[shadowanne]

Even though I pull the front of my dressage saddle pad all the way up into the pommel of my saddle, I notice at some point while riding (walk/trot) that the pad is flat against my horse's withers and there's not much I can about it while still sitting in the saddle. Pretty much have to dismount, un-girth and pull it back up.

I'm assuming that it's an undesirable and is applying undue pressure on my horse.

So my question is, how can I prevent it? Do I need a different pad?

It's an Ecole by Roma Double Diamond Quilt and an Isabell Wintec:

 

[luvs2ride1979]

Hmm, it really shouldn't do that. You might be placing the saddle too far forward. If you are, the movement of the horse's shoulders will shift the pad under the saddle.

Be sure you're using all of keepers and straps appropriately and your girt is nice and snug.

 

[shadowanne]

Well... I don't use the upper straps as they don't reach where they need to anyway (I actually cut them off today too).
But to get lower strap to line up to where the girth needs to be, I do have to make sure the pad is pretty far forward (more forward then I would normally put it). I had the same issue on the lease horse I had with a totally diff blanket, but also with an Isabell.

Here's a pic of her tacked up trying my friend's Isabell, which was after I rode her and you can see the blanket had moved to flatten already - not all the way down yet.

I already pull the girth straps very forward on the Isabell and the Wintec Pro I was trying to get her girth in the right spot so I could avoid her shoulders.

 

[~*~anebel~*~]

I have the same pad and have never had an issue with it doing that. Make sure your billets are through the straps on the pad.
If your horse has very high withers, you may need to buy a pad specially designed for horses with high withers and you may also consider getting one lined with sheepskin.
Talk to your local saddle fitter.

 

[shadowanne]

I do use the billet strap, was thinking her withers might be high to need a different pad.

This is her w/out tack:

 

[MyBoyPuck]

My horse has high withers. If I use anything besides sheepskin, it flattens out over his withers. Only sheepskin pads seem to keep the correct shape. Not sure why.

 

[~*~anebel~*~]

Do you see how the pad goes down very steeply after the withers and her withers slope gradually??
This would make the pad want to slide backwards. You need a pad more like the EcoGold pads, Eskadron makes a good pad and also the Steffen Peters Pro Choice pad would probably work. you want a pad with the same shape as your horse's back. Same as the saddle.

 

[shadowanne]

I just ordered a Steffens Peters Luxury pad (ouch!), so I'll post the results after I get it and ride in it in the next week or so.

The EcoGold's were just too darn ugly!

Thanks!