Full Australian Stock Saddle Western Style No Horn 18"

The Australian Stock Saddle is a saddle in popular use all over the world for activities that require long hours in the saddle and a secure seat. The saddle is suitable for cattle work starting young horses, everyday pleasure riding trail riding, endurance riding and polocrosse and is also used in Australian Stockman campdrafting competitions and stockman challenges.

The traditional Australian stock saddle was designed for security and comfort in the saddle no matter how harsh the conditions. While having stylistic roots from the English Saddle, the design of the seat, panels, fenders, and stirrups, it has a much deeper seat, higher cantle, and knee pads (sometimes called Poleys) in the front to create a very secure saddle for riders who ride in rough conditions or spend long hours on a horse.

The saddle is kept on with a girth  attached to billets under the flaps, similar to those on a dressage saddle. A surcingle should also be used to provide additional safety. The rear of the saddle is sometimes secured by a crupper. A breastplate is sometimes added. A saddle blanket is used under the saddle to absorb sweat and to protect the back of the horse.

Initially the stock saddle was a park style saddle similar to the modern English showing saddle, with low set knee rolls and short flaps. However, this style of saddle did not suit the rugged Australian terrain and did little protect the rider’s legs from sweat. Thus the flaps were lengthened, thigh and knee pads added, the seat deepened and the cantle raised. A saddlemaker named Jack Wieneke developed a design that was popular for a number of years, but the design over time became too extreme and lost favour to more conservative styles.

During the early days of buck jumping in Australian rodeos, riders rode in a modified stock saddle using a crupper instead of the "flank cinch" used in the USA. Ladies Stock Saddles were traditionally made with pigskin seat and with older-style, longer knee and thigh pads.

Modern styles range from traditional models through to a newer "half breed" that incorporates the independent swinging fender of the western stirrups with the traditional Australian tree and seat style. There are also "cross breed" saddles that combine other western saddle elements, such as a saddle horn or a western cantle design, with traditional Australian elements, such as the pommel swells and deep seat.

FEATURES OF THIS AUSTRALIAN STOCK SADDLE: ALL LEATHER.

NOTE:  New Stock

THIS IS MORE OF A CROSS BREED SADDLE WITH A WESTERN STYLE STIRRUPS, AND NO HORN.

18" SEAT SIZE-(WESTERN STYLE IS 16")

CANTLE 6" TALL

6.5" Gullet Full QH bars.

STIRRUP LENGTH EXTENDS FROM 32" TO 38".

COMES WITH AN OVER AND UNDER GIRTH AND BRASS STIRRUPS, AND LEATHERS. ALL GOOD QUALITY BRASS HARDWARE.

NICELY MADE SADDLE FOR AN AFFORDABLE PRICE FOR A COMFORTABLE RIDE. GREAT BUY!

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