Saddles…

[TBigLug]

I’m looking into saddles for my girl. I want a Sydney Saddleworks Aussie saddle. I’d love a straight up western but can’t afford nor does Circle Y make a true draft horse one. We’ve used one with full QH bars before with some success but never seen a strict DH one. Anybody ever use one (S.S. Aussie)? What saddles do you use?

[grey]

I’m fortunate in that the draft mare I usually ride fits comfortably into a saddle with full quarter horse bars. She’s smaller-built; only about 1700 pounds and not real wide. The “draft” tree saddles are too big for her.

One thing to watch out for with the Aussie saddles is that often the ones built “for drafts” are constructed with the assumption that your horse doesn’t have much withers to speak of. If your horse does have withers, you’ll find that such a saddle sits right on top of em and will quickly rub them raw. A good-fitting Aussie saddle can be real comfy, though, so it’s worth looking into. Have you ever ridden in an Aussie? I’ve ridden in a few and I felt that they didn’t ride the same as a Western saddle. I don’t know if that’s an accepted fact or what, but I sure used different muscles riding in the Aussies versus the Westerns that I’m accustomed to. If you can, try to make an opportunity to ride one before you decide whether or not to go that route.

Sydney Saddleworks doesn’t use very good materials for their saddles, I’m afraid. They tend to use a lot of chopped-and-formed crummy India leather; the leather equivalent of bologna or particle board. Have you tried looking into having a local saddler construct you a custom saddle? Doesn’t have to be fancy. Custom saddles can actually be quite an economical option, especially if you have a horse that isn’t an off-the-rack size or shape.

[TBigLug]

I did look in to having a saddle made for her. Unfortunately, it was going to run over $1,500 and that’s WAY out of my price range. I don’t mind riding in cheap leather. I’ve never done much of any riding so I don’t have much to compare it to.

[TBigLug]

We do have a saddle with full QH bars we’re gonna try. It would open up my options a little if they would work. I’m 6’5 360 so it’s important it fits well and is well padded.

[TBigLug]

I did learn that Circle Y (my favorite brand) DOES in fact now make true draft sized saddles. Unfortunately they run the same distance out of my price range. Someday though. Sorry about the multiple posts. My phone limits my length.

[Tom S]

Try this site for a less expensive saddle. We have a couple of them and several other leather saddles. Some of our family prefer the Abetta for the setting.

http://www.buytack.com/products-saddles/act/20552.htm

[TBigLug]

@Tom S 21442 wrote:

Try this site for a less expensive saddle. We have a couple of them and several other leather saddles. Some of our family prefer the Abetta for the setting.

http://www.buytack.com/products-saddles/act/20552.htm

I’ll have to check them out. We just teste a Circle Y a friend of ours has for fit and it worked pretty good. Seats too small though. Too bad, I’d love a Circle Y for what she wants for it. I’ll probably buy it for a spare for Heather though so she doesn’t have to use her show saddle (Circle Y) for knock around farm duty.

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