Does anyone have any experience they would like to share with using an Australian saddle. I am thinking about buying one for trail riding my Arabian gelding. Any thoughts?
Posted 2006-02-27 9:53 PM (#37945 - in reply to #37943) Subject: RE: Anyone tried an Aussie saddle?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
Bought one for my husband and he loved it, back before his knees gave out and he couldn't ride. The little kids who were learning to ride liked it too, it gave them something to hang onto and I was able to adjust the irons up higher than I could the stirrups in my western saddle, so it fit their legs better. Need one????
Posted 2006-02-27 9:56 PM (#37947 - in reply to #37943) Subject: RE: Anyone tried an Aussie saddle?
Veteran
Posts: 114 Location: Mobile, AL
I had one that I loved, but it wasn't best for my horse so I ended up changing to another. The one I had did not have a horn. It was very comfortable on the trail.
Posted 2006-02-28 7:17 AM (#37956 - in reply to #37943) Subject: RE: Anyone tried an Aussie saddle?
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
My Aussie was very secure on the trail. Also had lots of places to attach gear to. No horn, meant jumping logs across the trail !! YaHoo !! Instead of Ouch !!
Posted 2006-02-28 4:01 PM (#37986 - in reply to #37943) Subject: RE: Anyone tried an Aussie saddle?
Veteran
Posts: 187 Location: KS
I've had mine for 10 years and love it. I've used it on arabians and quarter horses. I do use a crouper on it because we do a lot of mountain riding. Be sure and use an aussie girth not english. The english has elastic and someone told me they had a problem with it making it not as secure.
Posted 2006-02-28 9:03 PM (#38009 - in reply to #37943) Subject: RE: Anyone tried an Aussie saddle?
Veteran
Posts: 114 Location: Mobile, AL
I did feel very secure on mine also. I used it on an Appaloosa without problems, but I passed that horse along to my daughter and got a Missouri Foxtrotter that I could not get it to fit very well. I know others that do use them on gaited horses, but some can be a little more difficult to fit.
Posted 2006-03-01 10:42 AM (#38022 - in reply to #37943) Subject: RE: Anyone tried an Aussie saddle?
Veteran
Posts: 113 Location: Lyons Oregon
Make sure you get a good quality one and not a knockoff made in India. You want a quality tree and if it has a horn you want to make sure it is integrated into the tree and not something flimsy. Make sure that the panels do not need to be reflocked. I like the western crossover styles that have western style skirts that don't need to be reflocked. You'd be better off with a high quality used one then a new chinzy one but then that's true of all saddles. I didn't like the over-girth system and the saddle was just a little too odd for me.
Posted 2006-03-01 10:54 AM (#38026 - in reply to #37943) Subject: RE: Anyone tried an Aussie saddle?
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
I love my aussie. Or I did until my husband stole it from me. He decided that our appy mare is his and she is the one I had the saddle measured for. So now I get to buy a new (old?) one!!
Posted 2006-03-03 7:15 AM (#38173 - in reply to #37943) Subject: RE: Anyone tried an Aussie saddle?
Member
Posts: 24
Location: Celina, Ohio
I have owned numerous aussie saddles and loved them all. I have one now that our grandchildren ride in. "very secure seat" Also, if you find a good quality one to buy and it is rigged english, you can buy an adapter that will change it to western rigging for around 25-30 dollars. Happy riding. Ruth
Posted 2006-03-03 11:09 AM (#38193 - in reply to #37943) Subject: RE: Anyone tried an Aussie saddle?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: missouri
I ride an aussie most of the time... love it ! it is about eight years old now and still looks great... I bought it from Colin Danguard in California and ordered it with a wide-tree/western rigging/endurance stirrups/leather saddle bags and no horn... I also have a Tucker....use my aussie on longer rides (4-6 hrs)...it has been through water up to my thighs and everything else and I love it more all the time...it just sits right with the knee rolls and sort of a "dressage" seat... my legs and back never tire.
Posted 2006-03-03 7:24 PM (#38224 - in reply to #37943) Subject: RE: Anyone tried an Aussie saddle?
Veteran
Posts: 127 Location: PA
Thanks for all of your advice. I am seriously going to start looking for one. I like the aussie endurance saddles I have found on several web sites. They are 13 - 15 lbs and do not have the over girth on them, they are rigged with an english girth. I am afraid the over girth would rub on my legs. I may be in the market for a used one if it is in good shape.
Posted 2006-03-05 4:02 PM (#38285 - in reply to #38225) Subject: RE: Anyone tried an Aussie saddle?
Regular
Posts: 65 Location: Southern Il
I have rode my Quarter horse with it for a long time and loved it. It has a very secure seat, and not so wide for me as was my western saddle. Very comfortable an long trail rides. When I retired my Quarter horse I tried it on my TWH but it didn't fit her as well. (It had a quarter horse tree). My husband bought a bigger TWH and it fits great. A very comfortable saddle and held up very well. It was an original Aussie and not one of the cheap ones. It has the stuffed panels and I would get the sheepskin now if I were to buy another. Never had any problem with pinching anywhere. Good Luck
Posted 2006-03-06 7:22 PM (#38351 - in reply to #37943) Subject: RE: Anyone tried an Aussie saddle?
Regular
Posts: 70 Location: Louisville, KY
That is very true about not trying to ride in an Aussie with shorts!!I have had nothing but good experiences in them, using on many different breeds. It's the perfect "in between" saddle, IMO.
Posted 2006-03-07 4:15 PM (#38394 - in reply to #37943) Subject: RE: Anyone tried an Aussie saddle?
Veteran
Posts: 127 Location: PA
Any suggestions on good brand names and/or brands to stay away from? I am sure as with any saddle the price is comparable to the quality. Thanks again for everyone's imput.
Posted 2006-03-08 1:35 AM (#38416 - in reply to #37943) Subject: RE: Anyone tried an Aussie saddle?
Member
Posts: 7
Location: Seguin TX
Hi There,
I had 4 Aussie Saddles, The first one that I bought was a cheap one, no horn, from Chicks Saddlery, about $ 200 dollars, That was 11 yrs ago and I still us this saddle, it is in great shape and the most comfortable of the 4. It fits the round back Tenn. Walker gelding that I have with just a lite pad.And the 1/2 Foxtrotter 1/2 QH mare with just a thicker pad. The 2nd saddle fit the mare great, but not the gelding. This was a Syd Hill Saddle $2000. I just sold this one on E Bay. The other 2 are from Kate's Saddle Supply Both without horns, 1 is a Kate's Poley $ 150 and the other is the Kates Super Poley $250. All but the Sid Hill are considered by most to be the cheap Aussie saddles, but they have all held up well and fit the horses that I have as well as being very confortable to me and the horse. I bought the cheap one to start with cause I didn't want to spen the money for a high priced one til I know if that was what I wanted. I sold the high price one and kept the cheap ones. They work for me.
Anyone tried an Aussie saddle?
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I ride an aussie most of the time... love it ! it is about eight years old now and still looks great... I bought it from Colin Danguard in California and ordered it with a wide-tree/western rigging/endurance stirrups/leather saddle bags and no horn... I also have a Tucker....use my aussie on longer rides (4-6 hrs)...it has been through water up to my thighs and everything else and I love it more all the time...it just sits right with the knee rolls and sort of a "dressage" seat... my legs and back never tire.