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.
I have one of those saddles and it is lovely and very comfortable for long trail rides. I have only two complaints with it, and they are not really complaints so much as "FYIs":
1. Mine did not come with pads for the stirrup irons. They are slippery if you try to ride in the "bare metal" stirrup irons so I had to get some pads on eBay. (Item 150228315780 is similar to what I got.) I am not sure now if stirrup iron pads are included, or if perhaps Horse.com has them available as an accessory.
2. Aussie saddles are supposed to sit farther forward on the horse. To keep mine in the proper position I needed to get a breastplate for it. I also use a piece of non-slip shelf liner stuff (you can pick it up at the supermarket for like $4 a roll) in between the horse and the pad and then in between the pad and the saddle.
Many of your reasons for looking at the Aussie were my same reasons for wanting one. I think you will really like it.
I ride in one, so does my wife and son. We have no issues but make sure you have a breast collar for it. My wifes tends ot slip back but not the other two. I believe the horse shape (hers) has something to do with it. I had ridden in hers and did not like it, but found another one and put my Tucker Gen II on the saddle rack. I really like the one I have now.
I just bought one this month that looks exactly like that one! Only the stirrups arent metal.
My friend rode in one for years, but sold it because the position it puts you in would throw her hips out, but that's not with everyone of course.
I really like them because of the kneepads & it puts you in more of an english-rider position (even though i ride western). You can also get girth converters if you prefer a western cinch, which i do.
One thing i dont like is that the stirrups dont train very well so it's not as easy to just slip your toe in. The rings & everything are really nice too. I love how they're little horseshoes
I also ride western, but I rode english so long (when i was a kid, I couldn't get the western one on my horse, lol) that I have more of an english seat anyway. I'm more of a crotch sitter, than a butt/tail bone sitter. Even just in a chair, so that is another reason I think an Aussie would be good. Plus, as I said, as far as a fully leather saddle, it's going to be lots lighter than most western ones, which is what i want. Why add the excess weight on the trails?
We have four and they are lighter than the western saddles we have. My youngest son says he feels out of place since he rides in a barrel racing saddle. SO I am going to have to let him try the fourth one....
My husband and I both switched from western saddles to the australian saddle. We love them for trail riding, they are so comfortable and the deep seat makes us feel so secure. I grew up riding english, which I love but the shorter stirrup makes my knees hurt. To me, the australian saddle is like an english saddle with longer stirrups and a saddle horn, so it's perfect.
So how many of you have the horns? I was thinking it would be good for trails... I sometimes tow a horse & its always nice to have the horn to pit the line on while we are taking a (mounted) break. Not towing on the horn of course. Man, I'd be cut in half! Lol
I have only sat in one once and it felt "wierd" to me. Don't you find that you get pinched or rubbed in intimate places by those heavy straps that go over the top , right where you put your "precious"?
Also, if the saddle slides back a lot, then I would think it was not a good fit.
I just got my second one. My first doesn't have a horn, but it is a bit small for me (fine for my wife & oldest daughter). The new one that I used for the first time today does have a horn (mine, BTW, is in black).
Both weigh about the same as our Circle Y. However, both our horses have such short backs that it is hard to find western saddles where the bars of the tree don't go too far back.
I love them for the way they ride. My new one feels almost identical to my Bates AP english saddle from the front of the thigh back. However, it has the poleys (sp?) and a small horn, both of which I liked - the horn because I'm used to using them when dismounting. And I have more confidence that I'll stay in the saddle regardless with the Australian saddle.
I thought Australian saddles were supposed to put your feet farther forward, but my new one puts them about where the AP saddle does.
Also - it took a while for me (and our horses) to get used to the Australian cinch, but now I like it. The overgirth is under me, and I don't notice it.
Mine has the horn, but that was just luck of the draw with me as it was the only one i could find when i was looking that was a brand name but in my size.
I'm not a fan of the english girth but my friend says i'll get used to it lol. If not, i'll just get converters!
Be careful with buying any cheap leather saddle. The leather is often stiff and won't wear well. The trees can come warped out of the box, or warp/crack with age. The one on horse.com made by downunderweb.com is a bit better than the cheap eBay Asian-made specials, but they are still "imported." You have to take extra care to keep the saddle clean and conditioned, and inspect it regularly for wear. If you slack off of keeping the saddle in good working order and the leather conditioned well, then you take the risk of having it become damaged and needing to buy a new one.
Be careful with buying any cheap leather saddle. The leather is often stiff and won't wear well. The trees can come warped out of the box, or warp/crack with age. The one on horse.com made by downunderweb.com is a bit better than the cheap eBay Asian-made specials, but they are still "imported." You have to take extra care to keep the saddle clean and conditioned, and inspect it regularly for wear. If you slack off of keeping the saddle in good working order and the leather conditioned well, then you take the risk of having it become damaged and needing to buy a new one.
I have one of those cheap Aussie saddles hanging in my barn covered with dust. The leather feels like cardboard
I have a semi Aussie saddle. Clinton Anderson sells them on his site with and without a horn. They are made for him by Martin saddlery and are very nice. I prefer no horn.
