Does anyone use english leathers with their Aussie saddle? Do you use the regular kind, or the Wintec kind where the buckle’s on the bottom, by the stirrup iron?
I just got a new Aussie saddle (OMG I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! :D:D:D), and I’m thinking of switching out the western fenders for regular english leathers.
Also, does anyone have experience with how puffy the flocking is with new Aussie saddles? It ALMOST seems like my Aussie is slightly too narrow, but I swear it’s just the flocking is just so… puffy! Will it settle over time, or should I consider getting a saddler to remove some of the flocking?
If the saddle ever needs work by a saddler, who would be a better bet, a western saddler or english saddler?
My first aussie saddle had english style leathers. The buckle was located about midway between the stirrup iron and the attach point on the saddle.
And yes your flocking will pack down some, conforming to your horse. I wouldn’t have any removed until you have put some hours on it (go with a english saddler for adjustments). If your tree is to narrow you horse will let you know.
Who is the manufacturer of your saddle?
[QUOTE=Mersy;2802288]
My first aussie saddle had english style leathers. The buckle was located about midway between the stirrup iron and the attach point on the saddle.
And yes your flocking will pack down some, conforming to your horse. I wouldn’t have any removed until you have put some hours on it (go with a english saddler for adjustments). If your tree is to narrow you horse will let you know.
Who is the manufacturer of your saddle?[/QUOTE]
That’s what I was thinking, I don’t THINK it’s too narrow, because she was acting just like she does in her english saddle, which I know fits her. We’ll see after some more time and some more strenuous rides.
The manufacturer is Sydney Saddleworks, bought it through Frontier Equestrian. :yes:
I have some wide-ish english style leathers on one of my saddles, the buckle is down by the stirrup and is covered by a sleeve of leather (don’t know what it’s called offhand)
[quote=sublimequine;2802167] Also, does anyone have experience with how puffy the flocking is with new Aussie saddles? It ALMOST seems like my Aussie is slightly too narrow, but I swear it’s just the flocking is just so… puffy! Will it settle over time, or should I consider getting a saddler to remove some of the flocking?
[/quote]
Oh it will settle over time, and start fitting your horse like a glove If you haven’t already, you need to look into maintenance like “awling” which you need to do when it starts to settle too much.
[quote=sublimequine;2802167] If the saddle ever needs work by a saddler, who would be a better bet, a western saddler or english saddler?
[/quote]
Neither, get someone who knows aussies! They are their own breed apart :yes:
[QUOTE=spookhorse;2802815]
I have some wide-ish english style leathers on one of my saddles, the buckle is down by the stirrup and is covered by a sleeve of leather (don’t know what it’s called offhand)
Oh it will settle over time, and start fitting your horse like a glove If you haven’t already, you need to look into maintenance like “awling” which you need to do when it starts to settle too much.
Neither, get someone who knows aussies! They are their own breed apart :yes:[/QUOTE]
This is probably a stupid question, but how long will it take before the flocking starts settling and forming to my horse? I don’t weigh very much, so I don’t really help out much in the ‘squishing’ process. :lol:
[QUOTE=sublimequine;2803024]
This is probably a stupid question, but how long will it take before the flocking starts settling and forming to my horse? I don’t weigh very much, so I don’t really help out much in the ‘squishing’ process. :lol:[/QUOTE]
Probably not too long, couple of weeks maybe? Depending on how much you ride and how much the horse sweats. The saddles are designed to not use a saddle pad (or nothing more than a thin towel) so that the process of the horse sweating and moving conforms the saddle flaps and flocking to the horse’s back.
[QUOTE=spookhorse;2803065]
Probably not too long, couple of weeks maybe? Depending on how much you ride and how much the horse sweats. The saddles are designed to not use a saddle pad (or nothing more than a thin towel) so that the process of the horse sweating and moving conforms the saddle flaps and flocking to the horse’s back.[/QUOTE]
Ah, okay. I’m using a super-thin Dressage pad right now, I’m assuming that would be okay? I’d like to keep the underside of the saddle clean if at all possible.
