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.

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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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Different types of common Australian saddles

There are several types or styles of Australian saddles, most come with or without a horn, depending on the rider's preference. The few kinds shown here are leather, but most kinds are also available in synthetic materials as well. Along with the standard styles available, there are also several styles of "cross breed" or "crossover" saddles that combine other western or english saddle elements, such as western pommel or cantle design, with traditional Australian elements, such as the pommel swells and deep seat.

These saddles shown here, at the right and left, are traditional Australian stock saddles, available with or without a saddle horn.

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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

This video shows how to properly girth your Australian saddle, using a tackaberry buckle. 

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.)

Next, look at your over girth. If the overgirth has two leather ends, (no ring end) then this billet goes into the extra buckle on each side of the girth:

If your overgirth has one leather billet end and one ring, then you need to purchase a girth with the appropriate number of buckles to match your saddle billet (or billets, if two) and an additional buckle and strap on one end to accommodate your ring overgirth. This strap attached to the girth is meant for ring style overgirths, it goes thru the ring on your overgirth on one side, and back thru the girth's extra buckle, while the other side of the overgirth buckles as normal to the opposite side girth buckle.

If your saddle has another type of girth or overgirth than mentioned here, it may be custom rigged or have girth converters attached. (For example, to use it with a western, rather than an Australian girth.)