AUSTRALIAN AUSSIE ENGLISH WESTERN SADDLE SIZING GUIDE

Those of you interested in an Australian saddle should be aware that they are measured differently from both English and Western saddles. Generally speaking, you need to buy the size that is 2" LARGER than your Western seat size, or the SAME as your English seat size. Western saddles are true seat sizes; they are measured from the inside of the horn at the pommel straight back to the cantle. Aussie saddles are meaured from the very front of the pommel (where it is stitched together) - on the outside of the horn - straight back to the cantle. (Keep in mind that not all Aussies have horns. In fact, traditionally, they don't.) This is why they Aussie size runs larger; it is actually the measurement of the entire tree, not just the seat. English seats are measured from the rivet (or tack or button - whatever you prefer to call it) found on the side of the pommel back to the cantle. This means that the sizing of Aussies and English saddles are similar, but not exactly the same. Leg positions, seat configurations and flap placement can vary widely in English disciplines, so the rivet is the best point of reference for measurement.

For an Australian saddle, you definitely don't want your legs jammed into the poleys - those swells at the front of the saddle designed to "lock" your legs in place. That would make for one ungefortable ride! There should be a little bit of room for the rider to move, but not a lot. A finger or two in width should be about it (just like the amount of room you want between your leg and the swell of a Western saddle). When buying an Australian saddle on okay, make sure to ASK HOW YOUR SELLER IS MESURING THE SADDLE! My friend and I were both victims of sellers who took Western measurements and we ended up with saddles that were HUGE! (I don't know who my friend bought from, but my seller supposedly sells tack for a living here on okay...) As Aussies are somewhat rare in the States, it is not unusual for even a reputable dealer with the best of intentions to sell you the wrong size saddle; they simply don't know how to measure it!

A quick word about English saddles: FORGET YOUR VANITY, GIRLS!!! Just like with clothing, your saddle size can be different from one style and manufacturer to another. Going up a size does NOT mean you have a big butt! In the English disciplines, the flap is an integral part of the saddle's function. It can be smooth or have thigh blocks or knee rolls. These are meant to assist your leg aids. If your leg does not fit on the flap properly, you are doing yourself and your horse a disservice. That being said, measuring the seat size is only a guideline. You also nees to take the length of your thigh into consideration. For example, I am quite petite, at about 5'3". However, I have long legs for my size. Therefore, rather than being able to ride in a 16" seat, as my height would predict, I must use a 17". My femur is 17" long; my leg would hang over the flap of a 16" saddle (unless they were customized to be very forward). In saddles with a cutback pommel, my size could go up again! Cutting away the pommel takes away some of the booty room; it's got to gee back somewhere! If Kate Moss were to take up riding, she would take a larger saddle than I do as she is far taller - WAY longer legs, even though her tiny rear end would probably have a lot of extra room in the seat. As women, we gee in many different rear end sizes, so saddle manufacurers use generic sizing formulas and build them the best they can off of averages. The only way to have an exact fit to both you and your horse is to have a custom saddle made; then neither of you can change shape or weight from that point on... To summarize, if your knee reaches the end of your saddle flap (or more) while you are riding or you don't have four fingers' worth of room between the cantle and your rear end, you have the wrong size saddle!

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^ A quick conversion table (in inches): ^
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^ WESTERN: 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" ^
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^ ENGLISH: 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" ^
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^ AUSSIE: 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" ^
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***MOST IMPORTANTLY***

Make sure your new saddle fits your HORSE; they are the ones carrying you around no matter what your size!