How to measure the seat on your Australian saddle

15" Western Saddle is equivalent to a 17" Australian Saddle
English Western Australian
15" 13" 15"
16" 14" 16"
17" 15" 17"
18" 16" 18"
19" 17" 19"
Measure your saddle from the front of the gullet, to the back of the seat to get the proper seat measurement, as shown at left. If you normally ride in a 17" english saddle, then you need a 17" Australian saddle. If you normally ride in a 15" western saddle, then you ride in an Australian seat two inches larger, usually a 17" seat. Some riders like more room in their seat, or between their thigh and the saddle poleys, and will choose one size larger than normal. Having a larger seat size will allow you to post in your saddle if you tend to post or stand in your stirrups. Some riders like the poleys right against their thigh, and will choose a snug fit. The poleys will usually prevent a rider from posting to full extension if the seat is fitted properly. This is personal preference; a close fit will help hold you in the saddle, a looser fit will allow you to stand in your stirrups or post.
English Western Australian
15" 13" 15"
16" 14" 16"
17" 15" 17"
18" 16" 18"
19" 17" 19"
Measure your saddle from the front of the gullet, to the back of the seat to get the proper seat measurement, as shown at left. If you normally ride in a 17" english saddle, then you need a 17" Australian saddle. If you normally ride in a 15" western saddle, then you ride in an Australian seat two inches larger, usually a 17" seat. Some riders like more room in their seat, or between their thigh and the saddle poleys, and will choose one size larger than normal. Having a larger seat size will allow you to post in your saddle if you tend to post or stand in your stirrups. Some riders like the poleys right against their thigh, and will choose a snug fit. The poleys will usually prevent a rider from posting to full extension if the seat is fitted properly. This is personal preference; a close fit will help hold you in the saddle, a looser fit will allow you to stand in your stirrups or post.
Wool surge or felt is more commonly used under an Australian saddle than fleece (like a western saddle) or leather panels (like an english saddle.) The overgirth is a common Australian saddle feature, which helps stabilize the saddle over hilly terrain. In Australia, stock horses are often seen with a crupper attached to the saddle, rather than a rear girth. In America, the crupper is rarely used.
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Halfbreed No Horn![]() This saddle incorporates the independent swinging fender and stirrup style* of the western saddle with the traditional Australian tree pommels and seat style. (*These are all metal four bar irons in a western stirrup design.)
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Halfbreed Or "Crossover"w/horn![]() This photo shows western stirrups, fenders and horn with an Australian cantle and pommel design.
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Crossbreed![]() There are also "cross breed" saddles that combine other western saddle elements, such as a saddle horn and western pommel, with traditional Australian design elements, like this rear cantle shown here.
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Girthing Your Australian Saddle
How To Determine Which Type Of Australian Girth To Use
Australian girths come in neoprene or fleece backed most commonly, (wool backed or felt backed or string style are also available.) Which of these materials you choose here is personal preference, or what seems to be most comfortable for your horse. Which style you choose is dependent on what type billets your saddle and overgirth have. Of the types of girths available, there are three common styles: with two buckle (no strap, similar to english girth,) three buckle (no strap,) and two (or three buckle which is less common) with an overgirth strap on one end of the girth. How your saddle is rigged, how many billets it has, and whether your overgirth has a ring on one end or not determine which girth you should buy.
Australian saddles come with three types of standard girthing systems. look under the flap of your saddle, are there one or two billets attached to the saddle on each side? (not counting the overgirth billet) If there is one billet, you need a two buckle girth (two buckles on each end of the girth... one for the billet and one for the overgirth strap) and if there are two billets, (like on an English saddle) then you need a three buckle girth (three buckles on each end two for the billets and one for the overgirth.)
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