aussie saddles

[petesmum]

ok i posted this already but nothing happened so ill try agian. so i will probably aquire a american saddle bred in the next few months and an looking at which kind and brand of saddle i should buy. i have rode english and western before. i am an inexperiences rider my knees can not handle the western styl as the stirrups are just to thick. i liked the english and was surprized at how comfortable i felt in it even in a really scary situation(my mount being kicked and bitten on the side of a mountain). she was an amazing show horse that is broke to death so that may be why i felt so comfortable in the english styl. i have been looking into the aussie stock saddles as i have read you sit deeper in the seat but more forward. i like the thigh swells(not sure of the real term) for the extra support as well that you can have english stirups. as a first time horse owner and inexperienced rider in would like a more secure ride than the english so this would be the way to go. have any of you had a aussie saddle and what were the pros and cons. also what aussie saddles are decent. right now i dont want to spend 2500 on a saddle

[evelynwolfe]

I ride in an aussie saddle, and I love it! Especially on trails. It does sit you slightly forward, but not as forward as a jump seat, and because of the high back and the knee braces (known as poleys) on the cantle area you feel completely glued into the seat. The only problem I have with it, is if you need to bail quickly you can't, however on the steep downgrades of some of the trails that are around here it's perfect. It also has enough rings on it that I can put almost anything on the saddle with me, my saddlebags, lead rope, extra halter etc all fit perfectly on my saddle, along with a rolled up rain coat. My horse seems to like it as well, it's well fitted to his back and when we come in from a long ride he doesn't have any sores or hot spots. Here's a site that can tell you more about the saddle, its uses and its reason for being designed the way it was. http://www.myhorse.com/gear/tack/aus..._tack.aspx#top Hope that helps!

[Valerie62]

I've always ridden with either a western or english (jumping/huntseat) saddle. This year I needed to find a saddle that fit my fluffy paint and liked the look of the aussie so I tried one on loan from a local tack shop to see how it would fit him. I ended up trading one of my spare western saddles for an aussie on tacktrader.com.

I LOVE IT! and so does Dakota. I never liked trail riding with a hunt saddle - just not comfortable or secure enough. I love my vintage Circle Y western but as you said sometimes western saddles can take a toll on your knees. I recently went on a four hour trail ride with the aussie and never felt any soreness. It's a very comfortable saddle and I too like the poleys for holding you in while going down steep hills. My aussie has a horn -- but they come without as well.

Sometimes you can have a problem with slipping, depending on the shape of your horse. My horse is very round and I had problems at first until I changed saddle pads. Now I have no problems with the saddle slipping, even during mounting.

You can probably pick up a saddle for around $500 or less. I'm sure there are some people who will say not to buy the cheap saddles but I think it depends on how much you use it. I'm sure my saddle is not top brand but it suits my needs just fine.

[petesmum]

yes since this is my first horse i dont want to spend thousands. after i really know what i want and what feels better for the both of us then i will spend the big bucks. thanks for mentioning tack trader there seems to be lots of decent stuff on there. i dont have to horse yet so i have yet to find out its size or my own seat size, so the purchase will have to wait until then. every body that has pleasure horses around here ride western so nobody has an assie to sell

[Amy]

Just be sure it fits well, my first saddle I bought for my paint mare was cheap and didn't fit well, and then I got an Aussie saddle that is very nice quality, but doesn't fit her at all. Fits my arab perfectly though. It's just not worth it to blow $250 bucks if the saddle won't fit, it will only need to be replaced and will cause problems for your horse. I would make sure to try any saddle out first. Good luck!

BTW, I do love my Aussie saddle, and I wish it fit my mare. I don't think I'll be selling it anytime soon, it fits my old arab and it is an exceptional saddle.

[Horselady44]

I love my aussie saddle! Its so comfortable!!! I got mine for $75!!! It was a steal. It fits my mare very well...but not so much my gelding...so yes...def make sure it fits your horse as well as you

[dymond]

I used to have an aussie saddle and I really did not like it. It "locked" me into the seat. And no, it wasn't to small, its just that it puts you in a position and keeps you in it. I suppose its safe, but I like to be able to move more. I'm used to treeless saddles, so my safe seat comes from being able to move with the horse and adjust my body accordingly. I just felt "claustrophobic" in the aussie saddle, for lack of better words.

I have a hard time with stiff western fenders as well. Many western saddle makers make pre-turned fenders, or really soft ones, now. You can also get the stirrups that are slanted, which make a HUGE difference on the knees (have those for my english saddle, as well) Love my treeless Bob Marshall, and have also ridden in a original Billy Cook with pre-turned fenders as well as a new Circle Y with the butter soft fenders. All 3 of those were comfy, had a great secure seat without making me feel trapped.

