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Aulstralian saddles

6K views 38 replies 18 participants last post by  RansomTB 
#1 ·
Hello. I"m looking into getting an Aulstralian saddle. I was looking for some imput from people who do or have ridden in them.

Some reasons I am heavily considering them:

*Light weight (compaired to most leather western saddles)
*security for riding
*Deep seat
*Supposed to be easy on the butt & back on long rides (horses back too)
*Riggings for saddle bags (unlike my English saddle)

The western saddle I have is a Big Horn cordura, and it weighs about 17lbs. Which I love. I can grab it by the horn and flop it up onto my 15hh gelding. Right now my sister in law is using it on her 14hh mare because she only has an english saddle and perfers a western.

The western saddle I am using (which belongs to my father in law, who doesn't ride) is super comfy, but is easily 35lbs, and surely not my favorite to get on my 14.2hh mare, let alone my 15hh gelding. lol. Plus it's a smidge long for him (in my opinion) and I don't want the unnessary weight on the trails. Especially when we ride in the mountains & have switch backs & such.

This is one of the saddles I was looking at

Kimberley Outback Saddle Package - Horse.com
 
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#30 ·
I have a question about Australian saddles and flank girths, actually, flank girths in general, I guess. I grew up riding English and so knew nothing about flank girths. I have ridden Western some but never owned a Western saddle, and I always wondered about the flank girth on Western saddles, noticing that some people used one, some didn't. Now I'm wondering about my Australian saddle since it has a flank girth ring on it and I've seen flank girths in the Down Under catalog. I just trail ride, should I be using one? Who uses flank girths and why?
 
#31 ·
If you go to this site (Australian Stock Saddle Co.) The AUSTRALIAN STOCK SADDLE Co and WATCH the videos posted on there you can learn a ton about Aussie Saddles, how they fit, how to ride in them, etc. I HIGHLY recommend reading and watching videos from this site, you will learn a lot.
Yes they do sit forward a little more than a western saddle. I just got one but I need to get the some reflocking done on it, one side actually lifts up a little more than the other and my horse has a higher wither so I have to have more flocking for the gullet area.
 
#32 ·
Flank cinches/girths are primarily for roping. When the weight of the steer hits the horn, you need all the help you can get keeping the rear of the saddle down.

Also, many western saddles (we tend to call them 'saddles' in Arizona, and add a description to anything someone rides that is different from a normal saddle) are girthed/cinched with the cinch full forward. Most Circle Ys and some other brands have two D or C rings, allowing you to choose between full, 7/8th, or 3/4 rigging (see Your Complete Guide to Saddle Rigging for more info).

If you ride with a full rigged saddle, you may need a rear cinch to keep the saddle firm while riding on trails. The farther back the cinch/girth is, the less reason for one behind you.

Australian girths are basically English ones, with an overgirth replacing the rear billet strap. I'd guess it is about 5/8ths rigging, which means there is no reason for a rear cinch/girth. The horns found on some Australian style saddles aren't there for roping, and the saddle isn't a good design for it even if the horn is strong enough.

I have one Australian style saddle with a horn and rings for a rear cinch. I use the horn to pull the saddle forward on its rack, and put my hand next to it dismounting. I figure the rings in the rear could have a saddle bag attached, maybe. I have another, smaller Australian saddle from the same company (Down Under) that has neither horn nor rear rings. I miss the horn about 5 seconds of each ride. I don't give a rat's rear about not having the rear rings. Both are added to make those of us used to 'saddles' feel comfortable when riding some furin-style thingy...:lol:
 
#35 ·
Thats what I've always called them I wouldn't have known want someone meant if they said aussie saddle. I've also never seen or even heard of one with a horn before I came on here. I suppose you learn something new everyday.
 
#38 ·
In the early 90s, I was stationed near Oxford, England. The difference between American English and English English was brought home when I was buying some supplies for my kids for school. The lady helping said, "They'll need some rubbers."

I start puzzling over it. He was in the third grade, so condoms seemed unlikely. And it DOES rain a lot in England, but the lady didn't have any raincoats around.

Seeing my confusion, she added, "Erasers, I think you call them..."

Australian saddles. Stock saddles. Whatever...they are GOOD saddles, regardless!
 
#39 ·
I just put an order in for my australian from the AUSTRALIAN STOCK SADDLE CO. They have some amazing saddles, my friend has one and swears by it, I have ridden in hers and even though it is about an inch or two too big, it was still VERY comfortable.

The Australian Stock Saddle Co has the best that I have seen, they have excellent leather and as long as you keep it oiled (they say with their leather oil once a year) then it will keep forever. They also have a 1-10 year guarantee on their tree's depending on the saddle. I bought mine at an expo close to home and he said that they will give me two weeks after I receive it and if I dont like it they will allow me to send it back for a full refund. I really love them and the best part is they stand behind their product 100%.
 
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