new-to-me aussie saddle--it fits doesn't it?

[suz]

i've been looking for a more comfy saddle for longer rides for my haflinger and picked this up at the tack shop. it's older, leather and synthetic and i think it fits her pretty well. she went comfortably in it, it cleared her shoulder well and sat nicely on her with no rock in any direction, and left even sweat stains on her body. no contact on her spine, either. but it seems to ride high on her, the flocking is hard and very thick. while riding it slipped a little to the left, i was able to straighten it easily and do the cinch another notch. i love the girthing and stirrup systems, what else should i look for to make sure it's comfortable on her? tia!

[suz]

BUMP!!!! can anyone help me figure out if this saddle fits my girl? prettyplease?

[citydog]

You might want to post pictures.

[suz]

lol, i'd love to, but so far that skill escapes me. i'll find some help and hope to post some next week. thanks.

[cloudy18]

Pics will really help, get from front, rear, sides, and so we can see the angle of the saddle w/ respect to the angle of your horse's shoulders. And try to get a good one of the front so we can see clearance.

I have an Aussie and it's comfy and was the only thing I found to fit my mare. It's a cheap one, but does the trick. It does seem tippier than a Western saddle, but it really only goes so far; it's not like it will roll the whole way around. I assume this is the girthing system and my mares shape, but I live with it.

One thing to check is the seat. Is the spot where you sit level when the saddle is correctly placed?

The flocking can be awled, someone else on here explained how to do it. I have never done it to mine. It might need awling, although maybe the flocking on an Aussie is firmer than English. Anyone know?

[RedTahoe]

Aussies tend to sit high at first, and then they conform to the horse. It's how the good ones are made. Now if it's a cheapie one, I can't really comment. If it seemed to fit your girl, left even sweat stains, etc. then it "sounds" like it fits, but the only way to tell would be to take a couple of pictures.

[spookhorse]

Awling from my former posts on the subject:

When the panels start to get hard and/or the saddle is coming down on the withers, then it's time to hit it :) I do it every six months or so when I do a deep cleaning.

The process:

Tool: I use a small hand awl (http://img.epinions.com/images/opti/e0/aa/Stanley_Wood_Handle_Scratch_Awl_69_007A_Shop_Tools-resized200.jpg) which is made to punch holes in leather. You could also use an ice pick which has the point ground down to rounded.

First I sit on the floor with my back to the couch and have the saddle with its gullet on the floor and its seat towards my chest.

I then start at the top of one of the panels (which is the saddles rear) and insert the awl through the wool fabric, which you'll notice is a fairly loose weave. You just kind of use a turning hand motion to twist the awl's tip in a small circle while keeping the awl's handle relatively in the same place. To move the awl's handle a lot would eventually start to loosen up your wool fabric. Do this about every inch to inch and a half.

Basically I just go across the first panel in a row and work my way down to the front by going back and forth to hit all parts of the panel. Then go to the other panel and repeat the process until all part of the panels are done.

It's pretty tedious and you may even want to wear some leather gloves if you have soft hands cause I have gotten a blister or two from it if I've left the awling too long and my panels are really hard. BUT if you love an aussie saddle (like I do!) then it's just part and parcel of maintenance and in keeping yourself and your horse happy with the fit. And really, english saddles do need to be re-flocked occasionally and you have to send those in and pay someone to do it... at least you can awl an aussie yourself ;)"

HTH!