How to Keep a Saddle From Slipping on a Horse With Low Withers

A horse's withers, which is the ridge between its shoulder blades, should theoretically help keep a saddle from slipping forward onto its neck. On horses that have high or medium withers, this ridge is prominent enough to do the job. Unfortunately, on a low-withered ̵2; also known as mutton-withered ̵2; horse, the ridge is often not prominent enough to keep a saddle in place. To deal with this problem, horsemen have come up with several methods to keep the saddle from sliding forward on low-withered horses.

Things You'll Need

  • Back cinch
  • No-slip pad
  • Crupper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase and use a saddle that has been specially designed for a low-withered horse. Some breeds, such as halflingers and bulldog quarter horses, tend to have low withers and manufacturers have created saddles with wider trees that are especially designed to fit these types of horses.

    • 2

      Invest in a non-slip saddle pad. These can be made from a variety of materials, but most are typically are manufactured of or use a foam composition or neoprene material.

    • 3

      Attach a crupper, which is sometimes known as a saddle breeching, to your saddle. A crupper is a rigging that attaches to the saddle and either goes around the tail or the hindquarters of the horse and is designed to keep the saddle from sliding forward.

    • 4

      Double-check the girth before riding. Most horses bloat up, so you should always check and re-tighten the girth before mounting.

    • 5

      Use a back cinch if you ride in a western saddle. A back cinch can help keep the saddle down and in place, especially when negotiating downhills.