Yay, so glad you love your new saddle!! That’s good news! I wondered how you would like it
I have a flocking question for the experts - why do Aussie saddles seem so densely flocked? I tried two different ones for my Arab and that flocking was rock hard and packed so tight, I was afraid of back soreness. Obviously - if I’d like the aussie style enough to buy one of them, I’d have had the flocking redone. But I couldn’t get used to the big thigh wingie things. I had some really nasty bruises.
[QUOTE=Auventera Two;2803611]
Yay, so glad you love your new saddle!! That’s good news! I wondered how you would like it
I have a flocking question for the experts - why do Aussie saddles seem so densely flocked? I tried two different ones for my Arab and that flocking was rock hard and packed so tight, I was afraid of back soreness. Obviously - if I’d like the aussie style enough to buy one of them, I’d have had the flocking redone. But I couldn’t get used to the big thigh wingie things. I had some really nasty bruises.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I am really really happy with my purchase. $300 is a lot of money to me (I’m poor :lol: ), but for a saddle you worry about quality at that price. But it is REALLY a nice saddle. The leather is soft, granted a bit stiff from being new and not broken in yet, but really not bad at all.
Mine is super-densely flocked as well, but not hard at all. It’s like a gigantic sponge on the bottom. :lol:
The thigh things are called kneepads (I think!), and I actually kinda like having em. Added security, and I’m basically using it as a western saddle, so I don’t post or get up into a 2-point anyways.
Here’s some photos! Tell me what you think about the fit. It also fits quite a bit closer to her back when I’m actually in the saddle, which I was surprised at because I’m not real heavy.
It’s probably okay, but if you get any slippage while riding, lose that pad and go to a thin saddle towel (like what they use on racehorses)
I used to use a saddle towel, but my mare has no withers and it just worked it’s way out the back as she gaited along so I quit using it :lol: Yes, I have to do a little more cleaning on the panels, but it’s better than Belle spooking from the towel flying off her butt! They also make sheepskin pads which fit an aussie and have slits to run the bottom panels through, but they are pretty expensive so…
If you tried used saddles, then they were tight probably because the owner was not awling the saddle panels on a regular basis. When they get tight and hard and the saddle is coming down too far on the horse’s withers, it’s past time to awl. I do it a couple times a year and it’s tedious, but I sit there with a good show on the tv and take care of it when I’m doing a deep clean on my tack.
If you are getting hit by the thigh located “wings” (they are called “poleys”) then the saddles you are trying are too small seat-wise for you. You should have a couple inches of parallel clearance between your thighs and the poleys. When you rise in your saddle, you may get some contact, but unless it is sudden due to an unexpected jolt, spook, or fall, you shouldn’t be getting enough hard contact for bruising! If you feel cramped in the saddle, go bigger
Looks like you need to pull it up on her withers a touch more, it’s sitting a little far back. Probably why it’s going down on her withers more than you expect.
[QUOTE=spookhorse;2804841]
If you tried used saddles, then they were tight probably because the owner was not awling the saddle panels on a regular basis. When they get tight and hard and the saddle is coming down too far on the horse’s withers, it’s past time to awl. I do it a couple times a year and it’s tedious, but I sit there with a good show on the tv and take care of it when I’m doing a deep clean on my tack.
If you are getting hit by the thigh located “wings” (they are called “poleys”) then the saddles you are trying are too small seat-wise for you. You should have a couple inches of parallel clearance between your thighs and the poleys. When you rise in your saddle, you may get some contact, but unless it is sudden due to an unexpected jolt, spook, or fall, you shouldn’t be getting enough hard contact for bruising! If you feel cramped in the saddle, go bigger
Call me stupid, but what is awling? What does it do? Should I be awling my new saddle?
