Australian Stock Saddle

Australian Stock Saddle

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, polocrosse and is also used in Australian 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 in 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 or numnah is used under the saddle to absorb sweat and to protect the back of the horse.

History

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 buckjumping 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 a pigskin seat and with older-style, longer knee and thigh pads.

Current design

Modern styles range from traditional models through to a newer "half breed" that incorporates the independent swinging fender of the western saddle 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.

References

*"Outback magazine," Aug/Sep 2007 – pp 28-44

External links

*http://www.jamessaddlery.com.au/history.htm


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Saddle blanket — A traditionally styled western saddle blanket A western saddle placed ov …   Wikipedia

  • Saddle — A saddle is a supportive structure for a rider or other load, fastened to an animal s back by a girth. The most common type is the equestrian saddle designed for a horse, but specialized saddles have been created for camels and other creatures.… …   Wikipedia

  • English saddle — English saddles are used to ride horses in English riding disciplines throughout the world. The discipline is not limited to England or English speaking countries. This style of saddle used in all of the Olympic and FEI equestrian disciplines,… …   Wikipedia

  • Western saddle — A western style show saddle with silver decoration Western saddles are used for western riding and are the saddles used on working horses on cattle ranches throughout the United States, particularly in the west. They are the cowboy saddles… …   Wikipedia

  • Saddle bronc and bareback riding — Bronc riding, either saddle bronc or bareback bronc competition, is a rodeo event that involves a rodeo participant riding on a horse (sometimes called a bronc or bronco ), that attempts to throw or buck off the rider. Originally based on the… …   Wikipedia

  • Stockman — In the Australian lexicon, stockman is the traditional name given to a person who looks after the livestock on a large property known as a station and owned by a grazier or a grazing company. They may also be the persons employed at abattoirs,… …   Wikipedia

  • English riding — is a term used to describe a form of horseback riding that is seen throughout the world. There are many variations in English riding, but all feature a flat English saddle without the deep seat, high cantle or saddle horn seen on a Western saddle …   Wikipedia

  • Arabian horse — Infobox Horse name= Arabian horse status = DOM image caption= An Arabian Mare altname= Arabian, Arab country= Developed in the Middle East, most notably Arabian peninsula group1= Arabian Horse Association (AHA) (United States) group2=The Arabian… …   Wikipedia

  • Liste der Pferderassen — Dieser Artikel basiert auf automatisch entnommenen Artikelbestandteilen der aufgeführten Rasseartikel. Die Autoren finden sich in der Versionsgeschichte der jeweiligen Artikel. A Rasse Beschreibung Bild Kurzinformation Abaco Wildpferd Das Abaco… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Pferderasse — Dieser Artikel basiert auf automatisch entnommenen Artikelbestandteilen der aufgeführten Rasseartikel. Die Autoren finden sich in der Versionsgeschichte der jeweiligen Artikel. A Rasse Beschreibung Bild Kurzinformation Abaco Wildpferd Das Abaco… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”