I really like my Aussie saddle. I use endurance stirrups. It is super comfortable and practically impossible to fall out of! Although if I'm not riding my horse in my Aussie saddle I'm riding a well mannered school horse in a treeless dressage saddle so it's all relative I guess.
I have a Down Under Wizzard Poley I got used on ebay. It is really nice quality. The company is great to deal with too, before I bought it I called them to confirm that the woman selling it on ebay was, in fact authorized to sell their saddles and they knew her right off the bat and highly recommended her. They also told me that I could send the saddle to them to have it adjusted if it didn't fit my horse. There are A TON of knockoffs of brand name Australian saddles on ebay for some reason so you have to be careful!
I did a ton of research before I bought this one and if I hadn't found my Wizzard Poly I probably would have gotten one from The Australian Stock Saddle Co. The AUSTRALIAN STOCK SADDLE Co Just be careful if you look for one of those on ebay though, 99% of those seem to be fakes.
I've ridden with and without a horn. While it is nice to have a horn sometimes, I have managed to catch a bra strap/coat on it once or twice,lol. I actually wanted an Aussie but I couldn't find one to fit Jack, he's ridiculously short backed and also has low withers and a flat back so it took some experimenting to find something that fit. I ended up having to take him to a saddle maker and have him fitted.
Stock saddles do NOT sit further forward than any other saddle. Every saddle needs to sit behind the scapula so as not to restrict shoulder movement - A stock saddle is no different. It may look different due to the different cut compared to a western saddle, but the tree MUST still clear the scapula. If you need a breastplate to keep it forward it is probably struggling to settle in the right spot!
I have a breastplate with my stock saddle but that is only because I feel it completes the look - it serves no usefull purpose for me. Since i've been using my stock saddle on my little pony as well i've just taken it off.
I love Aussie Saddles! I have an 18" Down Under Wizzard Poley with a horn that is practically brand new (I used it for 4 months) and an 19" synthetic Kimberly Stock Saddle.
I bought the 18" last Christmas Eve and got it around New Years. It is very comfortable and I bought the woolie leggings to keep the saddle in the best condition possible and the suede stirrup pads. I got the matching breast strap The black one doesn't have all of that but they are both extremely comfortable.
Unfortunately they don't fit my new horse very well and the more weight and muscle he puts on the tighter it gets! That really bites because they are extremely comfortable on my knees and my backside. I can ride for hours without getting sore anywhere.
I have ordered a new plantation saddle for my horse - I love the Aussie but have decided to switch to a more western look but am keeping the same type stirrups - they can't be beat!! If I didn't have too, I wouldn't be purchasing a new saddle!! Aussies are terrific.
When I use my husband's Aussie saddle, I do get pinched in my upper thighs by the overgirth, but when I use mine, I don't! I can't imagine what the difference is!
I just got one. In the mail. I am going to ride in it tonight for the first time. If it was any other saddle it seems to fit. No rubs on the back bone,etc. But the girth seems huge. Even though its smaller than my English 46in. It's up all the way & still too big. I even double padded. My western pad & my English one too. And it is super hard to get it tight in the first place.
Could you guys please show some pics of your horses tacked & girthing pics too? Thanks so much. I will let y'all know how the ride goes. I am trying it out on my mare, who is broke... my 4 year old has gotta wait til I get something tighter figured out. Lol. He still bolts sometimes. Posted via Mobile Device
FWIW, my horses use a 44-46 English girth, a 28-30 western, and a 30 Australian, although all of those could vary with the exact saddle and manufacturer. For girthing them, I use the front billet to hold the off side just overlapping the flap, and then adjust the overgirth so the D ring on the near side is halfway down the flap. I tighten the saddle on using the overgirth, the attach the front billet on the near side to match.
This isn't completely accurate (the D ring should be lower), but it shows how the overgirth straps up:
FWIW? Sorry, I am really not up on my short hand net lingo. Lol. My rigging looks nothing like that. It is just like English. One strap closer to the shoulder & the second strap is the overgirth.
FWIW = For What It's Worth. Some Australian-style saddles use English girthing, or an overgirth with billets on both sides. More typically, they use an Australian girth, that works like shown. The nice part is that a single pull both tightens the girth AND pulls the saddle down.
I have ridden in two Aussies, one with a horn and one without. I loved riding in them both. They belonged to friends of mine. I loved them both, but more so the one with the horn. One of the saddles had western type stirrups and the other had english irons. I preferred the western type stirrup.
I'll need to get a different Overgirth, and also a new girth that has a flap thing on it (like BSMS showed in the pic) The overgirth that came with my saddle just has holes on each side, makeing the rigging under the saddle just like English.
Both of mine have over-girths. I rode this past weekend and my horse shook several times from head to toe like my former horse did when we had saddle fit issues. He is filling out and the saddle left dry spots on both sides. I called Down Under and they may be able to adjust the stuffing which is wonderful!
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