Just ordered my Aussie today and the folks at Down Under were great at answering all my questions.
Any question I emailed, I received an almost immediate reply. Great friendly customer service… :yes:
Would highly recommend them to anyone interested in buying. They also sell other types besides Aussies.
Cool saddles, which kind did you get?
http://www.downunderweb.com/store/MI_SAD285.html
This one…pretty reasonable price, so I hope it is a good saddle. Although, they seem like a reputable company that wouldn’t sell crappy stuff…
(I hope)
I’ve been diligently following the UPS tracking option and it is due to arrive on 3/10 !!!
I bought a Down Under Wizzard Poley on Dec. 23. OMG I LOVE it. Every time I ride in it I love it more!
I like Aussie saddles too!
Did you get yours yet? Have you ridden any distance in
it already? How do you like it?
J
lol… I just got it yesterday and it took it out for a trail ride today!
What was supposed to be a few minute test drive turned into an hour trail ride. :):):yes:
We are both out of shape because of the winter, so I’m slowly bringing her back.
At first I felt kind of sore in it - around the thigh area until I realized that you are supposed to ride with your legs a bit out in front of you.
Thank goodness I watched the DVD last night that Down Under sent with the saddle, otherwise I probably would have regretted buying it. It mentions leg placement.
But once I put my feet/legs forward, it felt great. A little hard to get used to after riding with my feet underneath.
Can’t wait to get out there more. I moved to a new place that has miles and miles of State Forest Trails, (16,000 acres) and many are logging roads, which are great to ride on.
WOO HOO! Good for you!
RIDE, Ride, ride…
J
Thanks!!! Oh, I plan on it. Unfortunately it is suppose to rain here all weekend…grrrr
Mine is the Down Under Longreach Endurance, so very simillar. It’s very comfortable.
http://www.downunderweb.com/store/MI_SAD340.html
Does the Kimberly have a ‘web suspended seat’? I can sit in that thing for hours and hours.
I got mine because I have back and knee problems and the different leg position is a joy! I can only sit in my western for about an hour before my leg starts paining.
Enjoy.
I’ve been on their site several times looking around. Would you mind telling me which one you’re going with? What kind of riding will you use it for?
I went with the Kimberly Synthetic Endurance. At first I liked it. But after several rides, I got very sore around the inside/underside thigh area. Feet got numb also.
I ended up sending it back and ordering a Treeless from another company.
It was hard to get used to riding with your feet in front of you. It wasn’t a secure feeling. I felt if the horse bolted forward, a person would just go flying off backward. :eek:
Sorry to revive an old thread but I am considering picking up one of the Kimberly Synthetics in the future for trail riding on my hunter. I’ve used aussies on vacation and always liked them for the english-like shape but extra security.
What are your thoughts if you have ended up purchasing one? What influenced you for the horn/no horn choice?
Thanks in advance!!
Well I like my seat size bigger than they recommend, bc I liked having some room to move around, which maybe defeats the purpose of the poleys a little. I sent one back bc I felt like I was smashed in it.
I like them with no horn bc to me it’s just something to get snagged on. The poleys will help keep you in place in the event of a spook, so to me the horn is just a hazard. Although it’s a spot to hang the bridle from. And you can get them with a bucking/grab strap attached to the pommel if you opt for w/out horn.
[QUOTE=cloudy18;5704501]
Well I like my seat size bigger than they recommend, bc I liked having some room to move around, which maybe defeats the purpose of the poleys a little. I sent one back bc I felt like I was smashed in it.
I like them with no horn bc to me it’s just something to get snagged on. The poleys will help keep you in place in the event of a spook, so to me the horn is just a hazard. Although it’s a spot to hang the bridle from. And you can get them with a bucking/grab strap attached to the pommel if you opt for w/out horn.[/QUOTE]
I bought this saddle from down under http://www.downunderweb.com/store/MI_SAD180.html
and LOVED the saddle but sadly it didn’t work out for my horse or me.
The seat was “tight” and I should have gotten at least one size larger than normal for me.
The saddles run narrow and was too narrow for my chunk.
I absolutely drooled over the leather, it was drum dyed and soft and I love that stuff!
In this particular saddle they can do gullet adjustments and will/or used to anyhow do one free for you. I had that done but saddle still wouldn’t work for my mare.
They are very nice people to work with.
I have had two, one with and one without the horn. Get a bigger seat than you think you will need! I had an 18" w/horn and a 19" w/o horn.
One was a Wizzard Poley and one was a synthetic Stock saddle. I loved both of them. They didn’t fit my new horse and I sold them both to a guy who hopefully loved them as much as I did!!
The Down Under folks are super nice and great to work with. If my saddles had fit Biscuit I would still have them.
Sorry to see this post so late piftisha, just haven’t been on the forum for awhile.
I did end up returning the saddle as I could not get used to having my legs/feet farther forward. Felt very unbalanced and awkward.
I like having my legs/feet under me for a more secure feeling.
The Customer Service was great about returning the saddle. So, you may just want to give it a try.
After all the saddles I’ve owned and tried, I still go back to my Abetta Endurance… http://www.buytack.com/products-saddles/act/20510.htm
Lightweight, synthetic, very comfortable and secure.
Saw your other posts and congrats!!! Max sounds like he has the potential to be a nice trail companion. Just a warning - It can be very addicting…lol
Personally, I do not like horns. Find them bulky and they just get in the way. If my shirt is not tucked in, it will get over the horn. Even jackets do the same, especially if you are going uphill.
And if you’re going to fall off, I find horns are just something to get caught up on. I’d rather do the slide off type of fall…
LOL…I was very tempted by that saddle as well. :yes: Looks super comfortable.
Are the billets long? Did you need a Dressage girth?
I thought the Aussie saddle was supposed to put your legs under you like a dressage saddle? I’ve been looking forward to owning one. But if, as you say, your legs are in front of you, I’m going to have to think about this some more.
Paula
I think it depends on the cut of the saddle as to what kind of seat it puts you in. Mine puts me in a great dressage seat. When I saddle the horse I say I’m selling it due to it weighs a ton. But by the time I get back from my ride I want to keep it because it is so comfortable.
Here is a portion of their website regarding rider position. Click on the video and toward the bottom there is a section on “Riding Position”.
They sent the DVD when I received the saddle and every video showed riders in the same “feet forward” position.
It felt very awkward and unbalanced.
If you do a Internet search, you’ll find many articles stating the same.
Maybe some do put your feet under you as Pnalley said?
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