stock saddles

[LeftBrainer]

Has anyone experience of (good or bad) using an australian stock saddle?

I'm looking for a comfortable and secure alternative to my GP for long hacking (4 hours plus). Looked into western but was wary about changing bits and thought riding in an english bridle and a western saddle would look daft.
Also, the stock saddle might not be such a culture shock for the hunt;)

[No_Angel]

Ive sat in one, found it a bit odd. The cantle was very high and the poleys came no where near my legs, I don't think I would have been happy doing the distance/hills I do in it.

Why do you need to change bit with a western saddle? You can just use a snaffle and buy a western headstall so it matches with the saddle:)

Have you loked into treeless saddles? They are very comfy and secure for long rides, and have an english/western look about them

[Camyds]

I knew someone who had a very light synthetic/suede one and it was ever soooo comfy...........

[AwkwardAnnie]

Ive sat in one, found it a bit odd. The cantle was very high and the poleys came no where near my legs, I don't think I would have been happy doing the distance/hills I do in it.

Why do you need to change bit with a western saddle? You can just use a snaffle and buy a western headstall so it matches with the saddle:)

Have you loked into treeless saddles? They are very comfy and secure for long rides, and have an english/western look about them

i kind of have the same question as leftbrainer. did it feel that much more secure going fast over rough ground and downhill?
personally i'd feel as if i might loose braking power if a i go for a snaffle. at present he's either in a gag or a pelham.

[Wally]

If you go for an Oz Stock saddle be careful from where you get it, only go for the good quality ones made in Oz. Most are made in India and are no of the best workmanship and quality.

[Zingy]

Rode in one briefly once and it was horrible. Stuck me in a really pronounced chair seat and I couldn't do rising trot at all. And then I discovered I couldn't get off because the cantle was too high and there were bits of saddle in the way. So I did a very inelegent impression of someone climbing over a wall very badly and landed in a heap on the floor.

I have a feeling that the people who witnessed all that would have been well within their rights to wonder what the heck I was doing with my own horse when I couldn't even trot or dismount :o

[blacklabrador]

Has anyone experience of (good or bad) using an australian stock saddle?

I'm looking for a comfortable and secure alternative to my GP for long hacking (4 hours plus). Looked into western but was wary about changing bits and thought riding in an english bridle and a western saddle would look daft.
Also, the stock saddle might not be such a culture shock for the hunt;)

Nope, don't think so but I do now!!:)

[Liz1949]

If you go for an Oz Stock saddle be careful from where you get it, only go for the good quality ones made in Oz. Most are made in India and are no of the best workmanship and quality.

I can confirm what Wally says. I lived in Oz for many years and a GOOD Australian-made stock saddle will set you back £1,500 or more. Many good Aussie-brand-name synthetics are now manufactured in Vietnam.

In addition, those which are 'off the peg' are (generally) not sized appropriately for UK horses. Australian horses in work are (again generalising) preferred in somewhat 'lighter' -some would say healthier - condition than are most horses in northwestern Europe.

[western-saddler]

I would just like to add that many of the bits used in western riding are similar to english bits. :)

[Wally]

What Liz 1949 says.....with knobs on! :D :D :D

[AwkwardAnnie]

What Liz 1949 says.....with knobs on! :D :D :D

i thought the ones with knobs on were western saddles lol:p

dare i throw the word wintec into the conversation...:o?

[Wally]

i thought the ones with knobs on were western saddles lol:p

dare i throw the word wintec into the conversation...:o?

No you may not throw the word Wintec into the conversation, for me you can throw Wintec out the window! ;) ;)

[Skippys Mum]

I have had no experience with these saddles but I'll throw in my tuppence worth for treeless. I have only just got my new freeform so havent done any milage in it YET:) but when I had the demo one, I have to say it was the comfiest thing I have ever sat on and I felt so safe and secure, way more so than a treed saddle - and once you're on, it looks perfectly "English saddle" normal (which was a major issue for me as I didnt want anything that looked too strange)

[AwkwardAnnie]

No you may not throw the word Wintec into the conversation, for me you can throw Wintec out the window! ;) ;)

erm, ok *looks timorous~bites bottom lip nervously* but if £1500 was about the same price as the horse could i jump out after it?

