Saddlebred tack in OZ

[silvia]

I've been gearing up my tack shed and would love to know who has found any gear either available here or that is shippable from the US without costing a fortune.

The best find I've had so far is stretchies for sale from Goodwood Saddlery for about $20.
Unfortunately I'd already purchased a set from the US for about $80 landed!

Victoria has one of the Gaits of Gold saddles coming from the US which will be interesting.

Saddle-wise I haven't found anything that really fits well, the Bates Precieux with a wide tree has been the closest so far, and I still use a Thinline pad with it just in case.

I've been trying to find a training martingale but no luck so far; I bought a running martingale and butchered it, but it doesn't sit right.

[Renae]

Isn't there a saddle/harness repair guy in your area at all? A training fork style running martingale should be easy to make. Also check out any endurance/competitive trail tack shops you can find, endurance folk use that style of running martingale too (you might only be able to get it in neon pink biothane from an endurance tack shop :P).

Do Australians use the flat, straight flapped show saddles on your show hunters like they use in the United Kingdom? Like this http://www.blackcountrysaddles.com/saddles/showing/42 I had one of these types of saddles for a bit, they ride very similiar to a cutback saddle, in fact very similiar to the old non-cutback saddle they used on Saddlebreds back in the day, and I think it would be much more comfortable to ride a Saddlebred in one of these than in a dressage saddle, you could get a little more bend in your leg and posting would definatly be easier than in a dressage saddle with big blocks and a high cantle.

[kirribee]

I have occasionally seen for sale cut back saddles on Ebay here. I make my own saddlebred style browbands and a saddler should be able to make any gear that you want.

[Celtic Hill]

You can make a Running martingale out of parachute cord and metal rings, and tieing them together. That's how i make mine

[silvia]

Celtic I would dearly love to get the measurements from you and maybe a photo of it on a horse?

I haven't seen a martingale here so I don't know what a correct fit looks like but I am sure with a couple of measurements I could get one together no problems at all!