Hello again, further to my tack shop sell-off, and our imminent move, I have done a tackroom clear out too and I am selling my aussie stock saddle. I got it for my former mare but it is a bit big for my new little fjord. It is utterly comfortable, size 18", brown and black, with a proper overgirth and comes with stirrups and leathers too. It is not the most expensive model by any means but it is wider than most off-the peg stock saddles (hence choosing this model after a lot of research) and I have looked after it well and oiled it a lot. It is on the bon coin for €200 but the price is negotiable. the underside is blue serge and it has a horn. I got it after a few nasty falls and it is great for staying on, and you can rise to the trot in it too, always useful I think, despite the poleys. Please let me know if you are interested? You can see photos of the saddle here http://www.flickr.com/photos/93194803@N08/
Many thanks,
Hi, well my stirrup leathers (the aussie ones) would be ok, the seat size is the same as english saddles - if you know what size english you ride in that will be right, except that aussie ones only come in full sizes so if you ride in a 17.5" then 18" is right etc...
K
Thanks for that. I'll have a look and research. What concerns me a bit is the size of 18", as I'm only 1.58 "tall" and not too broad either (not thin though neither!)
When I contacted the Aussie specialists they said that an aussie saddle is basically an english saddle on steroids. The nearest comparison is with a dressage saddle, ie deep seat, ride long, except that it also has the ears/poleys/big knee roll things and horn to keep you stable, as well as a high seat back.
Sending it would be a challenge as it weighs a lot, but I could meet you half way at Narbonne maybe.
I would suggest asking around your area if you can try a dressage or stock or western saddle to see if you like it, and do some internet research to see what other people think about these?
I will have a look at postage.
keep me posted
K
HI Kitty,
Thank you for all the information. As I've never ridden anything but an English saddle, would this be a big change riding wise?
And do you think it would be possible to send it somehow, as we live in the Tarn-and-Garonne
Thank you
Kathrin
Hi Kathrin, I bought this saddle for my gypsy cob, who took a red wintec gullet minimum, ie pretty wide. When I decided to go down the australian saddle route I did masses of research and this model is the widest you can get without spending hundreds of euros ( or pounds or dollars in fact as you can't get widthed aussie saddles in france). It was great on my cob and width-wise it is also perfect on my little fjord, who is round as can be, it is just a bit too long for her as she is a very short model. I would have thought this would be perfect on a haffy, we also used it on a comtois mare and it was fine although the girth was a bit short. the girth should be ok on a haffy but if not I could help you find another as I am now expert on aussie suppliers - I have just bought a littler stock version from the US for my new mare. As for staying on, personally I will never go back to an english saddle now. After I swapped my gypsy cob for the fjord I used a wintec english, but another crashing fall, this time knocking myself out and breaking a rib (we were in a pony games competition at full gallop which is my excuse) has convinced me that I am too old to fall like this hence going back to the aussie saddle. There is no way i would have fallen off had I been in one that day. I find rising trot fine in one, and canter is basically the same as in a dressage saddle except that you are allowed to push your lower leg forward in these which is more comfortable too. The horn is great for holding on to and also for hanging all your stuff from.
Sorry for the ramble, yes I think this would be great for a haffy. You need a good pad underneath (I used a sheepskin half-lined standard english numnah or a "trail riding" saddle pad. in theory also the serge pads underneath give to the shape of the horse, but I didn't use it enough for that to happen before the new horse. The saddle comes with western stirrups (leather covered) and wide leathers but it can also be used with english leathers. If you buy this I can throw in you my flash dressage leathers (synthetic leather) which is what I used and I also have a brand new set of excellent aussie leathers and stirrups child length as my legs are short!! They are all brown to go with the saddle.
I really have to get rid of this, my new saddle is arriving this week and we are moving and i have NOWHERE to put this!!
Let me know what you think...and thanks for your interest
Kitty
HI Kitty,
Is the saddle still for sale and would it fit on a haflinger, which is not high, but slightly round? At the moment I have a Wintec which was recommended to me byt the former owner, due to the "arcon large". The fact that "it's great for staying on" appeals to me, especially for cantering on a hack.
Thank you
Kathrin