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Kent Saddlery is proud to be part of a 222 year tradition of innovation and adaptation of saddles and gear suitable for Australian stockmen and the rigours of the environment of the vast outback. The harsh climate of the Australian continent encouraged the early settlers to develop a saddle suitable for the conditions in which they lived and worked. The saddle needed to be rugged, with provision to strap on gear for big days and long journeys.

 

The Australian stock saddle evolved along the lines of the English style saddle, with wood and steel saddle trees, seamed seats and hair lining. During this evolution, there was great variation in the height and shape of knee pads, seats and thigh pads.

 

The advent of felt lined flap saddles, popular from the 1950's to the 1980's, led to a decline in the use of the traditional hair lined saddles. Felt lined saddles were also built on a variety of saddle trees from wood and steel to fibre-glass and synthetic casts. By the 1980's a revolution in the design of Australian stock saddles had well and truly begun. Modified from American saddles which are inspired by the traditionalMexican/Spanish saddle style, the saddle tree design changed so that the saddle tree fits closely to the shape of the horse's back, with only a thin felt lining required. The top of the saddle retained the character and line of the traditional Australian Stock Saddle, hence the term “halfbreed” saddles. Lyle built his first halfbreed fender saddle in 1992, and Kent Saddlery has been privileged to be part of this revolution in Australian saddles.      

 

Bob Wattus, our saddle tree maker has been working with us for 22 years, to continually improve the design and quality of the saddle trees used in Kent saddles. Our first saddles were built on wood, rawhide covered trees, and as Bob has explored and kept up with new developments in tree making, we now use reinforced carbon composite trees. Our Equaliser saddles feature cable rigging, a “Bob innovation”; his implementation of U.S. saddle design and construction. (See Wattus saddle tree details.)   

During our annual trips to the outback cattle stations, we found that Kent Saddles were quickly accepted and affirmed by stockmen who often spend hours each day on horseback. We are frequently told that the saddles are good on the horses' backs, comfortable for the rider, rugged and low maintenance. Our entry to the saddle market in 1992 was timely, and over the years we've been gratified with the demand for Kent saddles from all areas of Australia, and overseas, and the tally of handcrafted Kent saddles stands at close to 2000. In 19 years of travel we've supplied saddles to a large number of Australian cattle stations as well as selling saddles in every state and territory.