Help with saddle fitting

[AliFarr <AliFarr@aol.com>]

Well, I tried out my new wintec endurance pro this weekend.  On the initial
fit, everyhting looked OK.  This is a slightly used wintec, so has had a bit
of break in time.  There was a good 2" clearance between withers and the
bottom of the pommel.  Everything semed to sit straight and there was solid
contact all around, with a clear sight through the gullet.  OK off to ride.
Took the boys up Mt woodson; 1200 feet of elevation gain in less than 2 miles
of trail.  Up was fine, both geldings are a bit out of shape from standing in
mud to their knees for way too long, so we went 90% at a walk.  Coming down,
we took another trail, with some really steep spots in it - 45 degree slopes
or more.  At one point, I think to myself that this is way steeper than I
remember and why do I suddenly feel like this slope is approaching 90
degrees???? All stop.  When I look down, I am still in the saddle, but the
saddle is on Gydion's neck and my feet in the stirrups are even with Gydion's
ears.  Gravity is preventing me from moving as I am almost parallel with the
ground.  A push, leap and wiggle and I manage to get both feet on the same
side of the horse and close enough to perpendicular that my exit move does not
result in me on the ground under my horse.  When I turn around to look, the
saddle, still girthed, has slid entirely on to Gyd's neck.  I give it a good
push and it slides back enough that we can walk down the trail to a relatively
flat spot, where I completely re-seat the saddle on his back.  Girthed as
tight as "normal" (my definition, I can still get my hand between girth and
skin with no problem), the saddle slides forward somewhat again on some of the
steeper downhills.  No problem, I can walk down this hill on my feet - we'll
get in some tailing practice :)

Back at the barn, (45 min ride back)  (I was riding with a trail pad - big
square pad)  the sweat marks look really odd.  The front - say 4" in front of
the girth and about as much behind- are evenly sweaty.  From 1/2way back there
are no sweat marks at all in a pattern that matches the bars on the saddle on
both sides.  Huh.   I am puzzled.  I have been riding in my dressage saddle,
so I was trying to get comfy in this one by sitting "back" a little more -
more of a forward seat position, with stirrups a little shorter than my usual
straight up and down dressage position.  Was I putting too much pressure on
too far back?  Or is the saddle throwing me back there and then causing
pressure in ALL the wrong places??  Comments, thoughts, opinions, please!!!  I
was hoping this saddle was "IT", but now I have my doubts.  Was the "slide"
problem one that can be cured by use of a crupper, or is the fitting problem
more serious than that?

Alison Farrin
Yay its Sunny!  in So. Ca.
Alifarr@aol.com