Australian saddles developed out of a need for a comfortable saddle for both horse and rider in the Australian beef industry. A composite of the large seat of a traditional Western saddle and the smaller stirrup leathers and flaps of the English saddle, the Australian version distributes the rider's weight evenly over the horse's back. This allows for more time in the saddle on the long cattle drives in the outback, says Judith Draper and colleagues in "The Ultimate Book of the Horse and Rider." Built to allow faster gaits, your Aussie saddle can provide you and your horse a safe, comfortable ride when mastering the gallop.
Step 1
Brush your horse and tack up as you normally would using your Australian saddle and pad.
Step 2
Shorten your stirrup leathers one hole so that you are able to raise your bottom clear of your saddle seat when standing in the stirrups if you are not already able to do so.
Step 3
Mount your horse in a large, enclosed arena or field.
Step 4
Ask for the walk and move off at a brisk, forward pace allowing your horse to stretch down into the bit and relax along its back and topline. Your Australian saddle helps you keep your heel, hips and shoulders in a straight line for better balance at this gait.
Step 5
Request the trot, or jog in Western parlance, once your horse is relaxed and warmed up at the walk. Make several turns around the arena or field keeping your horse in the trot until it is moving forward smoothly without slowing down. Because Australian saddles have a smaller horn than Western saddles, posting for the trot is easier and is recommended at this gait by Heather Moffett, in "Advanced Equitation."
Step 6
Ask for the canter, or lope, by sitting deep in your saddle, moving your reins forward and pressing your outside leg, the leg closest to the fence, behind the cinch and against your horse's side. Keep your hands still and quiet in your horse's mouth and allow your body to follow the 3-beat motion of your horse's back for several turns around the arena.
Step 7
Request the gallop by releasing some of the reins, giving your horse its head. At the same time, press your outside leg behind the cinch with more authority; you may need to kick at this point to achieve the faster gait.
Step 8
Step into the stirrups and raise your bottom approximately 1 inch off your saddle when you feel your horse pick up speed. Shorten the reins slightly, keep your back straight, relax your weight into your heel and allow the horse's body motion to help you maintain balance, advises the AlphaHorse website. Getting your weight off your horse's back permits the horse full use of its back, shoulder and rump muscles for this faster gait.
Tips and Warnings
- For the faster gallop, adjust your stirrups to where the stirrup pad hits the bottom of your anklebone instead of the bottom of your heel, suggests Susan E. Harris in "The U.S. Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship." Grab some of the mane in one of your hands and follow the motion of your horse's neck with your hands and arms if you feel yourself losing balance at the gallop.
- Don't allow your horse to gallop for the first time in an open field without first learning the one-rein stop. Quickly halting an out-of-control horse prevents injuries for both you and your mount, state Eleanor Prince and Gaydell Collier in "Basic Horsemanship: English and Western."
Things You'll Need
- Australian tack
- Horse
- Enclosed arena or field
References
- "The Ultimate Book of the Horse and Rider"; Judith Draper; Debby Sly; Sarah Muir; 2003
- "Advanced Equitation"; Heather Moffett; 2002
- Alpha Horse: Advantages of an Australian Saddle
- "U. S. Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship"; Susan E. Harris; 1997
- "Basic Horsemanship-English and Western, a Complete Guide for Riders and Instructors"; Eleanor F. Prince; Gaydell M. Collier; 2003
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