NOW I get the Aussie thing...

[Jules]

I ordered an Aussie saddle from Down Under Web on Monday, with a custom wither tracing. It arrived Thursday - fast shipping even via ground - and I tried it on my boy that night. I really wasn't sure if it fit properly, having absolutely no experience with that sort of saddle, but it looked good. Yesterday, I tacked him up in it and rode for a half hour - I think both of us were trying to get used to the change because he was a bit fussy and didn't want to move out of a walk, and the stirrups were too long for me so I struggled a bit. However, I thought it was really comfortable and I was so hopeful it would work out.

Today, with freshly made stirrup holes and a nice breeze to keep the temperature below 90 at 8am, we tried again. My horse was still really unhappy about moving into a trot but I couldn't tell if that was the saddle, me bouncing around while I try and get used to a new riding position, or him just being as lazy as usual. So we opted for a trail ride, and two horses from the barn, who I'd not ridden with before, came with me and my mother. Apparently the saddle was just fine as my horse suddenly found sufficient energy to trot up hills and in deep sand and put in an almighty sideways then backwards spook when one of the new horses galloped up behind him. That's the sort of spook he did - and for the same reason - when I first had him, and I fell off and tore a rib muscle. This time, I sat glued in that saddle til he calmed down. I have never been so thrilled with a saddle before!

So I have to say - I get the Aussie thing. It's very comfortable, I love the way it moves on the horse, it's nice and secure with a deep seat, I really like how I ride much more English upright than Western laid back, and I've had plenty of compliments on it. And it's just the entry level saddle - not one of the higher end ones! I'm very glad I listened to the Aussie proponents on this board and gave it a try...

[SilverLexi]

Love mine also and for all the reasons you listed.

[seerfarm]

Yep....love mine for all the same reasons, and a few more. It does take a few rides for you to find that proper riding position but the relief it offers to the knees and your butt is wonderful.

I also found that my big guy was cooler and sweated less and for that he was happy!

[beckyp]

I have heard alot of nice things about Aussie saddles from different folks.

[rm185western]

Jules, did you choose one with a horn, or hornlesss??

Would love to see some pics of the new saddle

[NoniMe]

See, I toldya it was the closest thing to riding with a seatbelt...LOL.

Tango's favorite spook maneuver is the 'Duck and Dodge', wherein he leaps gracefully sideways, lowers himself to about 1/2 his normal height, and then dashes away. Bless his TB heart, those ghosties are vewy, vewy, scawy...

I use mostly english now, but will always pull out the Aussie if I think he's a bit wound up, or we're doing something he's not comfortable with - like trails - or something involving bursts of speed (like playday barrels)...he gets excited with those...

I've had offers on it, but have not sold it... it's my security blanket...and Tango's.

Nicely done, and yes, we need pictures (don't we always??)

Best-
Noni

[Lady_MCSE]

BTW, wouldn't it be really nice if there were some reputable seller who had an aussie available on a popular auction website?

(wink wink, I'm available by pm! wink wink)

[Logan-24-]

I tried riding in my Dad's old Aussie . That saddle was the hardest to get comfortable in. Needless to say I only rode in it once, but now with all the leg movement you can have I may just have to get another for gaming

[Jules]

I knew I shouldn't have posted without photos - I took my camera to the barn and completely forgot about it. I am not super sharp on Sundays, let's just say... I'll get some shots tomorrow and post them - I need some action shots of me riding to see what sort of position I'm getting myself into, anyway!

SilverLexi - it really was neat to experience everything people on here had told me I would. And in a good way!

Seerfarm - I have runner's knee so my Western saddle makes it sore pretty quickly. I rode for over an hour on Sunday, which is a long time for me in this heat, and didn't even notice my knees. My mother said I looked a lot more relaxed and balanced, despite the fact that I was sitting a lot more upright - I think riding English for so long as a child/teen had just made it easier for me than the Western style. I'm not sure if Romeo was cooler in this than the Western because I was using an English pad (got an Aussie on order now) and it was around 95 degrees so he was very sweaty anyway. But for once he was less wet than my mother's horse, who was literally dripping, so maybe this is good!

