Hi I’m new and sure this is correct category to be posting in but I’m looking for advice on purchasing an Australian saddle. I’m 65 and looking for a saddle for my quarter horse that will feel comfortable and secure. I heard Aussie saddles were great so looking for advice on good quality brands\ models and any other helpful hints for purchasing. Horn or no horn and what type fenders as some have options of English western or Australian. Thank you for any help and advice!
There are some very cheap Australian saddles out there that are not particularly high quality. My friends bought one that is apparently inherently asymmetrical.
I’ve found the type utterly unsuited to my conformation. They are “blister rigs” for me and I swear at them. I have some friends who swear by them because of their comfortable fit. Go figure. 
Before you commit to ANY particular style of saddle go try and find an example to ride for a lesson or short trail ride or something like that. If you think it will work for you then try for a longer test. When there were lots of local tack shops this was not such a chore. Today it can be Holy Grail.
The internet has made shopping for what you KNOW you want a lot easier. It’s made actually KNOWING what you want a LOT harder.
The first question you have to ask, however, is “what am I dong to do with this horse and what saddle will be most appropriate to that task?” Then find a style that fits the task and a size that fits you AND the horse.
Good luck in your search.
G.
Like English and Western saddles, Australian saddles come in many sizes and shapes, seat depth, width, etc. Like English and Western saddles some will not work for some people.
I had one for my first horse. I sold it when it became obvious that it wasn’t going to fit either of the next two horses, and a friend was looking for one.
I have owned several Australian saddles over the years and in general, I like them. Avoid the cheap ones on Ebay. Good ones will be priced comparably to good saddles of any type.
As far as all the options go, it really is mostly just a matter of what you like. James Saddlery in Australia has a pretty good explanation of these options. You’ll have to filter out the bits that are just promotion for their saddles and the language is Australian, so you’ll find some unfamiliar terms, but there is some good info there.
https://jamessaddlery.com.au/advice/choosing-a-saddle/ and https://jamessaddlery.com.au/advice/suit-you/
The design choice that really DOES matter is whether you go with a saddle that is built on a tree that is more like an English saddle, with flocked panels, or on a tree like a western saddle. Most of the horses/mules I’ve used Australian saddles on have been the more rolly-polly type - I used to describe one of them as a 55 gallon drum with legs. I found that the western type tree fit those equines better. I also used to have a narrow, more slab sided mule and the English type tree worked well on him.
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OP, like you, I’m in my 60s and I ride a quarter horse. I have a Steele Frontier Trail saddle that I dearly love. I can sit in it all day and my knees never hurt, and it fits my horse like a glove. And it’s a secure saddle–it’s kept me on a couple of times when I know another saddle would have dumped me. I don’t know if you’re familiar with Steele, but they make custom saddles and can make an Aussie saddle to your specifications if that’s what you want. My trail saddle puts you back a little in the seat, like an Aussie saddle, so it feels different from more typical western saddles. And they will send you a demo saddle to ride for a couple of weeks to see if you like it. Check them out at https://steelesaddle.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/SteeleSaddle/
