Australian Stock Saddles
by Vicki Tatum, Florida

Before I start this section, it is only fair to warn you of my personal biases. I LOVE Australian saddles. In my experience, there is no saddle more comfortable and secure than an Aussie stock saddle.  Take a look at this web page for an answer to the question "Why buy an Australian saddle?" Besides, they just look cool.

There are quite a few places that sell Australian saddles, but not every place will actually fit the saddle to your mule. Like an english saddle, the gullet width is the major determining factor of Australian saddle fit and some dealers will take the wither tracing you send and fit the saddle's gullet to your mule's wither shape.  This greatly improves the chances that the saddle you purchase will be a good fit for your mule.

Australian saddles are available in many different looks, but from the underside, which is the side that matters to your mule, there are two basic types. One is more like an english saddle, with stuffed panels.  The other is more like a western saddle, with longer, flatter fleece-lined panels.  Most Australian saddle makers say that the fleece-lined panels are better for mules with their flatter backs. This may be true, but like any rule of thumb, there are exceptions.  If your mule is short-backed, some of the larger fleece-lined panel saddles may be too long.

The Australian Stock Saddle Company carries a wide variety of different styles of Australian saddles, including a number of hybrid western-Australian saddles that combine some of the best features of both kinds of saddles. The company has experience fitting mules and they make a western saddle specifically for mules.  See the company owner's article on saddle fitting for mules in the March, 2004 issue of Mules and More Magazine.  When you purchase a saddle here, you submit detailed tracings of your mule's back and the saddle is adjusted to fit. They have a great catalog that can be ordered from the web site.

Bates Australia, a company better known for its english saddles, also makes an Australian stock saddle, one in leather marketed under the Bates name, and one in synthetic material marketed under the Wintec brand.

Both models come with the CAIR panels(http//www.cairpanelsystem.com) and Easy-Change gullet system, although the extra-wide gullet cannot be used. The Bates model is usually priced around $1300 and the Wintec around $900. Many tack shops carry Bates and Wintec saddles, although not all carry the Australian saddle models.

Down Under Saddle Supply Inc. carries four separate lines of Australian, the Kimberly series ($200-600), the Down Under Collection ($800-2000), Syd Hill saddles ($1400-2400), and Toowoomba saddles (all around $2000).  They also sell a synthetic Australian saddle priced less than $400. And, they have a Clearance section where they sell lightly used and slightly blemished saddles at a significant discount. Be aware, though, that clearance saddles are NOT returnable. When you purchase a saddle here, they request a wither tracing and adjust the gullet width of the saddle to fit your mule.

Four Winds Saddle Tack Shop sells Australian saddles priced from around $300 to $1500. They offer several models in youth sizes. Four Winds also sells the Bates and Wintec Australian saddles.  They will adjust the gullet width of your saddle to fit your mule using a wither tracing that you submit.

If you do an internet search for Australian saddles, you will notice that the saddles offered by a number of tack shops are in fact the saddles sold by the Australian Stock Saddle Company or Down Under Saddle Supply.

Comments from Australian Saddle Users

I have two Australian stock saddles, both with and without a horn, and I love them both. I got them from the Australian Stock Saddle Company. They have lots of support but are lightweight enough for me to toss around. Both fit my 18 year old mule. He is "portly" with a "horsey" back and withers.

See the picture and read what Steve had to say about his Kimberly Trailmaster from Down Under Saddle Supply here.

I have a Dalby Poley that I bought from Down Under Saddle Supply.  With respect to Down Under Saddle Supply, they were nice people to work with and their customer service was great. I had to send the saddle back for a second adjustment, which they did at no charge.  With respect to the saddle itself, the quality is outstanding and it is the most comfortable and secure saddle I've ever owned.  However, I've never been happy with the way it fit my mule. I have always felt that it had too much "rock" and wasn't flat enough for my mule's back. In spite of that, I used the saddle quite a bit when my mule and I were first getting to know each other. I didn't quite trust him and I really needed the extra confidence that I got from the security of the saddle. I felt pretty invincible riding in my Aussie saddle and never worried about falling off no matter what might happen.  And, even though it wasn't a perfect fit, my mule never seemed to have any back problems and never expressed any unusual unhappiness over being saddled. But, once my mule and I established a more trusting relationship and I no longer worried so much about staying in the saddle, I started using an english saddle that I felt was a much better fit. I haven't used the Australian saddle in over a year.  Oh, and the reason I didn't just send the saddle back in the first place? I outsmarted myself by buying one off the clearance page for about half what an unblemished model would have cost. Yeah, I saved $500-600, but clearance items aren't returnable, so now I've got $760 worth of saddle sitting in my tack room just collecting dust.

        

Please note: We are not endorsing any of the companies mentioned, but are simply making you aware of their existence.

back to saddles