How to Tack Up Australian Saddles
"Tacking up" is the term used to refer to saddling a horse. Tacking up a horse with an Australian saddle is slightly different from tacking up with a Western or English saddle because the rigging on the Aussie saddle is unique. Australian saddles feature a billeted-girth design similar to an English saddle's but with an additional over-girth that's designed to provide extra security.
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Things You'll Need
- Australian saddle
- Saddle pad
- Grooming tools
- Halter
- Lead rope
- Cross ties or hitching post
Instructions
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1
Attach your horse to cross ties or a hitching post. Groom your horse thoroughly, making sure there's no dirt or debris in the area where the saddle will go.
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2
Place the saddle pad on your horse's back, directly over its withers. Place the saddle on top of the saddle pad and slide it back (slightly) off the withers until saddle rests securely on your horse's back.
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3
Pull the girth under the horse to the left side of the horse. Lift up the stirrup to expose the billets. Attach the girth to the billets by fastening the buckles on the girth to the appropriate holes in the billet. You want your girth to be snug.
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4
Locate the over-girth. The over-girth is the strip of leather that goes through the rings on the top of the front of the saddle. Fasten the buckle on the over-girth so it goes around the horse's girth area. The over-girth is designed to keep the saddle on the horse in the event that the billets holding the saddle break.
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Tips & Warnings
Some newer models of Aussie saddles are not equipped with an over-girth.
There are western conversion systems available that convert the girth to a full western rigging.
References
Resources
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