhere! It has never done that before- I know, my girth was too loose and that was why it was slipping though. I put it on loose when I tacked up, then I tightened it as hard as I could before I got on, and then I rode, and during my ride it kept slipping a lot. when I got off my girth was totally loose. So, nothing is a problem with that (I know that I have got to do it up tighter, as it has never done that before and I've ridden him at least 450 times since i've owned him). But- I have got a 3 year old paint horse named clue, and he doesn't really have high withers, they are very low and he is smooth and round. My saddle always slips on him. I have been looking at some "non slip pads" but I don't know which one I should get. The saddle doesn't slip on the saddle pad- the saddle and the saddle pad slip together. So I either need to swap saddle pads or put something under the saddle pad. What has worked best for you or for someone you know? Here are some of the things I've been looking at. My budget is as LOW as possible! Under $40 I will consider ;)
http://horseloverz.com/Ovation-Silicone-Anti-Slip-Pad-pr-342933.html
http://horseloverz.com/NonSlip-Antibacterial-Underpad-pr-388254.html
http://www.doversaddlery.com/riders-international-soft-gel-half-pad/p/X1-19089/cn/2500/

thank you!!

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I have a gelding with fairly low withers, and he does benefit from a non-slip pad. I did not buy an expensive pad, but instead a fairly thin pad that came without any padding or thickness, just the "holey" non-slip type material. When I saddle my gelding I put this on first, then a light weight felt pad, and last a fairly thin navajo type wool pad. For my mare, who has much better withers, i use the same combination without the bottom layer of non-slip.
When i ride English I just slip the non-slip pad under my proper English pad. When i show this horse I bought a narrow non-slip strip for my English saddle - it isn't a full pad but a strip about four inches wide and fourteen inches long. That strip makes quite a difference to hold the saddle straight, but doesn't show under my English show pad.
The thin non-slip western style pad I have cost me about $20 five years ago, I still think you can find that style for under $30. Another nice thing about the thin one is - you can trim them with scissors if they show underneath another saddle pad. The narrow English strip i have cost me $14 last fall.
Lastly, make sure that your saddles actually fit your horse properly. A non-slip pad is only a bandage if the saddle doesn't fit your horse correctly. If it does fit well, then a non-slip can help. Also, a non-slip Western cinch can make a difference, allowing you to use a looser saddle on a horse. Lastly, an obese horse is almost impossible to keep a saddle on. If your horse is overweight, there's one more reason to get him to a healthier shape!

Arashi · Answer

first -  I've never seen an effective non slip pad (actually over the weekend I watched my friend's slip out from under her saddle during a lesson)

there is no substitue for a well fitted saddle -- and so you are aware if your saddle fits a high withered horse it cannot fit a real round horse and vice versa   find a saddle fitter or a knowledgable horseman/woman to help you out with this

if when you got off your girth was loose -even though you had it tight before you got on- your horse probably held his breath while you were tightening it (which is a learned behavior so it would explain the suddeness of all this)  to stop this tighten your girth gradually... and check it again after you have gotten on and warmed up for a few minutes

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Non slip options (saddle pads)?

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