I would def. try the Aussie, before buying one. Its all about your comfort, different people like different things ...and saddles

[dixiesmom]

Originally Posted by Valerie62

Sometimes you can have a problem with slipping, depending on the shape of your horse. My horse is very round and I had problems at first until I changed saddle pads. Now I have no problems with the saddle slipping, even during mounting.

Not to hijack someone else's question, but what pad did you change to? I just got a used Aussie with a pad thrown in, but the pad is a very thin english style and aside from the girth being a bit large on Dixie, the pad doesn't even stay put to place the saddle on it and start tightening things up!! So a new pad will be needed. Also I know I've heard that you have to get converters if you want to use regular Western or English girths, but I swear it looks like the straps on both sides would fit right in a regular English girth. No, don't know what brand the saddle is - it's not a fancy one and I haven't looked at it closely enough to find a name. But it IS real leather.

[WickedNag]

Ditto what Dymond said. I have tried two... one cheaper Kimberly model and thought well maybe if I got an expensive one. The more expensive one was the Toowoomba Super Campdrafter. Didn't like either one

[Valerie62]

Originally Posted by dixiesmom

Not to hijack someone else's question, but what pad did you change to? I just got a used Aussie with a pad thrown in, but the pad is a very thin english style and aside from the girth being a bit large on Dixie, the pad doesn't even stay put to place the saddle on it and start tightening things up!! So a new pad will be needed. Also I know I've heard that you have to get converters if you want to use regular Western or English girths, but I swear it looks like the straps on both sides would fit right in a regular English girth. No, don't know what brand the saddle is - it's not a fancy one and I haven't looked at it closely enough to find a name. But it IS real leather.

I am using an equigrip pad made by Big Horn. It has a no-slip PVC bottom.

http://cowboywaywesternstore.com/tu79eqsopadw.html

(The above site is for visual purposes only)

[SouthernTrailsGA]

How about this Outback Type Saddle, available with or without a horn.






.

[sparkyharky]

I have an aussie that I got used for $40 at a local silent auction fund raiser. I have sat this saddle on another horse and liked it just fine but have yet to put it on my horse as I am still too heavy to ride her. I need a decent saddle pad for it as it didn't come with the pad. I also found that the stirrup buckles have to be down near your ankle or they put too much bulk under the thigh. Can't wait to use it on my own horse! Try the Down Under saddles..Kimberly are not terribly expensive although the one I really want is nearly three grand!

[scrapchick]

I have a Down Under Legend, it is very nice, good quality, and they shipped it per the wither tracing I sent them. These do sit further forward on the horse than a western saddle would. Down Under Saddle told me that a 1/2" thick pad is sufficient for these saddles, anything thicker is too thick. I bought both a wool felt and a fleece pad from them.

The western converter makes the whole works too bulky under my legs. I took it off and use a firehose girth, also from Down Under.

[Rednette]

I ordered a custom made saddle from Tony at Sycamore Creek Saddlery for my daughter's Paso. It was about $400 including stirrups, girth and G-string ( that's what we laughingly call it). It is a beautiful saddle, light and fits horse and rider great. He send me all the diagrams I needed to give him the correct info to build it to fit the horse best.

[rivervu2]

I had 2 aussies and didn't like either. I've ridden english my whole life and thought the aussie would be a comfortable, secure saddle to trail ride in. Both of them tended to roll alot on the horse's back and I could never get the girth tight enough. I also found dismounting to be tough because of the really high cantle. I sold both of them and bought a used Tucker trail saddle. It's the most comfortable saddle I've ever ridden in, even though it's western. I'm learning a new way to ride!

If you decide on an aussie I would highly recommend the type that SouthernTrailsGA posted about. I believe that they fit on the horse's back much better without the rolling side to side. You can get stirrup turners that will allow the fender to lie flat and only the stirrups turn. Much easier on the knees, especially if you get padded endurance stirrups. You're also better off buying a used, good quality saddle vs. a new cheap one. YOu'll get your money back if you decide to sell it and your horse will be much happier.

[Meandmypal]

I ride in my aussie and I love it. I bought it off of ebay for 250.00. It is a snowy river stock. I would have to say that after I had already ordered it I heard you could go to downundersaddles.com and they have a clearance section. Would have only been about 50 more to get a better quality. And you can send in a withers tracing so it will fit. Luckily mine fits my KMH. I have also noticed a big difference in her since I got the new saddle. The only thing I don't like about this saddle is as someone else said it seems to slip and I have to tighten the girth after about 10 mins riding.

[merleliz]

Love, love, love my Aussie. I rode in one once and was hooked. It's like having a saddle with seatbelts!