And I see now, both of the folks who posted pics of their horses in their aussies, your guys’ saddles are much further forward on the horse than I had Joy’s. I get so paranoid about giving her shoulders room, I have a habit of putting the saddle TOO far back. I do the same with my english saddle.
Do you guys think it will fit, after seeing it on her, and the gullet?
AND I’m glad to report, I rode in it again tonight, and was able to post flawlessly! The poleys were in the PERFECT position. Gave me security, but don’t get in the way when I post. I swear, this saddle was custom-designed for my boney butt. :lol:
Ohh good, what good news that you had another good ride in it! You’re right, it’s probably just what you needed. Thanks for the info spookhorse. Aussie saddles have always been a bit of a mystery to me! :lol:
[QUOTE=Auventera Two;2805306]
Ohh good, what good news that you had another good ride in it! You’re right, it’s probably just what you needed. Thanks for the info spookhorse. Aussie saddles have always been a bit of a mystery to me! :lol:[/QUOTE]
I’m still learning about it myself. It took me like 30 minutes to figure out how to get the stirrups adjusted to my length. :lol:
I worry about shoulders too, esp as both my horses are gaited, but neither horse has an issue with gaiting in my saddles and neither saddle is “gaited” specific. But I find that if the saddle is too far back, that I start to get attitude from the horses that the saddle is not in the right place!
Awling is regular maintenance on the panels. When the panels start to get hard and the saddle is coming down on the withers, then it’s time to hit it Like I said, I do it every six months or so when I do a deep cleaning.
Okay, how to explain the process?
Tool: I use a small hand awl which is made to punch holes in leather. You could also use an ice pick which has the point ground down to rounded.
First I sit on the floor with my back to the couch and have the saddle with its gullet on the floor and its seat towards my chest.
I then start at the top of one of the panels (which is the saddles rear) and insert the awl through the wool fabric, which you’ll notice is a fairly loose weave. You just kind of use a turning hand motion to twist the awl’s tip in a small circle while keeping the awl’s handle relatively in the same place. To move the awl’s handle a lot would eventually start to loosen up your wool fabric. Do this about every inch to inch and a half.
Basically I just go across the first panel in a row and work my way down to the front by going back and forth to hit all parts of the panel. Then go to the other panel and repeat the process until all part of the panels are done.
Like I said, it’s pretty tedious and you may even want to wear some leather gloves if you have soft hands cause I have gotten a blister or two from it if I’ve left the awling too long and my panels are really hard. BUT if you love an aussie saddle (like I do!) then it’s just part and parcel of maintenance and in keeping yourself and your horse happy with the fit. And really, english saddles do need to be re-flocked occasionally and you have to send those in and pay someone to do it… at least you can awl an aussie yourself
And I felt the same way when I got my first aussie (which is Belle’s saddle that I showed) I’d tried aussies before which I didn’t like but the difference I believe in those vs the one I bought and loved was a) size- the ones I tried squished me into the poleys and b) quality- I tried some of those knock-offs which are never built right.
A decent quality (though not neccessarily horribly expensive) aussie is worth every penny!
So why do you have to do this awling on an aussie saddle? English saddles don’t have this done. Obviously they don’t have felted wool panels like the aussies do, but I’m thinking there’s some deeper reason. lol
Well I tried scooting the saddle up today… did the whole “put it up too high, then let it scoot back into the spot it wants to stop” thing, and it ended up being like 3 inches further up than how I had it before. :eek:
It fits quite a bit better now that it’s in the right spot. I feel like a real dunce, though! :lol:
We had a really nice ride. Rode outside, with the wind howling and the grasses blowing, she was being kinda silly and spooky, we had a few prance sessions, but I sure felt glued in with my poleys. :D:D:D
As I mentioned, I need to replace the girth. Any suggestions? Neoprene, leather, fleece-lined? Do they have ones with elastic ends like on english girths?
