Well, I took a leap and drove to Denver to sit on Aussie saddles. Learned a LOT about them. I probably would have ordered wrong one. I bought a nice one, Snowy River one. One has to study the pros and cons of this all. They said I sat on more saddles than anyone! Now have to get some time off work with some decent weather to give it a real try out.

I too am considering this saddle and plan on doing some serious "sitting" on this and other saddles. I have had the traditional western saddles in the past but after long rides, they are not comfortable. So as I get older, comfort really sounds wonderful.

I have ridden in my aussie saddle for over 2 years now and I don't have a problem posting in it. So i guess it just depends on the person, horse and saddle on that topic. In fact I am doing alot of endurance prepping for my mustang and we trot a ton on the trails and you HAVE to post to his trot. lol. Anyways...just another piece of info i thought i'd throw out there...I can post in my stock saddle just as well as I can in my trooper and western saddles

Thanks Anne, That is helpful. I need to revisit the website of the CA company. I am used to riding English, especially my Passier dressage saddle. Need something more and promised myself a GOOD aussie saddle yrs ago. Time to do it. AS I am working in NM, getting to CA is not easy. I am seriously looking at driving to Denver and sitting on a bunch of saddles til I find the ONE that fits. As I ride more than one horse, will have to keep that in mind. It is such a challenge to find 'the ideal' saddle for trail riding and fitting to horse and rider. Mary Ann

Baskhana, I have a Sidney Hamilton,made in Australia which I got on Ebay used for around 150. It's about 600 new and I believe Kates sells it. It's really good good leather and has no horn and the blue wool stuffed panels. It's only around 20-22lbs and is made to fit a QH. It is very secure and deep seated and the poleys really keep you from nosediving if your horse gets spooked. But, as stated in an earlier post; can't post in it very well. I have a synthetic Aussie also with a wide tree that I got for my Haflinger to break him in, It's even lighter 18lbs and was 125 new. It's brown cordura with a wide leather patch where the stirrup leathers would rub. Has a suede seat which is very sticky and big poleys. It's an Outrider saddle. I don't really like cordura for a using saddle but this fit the bill for a breaking saddle as I had nothing wide enough and didn't want to use an expensive saddle for breaking. Of, course if you've got the bucks get something from Syd Hill or James saddlery both made in Australia and top of the line. Bates and Wintec have excellent Aussie saddles and Wintec has the adjustable tree with cair in synthetic and I think bates has leather with adjustable tree but don't quote me on that one?? Also, The Australian Stock Saddle Company out of California has excellent saddles and halfbreed Aussies that look more Western w/ and w/out horns. They do wither tracings and have an adjustable tree. Thet will fit the saqddle to your horse.I saw the owner do a demo at Equine affair. He's a hoot with his Aussie accent and you learn alot. He's a true professional who has an excellent product.

Most Australian "style" saddles on the US market are made on the sub continent. The cost to make in materials and labour is similar to making an english or western saddle. Having said that the labour cost to have someone in Pakistan make a saddle is not going to be the same as if a saddle is made in either Australia or the US. They have improved on the quality in recent years but if you see a saddle of any style for $299 then alarm bells should be ringing. Traditionally a well and properly made Australian stock saddle is made on a webbing suspended seat. This means your butt bones should not contact wood. The panel (padding) should be lined with serge and stuffed with wool,hair or a combo of each. The material lining and stuffing are all natural fibres to allow it to breathe. After a while the padding will mould to the shape of the horses back. When it packs down hard it should then be "counterlined" this is another layer of soft stuffing under a new lining. This is then repaired/replaced for the rest of the saddles life and maintains the slightly springy softness. The panel can also be adjusted to allow for any seasonal changes in the horses conformation. Additionally the Australian saddle has an air channel from pommel to cantle.

If anyone has specific Aussie saddle info, both good and bad and with the name of the specific saddle, it would be helpful in my quest for one.

If anyone has specific Aussie saddle info, both good and bad and with the name of the specific saddle, it would be helpful in my quest for one.

If anyone has specific Aussie saddle info, both good and bad and with the name of the specific saddle, it would be helpful in my quest for one.

Bask, I've had an Aussie (english style) for about 20 years. I switch on and off with my western saddles, depending on the type of riding I'm doing. I originally bought it to use when I started the stallion under saddle. I wanted a light weight, no horn, and stirrup irons I could kick out of in case I needed to bail off in a hurry to avoid injury. I also used it on long trail rides, and when I am starting a horse under saddle. It's well made and I've had no problems with soreness on any of the horses I used it on. I use it with a fleece english style pad. Jacquie