Beckyp - it was the suggestions of people here that I bought the Aussie and I am definitely grateful to them for all the advice they gave!

rm185 - I got a hornless one - two reasons - one, I wanted a saddle that was more English in styling, so no horn and the narrower stirrup leathers, and two, I got my shirt and/or bra caught on the horn so many times while trotting and loping in the Western saddle, it was totally unnecessary and indeed rather impractical!

Noni - reading of your experiences with Tango and how you felt secure in the Aussie was definitely a selling point for me. Romeo is about as bomb proof as they come but he is still a horse and therefore will still do "stupid horse" stuff. He very rarely spooks and it's usually a step or two sideways. This was only the second time he's really panicked with me on him. The first time, I was riding in an English saddle on the trail, it was windy as hell, and someone galloped up behind him - he didn't hear the horse coming but when he saw it, he shot sideways faster than I thought possible. I came off and landed on rocks - I tore a rib muscle, bruised the heck out of my back and hip, and impaled my helmet on a small rock. Had I not had that helmet on, the paramedics would have been pulling the rock out of the base of my skull. This time - we watched the horse galloping up the path and Romeo was fine, but he turned his head, lost sight of the horse, and then when it came up behind him - hello! Freak out, shot sideways, then backwards - but I never felt even remotely unstable, which is a testimony to both the saddle and my one-year-on riding ability...

Lady_MCSE - hopefully you'll get a buyer for your saddle who's as enraptured with their purchase as I now am!

Logan - I think transitioning from Western to Aussie is not easy, especially if you've never ridden English. I feel that the Aussie set-up is much closer to English than Western. Having said that, I know there are more Western-inclined Aussie saddles out there. I think Melissah on these boards purchased one that looks more Western than English and possibly it rides more Western too. I do love the more flexible riding style of the Aussie - the free-hanging stirrups make it so much easier on my knees and ankles, and the deep seat really helps me sit in a good position, right over my seat bones, instead of on the fat part of my butt! Also, as with all saddles, some are better than others. I've ridden in very uncomfortable English and Western saddles, and super-comfy ones - it's just trial and error, I think. Give it another try if you get chance - you may become a convert!

[Jean Genie]

We've got the "starter" model too and we're still lovin' it. I'm glad you're happy with yours .

[Crookedblaze]

The lady that leased Rocket bought him an Aussie saddle...

Oh Man. Was I in love. It was comfortable AND made me want to go and play man from snowy river.

[trinabug]

I have always wondered about them..I have english because all we did was show but now that I have started trail riding I was looking for a trail saddle but wasn't sure if an aussie saddle would be good for trails...I have been trying to find a good used saddle but my boy is still so young I hate to buy one and then it not fit him later so I just wait..I will look at some aussies too now they sound wonderful...I have a wonderful trooper saddle that I ordered from the omish but it is too long for my colt...

[foxtrottinCali]

I am so glad I saw this post! My husband has a bad knee, and I had read that Aussie saddles were good for this, but only read it on websites that sold the saddles. I was getting ready to ask you all if a real live person has had any personal experience with this, but did a HT search first, and found this thread. He sees how much I like my saddle, and thought he might want to try one, and telling him how it might be easier on his knee was a definite selling point!

[Jules]

I realize I still need to post pix, but I rode Saturday and forgot the camera, and had the camera Sunday but didn't ride. Figures, huh?

Jean Genie - I didn't want to spend a bundle on a high-end model and not like it, so I figured get the starter model and if I love it, set my sights on a higher-end one down the road. So far, oh yeah - we'll be upgrading at some point, though I have to say, for a "low" end model, this one is fantastic.

Crookedblaze - I need to Netflix that movie, having never seen it but now everyone who sees my saddle tells me about it. And yes, it's an incredibly comfy saddle, despite being an economy model. And I think my horse is getting used to it as he's moving more easily under it now - I think it shifts my position and weight from the Western saddle and it's taking some getting used to, on both our parts!

Trinabug - I think (and I should duck from the Western saddle lovers about to throw things at me!) that an Aussie saddle is better than a Western for the trails. All saddles, I believe, have their place but for trail riding, where you want security and comfort, I am loving the Aussie far more than my Western, which is a Circle Y and very good in itself. I find the more upright position of the Aussie is a lot easier on my back, hips and knees and on the trails I ride - which are very sandy and hilly - it just feels better to have that position. Most of the Aussie saddles from dealers (rather than eBay) can be adjusted in the tree and wither area to fit your horse and I know the Down Under saddle company will readjust the tree if your horse changes shape and needs a refit, so you might want to consider that. Also, they are shorter than most Western saddles in the skirt (I think it's called that) - my horse doesn't have a short back but I think the Aussie is a good 4-5 inches shorter than the Western I have. I know many people with shorter backed horses have gotten an Aussie just for that reason.