[Skippys Mum]

Annie, you will learn through time - be very very careful mentioning the "W" word on here:D. I have one (for sale now - the wide cob one, brown, 18", immaculate:o) and no one knows:D:D

My name is Kirsten and I have a Wintec - aaaaargh:D

[Joyscarer]

Annie, you will learn through time - be very very careful mentioning the "W" word on here:D. I have one (for sale now - the wide cob one, brown, 18", immaculate:o) and no one knows:D:D

My name is Kirsten and I have a Wintec - aaaaargh:D

Shock horror you have a w-w-w-wintec :eek: I even have trouble typing it! :p :D

You know the score re saddle fitting. If it fits then there's no problem :)

[Island_Girl]

I rode in an Australian saddle with western stirrups for a few months, thought it was wonderful. Then I got a western saddle (Circle Y) and forgot about the Australian,then one day put it on and tried it again and thought it was really unstable, strange as I had loved it months earlier.

I ride my Criollo x in a western saddle with an English style bitless (Dr Cooks) bridle now and find both great. I'm currently riding my cob in a snaffle bridle with English saddle but much prefer the western style of riding, much easier on the legs.

[AwkwardAnnie]

Annie, you will learn through time - be very very careful mentioning the "W" word on here:D. I have one (for sale now - the wide cob one, brown, 18", immaculate:o) and no one knows:D:D

My name is Kirsten and I have a Wintec - aaaaargh:D

cripes! don't ruin your reputation on my account;)

i made the mistake of looking a site that sold the most beautiful western saddles and saw something called the old timer - talk about secure looked like i'd need several strong ripplymuscley firemen to get me out of it - aahhhh *other half wonders why i've gone all woozy*
it was brown, that's all it had in common with your wintec:( it also cost more than my horse - about twice as much:(:(

[*taz*]

i had one to gain comfidence on my young horse and it was brilliant very safe and secure even when he bucked and spun etc... which thankfuly he has nearly grown out of!:D but i hacked for around 2 hours in it and never felt uncomfortable! it is now for sale as he has lost weight and it doesnt fit!;)

ETA i used to also ride in an english bit and bridle and i didint think it looked strange! :)

[Wally]

Wintec annonymous! You are on the first step to .....wherever you are on the first step to. :D :D :D

[hanaboo88]

Has anyone experience of (good or bad) using an australian stock saddle?

I'm looking for a comfortable and secure alternative to my GP for long hacking (4 hours plus). Looked into western but was wary about changing bits and thought riding in an english bridle and a western saddle would look daft.
Also, the stock saddle might not be such a culture shock for the hunt;)

I have just sold my stock saddle and it was soooooooooo comfy :) i only sold it due to not having a horse and it was taking up a lot of space with my room being the box,they look fine with any bridle mine was too big so i had a english bridle it looked fine.

if you look on ebay theres a few shops and try looking at treeless?
there also nice to plod in...:D

[Meovcorz]

I love my OZ stock saddle, very comfy, very nice. Bates make some nice saddles not the W word though. For long rides I would swear by my Stock saddle,, but make sure you get a nice one, and one that fits you.

In addition, those which are 'off the peg' are (generally) not sized appropriately for UK horses. Australian horses in work are (again generalising) preferred in somewhat 'lighter' -some would say healthier - condition than are most horses in northwestern Europe.

What liz says there is so true.

[AwkwardAnnie]

Wintec annonymous! You are on the first step to .....wherever you are on the first step to. :D :D :D

hahaha my name is awkwardannie and i own a wintec2000 - thank you for sharing:cool:

[Wally]

:D :D :D

Sorry, I have a bit of a thing about Wintecs! :o

[Skippys Mum]

Ahh but I'm on the road to recovery - mine is for sale:D

[AwkwardAnnie]

Ahh but I'm on the road to recovery - mine is for sale:D

one day at a time skippys mum:p