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Questions Australian Saddles

6K views 45 replies 14 participants last post by  DraftyAiresMum 
#1 ·
Hey everyone! I'm new to this (the forum and the tack :lol:)and have a few questions!
My English saddle doesn't fit my horse anymore so I'm getting a new one and decided to switch to Australian saddles.
I've been researching and found the Down Under Wizzard Poley and I'll be getting that one.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this saddle?
Also I've never ridden in this type of saddle and where I live no one uses them and I just want to know if there's a big difference from english to aussie?
And my last question is about the barcoo bridle.
My horse has a relatively big head and sometimes throws his head and I was wondering if the extended type bridle would be better for him?
If anyone can help me out, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!
 
#2 ·
I've got the DownUnder Master Campdraft. My butt can't tell any difference between it and my Bates Caprilli AP saddle. The flaps are longer, but other than that it feels the same to me. Eyes shut, I'd be hard pressed to tell which was which.



When the horse hits the fan, I'd much rather be in an Aussie saddle than English. I first bought one after an injury left me barely able to climb onto a horse. On several times in the weeks that followed, my horses would spin and leap in reaction to something, and I stayed on. The poleys (mickey mouse ears) will keep your hips aligned with the saddle even if you're half out of it.
 
#3 ·
I've got the DownUnder Master Campdraft. My butt can't tell any difference between it and my Bates Caprilli AP saddle. The flaps are longer, but other than that it feels the same to me. Eyes shut, I'd be hard pressed to tell which was which.
That's a good thing because I really don't want to regret buying it!
But everything I've read says they are so comfortable so I'm optimistic.
And I think they just look really nice on a horse.
Your's is really nice and it looks great on the horse.
 
#4 ·
I loved my aussie saddle...everything except the longer panels. I felt like I couldn't feel the horse. However, that was when I first got into horses and I would probably feel a whole lot different now. Mine was custom fit to my horse after I sent them wither tracings. It was very well padded for the horse and accomidated her high withers. It fit my butt wonderfully. It was like riding on a leather lazyboy.
 
#7 ·
I bought the saddle because I couldn't find one single saddle in the tack stores or otherwise that would fit her withers. She was also quite narrow in the shoulder at the time. I really did love it.

I know nothing about bridles though......hmmmmm. She had an english headstall at the time with a d-ring copper roller snaffle.
 
#6 ·
I ride endurance, and have been trainign hundreds of miles in a Kimberly superior and a Kimberly trailmaster, recently I decided I had to have an endurance saddle, bought a circle Y, rode in it 3 whole miles and boxed it up and returned it. The trailmaster was like sitting in a lazyboy, compared to that endurance saddle that felt like sitting on a fence rail.
Pads, girths, saddlebags and assorted what not can be a pain in the but because not much available and most doesnt quite fit. What kinda riding are you gonna do and waht kinda gear do you need.
 
#8 ·
Pads, girths, saddlebags and assorted what not can be a pain in the but because not much available and most doesnt quite fit. What kinda riding are you gonna do and waht kinda gear do you need.
I can imagine the aussie being more comfortable since I really don't like western saddles. :lol:
Where I live we don't even have saddles of this type!
So I have to get everything when I order the saddle. That's just my main concern, that I won't like it.
I'll mostly be doing trail riding. From what I see on other people, they just use a blanket of some sort so I guess i'm going to do that too.
The girth comes with the saddle and i'll be getting a crupper, breastplate and the bridle. Still not sure about the extended part on the bridle.
And I saw some cool saddlebags too and sometimes I need them for my lunch!
 
#9 ·
you dont need that headstall, just use what you have always used or get one local. I have also never needed a crupper. Pretty much any endurance breastplate will work. You will need a special pad or blanket. English and western ones dont work. Not sized right. Get one when you order the saddle from downunder. Like the trail rider comfort, with bags.
 
#15 ·
I had a leather Down Under Wizard Poley and a Kimberly Stock synthetic for my horse Red. Kept it after I got another horse. It didn't fit him well when he put on weight (underweight when I got him) and I sold it to my eternal sorrow when I ordered another saddle. When I put him in FIT condition, I know that would have fit him. I ordered another Kimberly saddle - I LOVE Aussie saddles - they are very comfortable and secure feeling. I have had both the horn and hornless. I am in the Wizard Poley in the avatar picture. They are very nice people to deal with at Down Under
 
#16 ·
Navajo blankets and most English pads are fine for most pleasure riding. If you plan on endurance racing, you would probably need more complete coverage, but you can certainly get away with using them to save money as you figure out what you need or don't need. I bought an 'Australian' pad from DownUnder years ago, but gave up using it within a few weeks. It now sees service as a pad for the saddle when my saddle in on its rack in the bedroom...
 
#27 ·
...Goal is to complete Tevis might take me awhile but I'll get there.
Impressive goal! Good luck to you. Did a 6 mile ride today. Got suckered into trying a trail none of us knew, and the aerial photos I saw didn't do justice to some of the up & down spots. I had to lead my mare part of the way because she hadn't seen slopes & rocks like that before. At one point my wife fell while leading our Appy, and the slope caused her to roll into a gully under him. Happily, he didn't move a muscle. When she crawled out from under him, she just sat on the path for a little bit and he STILL didn't move - just nuzzled her as if to say, "It's OK, I'll wait until you are ready".

Then some people were shooting rifles without a backstop. I didn't turn back at the first warbling winging sound, but after 5 and with a lot of ground left to cover, I decided a retreat was in order. So we doubled back and went cross country, which my mare had never tried before. There was no water out there, and it was 103 degrees. To be honest, it kicked my 54 year old butt!

I can't imagine the Tevis...:shock: :wink:
 
#33 ·
Sounds about right in size, Id go up one, but they are pretty good and know what they are doing. I am on the line between a 19 and 20. They recommend a 19 for me, and was pretty spot on. My next one will probably be a 20 as I will add a merino cover.
 
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