[NoniMe]

I have used our Aussie on each trail ride we've done, as I didn't know if Tango was going to be a beanhead or not. He does rush up the hills, and once had a mini-bucking fit when we were getting mugged by bugs...and I never once thought I was coming off. Make no mistake, I have come off in the Aussie, but that's been in the arena while on sharp corners...and it was rider error all the way.

I have been offered twice what I paid for my Aussie, but it's not going anywhere. Besides, I got such an insane deal on it that even at twice the cost, it wouldn't come near what it's worth. LOL.

Best-
Noni

[Jules]

Woo hoo! My Aussie saddle pad and breast collar have been delivered. I just hope the breast collar fits - we had to try four different Western ones before I found one big enough for my lug of a beastie.

foxtrottin - I always had knee pain when riding, even English, so I don't expect to lose all the soreness. However, I will say that riding in the Aussie with the free-swinging stirrups, rather than the much tougher fenders of the Western saddle, makes a world of difference in the pain level. I'm still getting used to the totally different position but so far, I am a huge fan.

Noni - I think the Aussie will be my go-to saddle for pretty much everything we do. Unless I decide to try my hand at showing - which isn't imminent this year! - I don't see the need for a Western saddle really. I haven't ridden in my English saddle in a long time due to the need for a feeling of security around my bum, though I might give it a try again when we're just schooling in the arena. But trails and gaming - oh yeah, it's the Aussie all the way!

[trinabug]

Originally Posted by Jules

I realize I still need to post pix, but I rode Saturday and forgot the camera, and had the camera Sunday but didn't ride. Figures, huh?

Jean Genie - I didn't want to spend a bundle on a high-end model and not like it, so I figured get the starter model and if I love it, set my sights on a higher-end one down the road. So far, oh yeah - we'll be upgrading at some point, though I have to say, for a "low" end model, this one is fantastic.

Crookedblaze - I need to Netflix that movie, having never seen it but now everyone who sees my saddle tells me about it. And yes, it's an incredibly comfy saddle, despite being an economy model. And I think my horse is getting used to it as he's moving more easily under it now - I think it shifts my position and weight from the Western saddle and it's taking some getting used to, on both our parts!

Trinabug - I think (and I should duck from the Western saddle lovers about to throw things at me!) that an Aussie saddle is better than a Western for the trails. All saddles, I believe, have their place but for trail riding, where you want security and comfort, I am loving the Aussie far more than my Western, which is a Circle Y and very good in itself. I find the more upright position of the Aussie is a lot easier on my back, hips and knees and on the trails I ride - which are very sandy and hilly - it just feels better to have that position. Most of the Aussie saddles from dealers (rather than eBay) can be adjusted in the tree and wither area to fit your horse and I know the Down Under saddle company will readjust the tree if your horse changes shape and needs a refit, so you might want to consider that. Also, they are shorter than most Western saddles in the skirt (I think it's called that) - my horse doesn't have a short back but I think the Aussie is a good 4-5 inches shorter than the Western I have. I know many people with shorter backed horses have gotten an Aussie just for that reason.

omg you have never seen the man from snowy river....you must be very young...i thought everyone my age wanted to grow up and marry him.....thanks for telling me about the adjusting part I had never heard of that...I will try to find someone in my area that has one I can try out....

[enelson]

I want an Aussie! Has to wait till I can afford to buy one though.

[David]

Jules, did you get the serge panels or fleece bottom on yours? I have always liked the seat in an aussie but I don't like the feeling of the serge panels between me and the horse. If you're not sure what I'm talking about there is s thread on here called Polocrosse and there are pics of people riding in aussies with fleece linings. Also, I wanted to say that my son's horse/the horse I'm currently starting and training looks a lot like your boy in color anyway...I'm glad you're happy with your new saddle, I know you debated a long time before you got it.

[trinabug]

ok now I am a lil confused...I like the room of a 17" western saddle but was told thats only a 15 in aussie...what size is yours and what do you usually ride in....