Syd Hil Australian saddle

[Trigger_s_Mom]

[ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“data-attachmentid”:10096498}[/ATTACH] Please share your opinions re the Sad Hill Aussie ~ I have only ridden English and am back in the saddle after many many years and will be trail riding only ~ I have NO saddle yet and am ALSO contemplating the Fabtron Lady Trail based on stellar reviews~ . I HATED the Abetta Brushpopper i ordered and promptly returned because it looked and felt cheap and had defective stirrups. My horse needs FQHB. I am 5’6" weigh 130. Not sure what seat size i need or if I am ready to go Western!?! Australian felt more like what I’m accustomed to. Thanks guys!

[NoSuchPerson]

Syd Hill is, or at least was, at the time I was shopping Australian saddles, a good brand making quality saddles. That has been many years ago, though, and I have no recent experience/information. However, again, at the time I was shopping, they didn’t make anything wide enough to fit a horse/mule that needed a true FQHB tree.

Personally, I love Australian saddles for trail riding. Like you, I come from an English background and even now that I ride in a western saddle more frequently, still feel like a western saddle is just sooo much saddle around/under me. I do not get that same “so much saddle” feeling from an Australian saddle.

I don’t know if you’ve looked at the Fabtron Cross Trail saddle, but I’ve also seen/heard rave reviews about this saddle, at least one of which from a person who is primarily a dressage rider and loved the position the Cross Trail put her in.

https://shop.fabtron.com/products/cross-trail-saddle

[Bree]

I don’t have a Syd Hill but I believe they are nice. The Aussie saddles are measured a little differently. My dressage Saddle is a 17.5" seat, my aussies (I have 2) are 16" and fit comfortably.

I honestly love my australian saddles - I have a trail master and a long reach endurance bought from Down Under Saddle Supply. I love both of them for trail riding.

[Kickin_It]

I don’t have a Syd Hill, but an older Down Under Aussie (Kimberly Series) saddle that I love. Until last year, I trail rode exclusively in it. When other riders were complaining about soreness, my horse and I were just peachy.