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Saddles in use
Saddles in use | Revolutionary Changes | No need for a lot of padding
SADDLES IN USE
Most of the saddles we sell are used on cattle stations in the north and west of Australia with the balance used for camp drafting, feedlot work, trail riding, pleasure riding and general stock work.
We have been doing a yearly trip since 1991 visiting cattle stations in the Northern Territory, Kimberley region of Western Australia, north Queensland and the Channel Country of western Queensland. The experience and feedback we get from these trips is invaluable as we see our saddles in use first hand. Saddles for cattle station use need to be able to stand up to some tough treatment and we are always looking for ways to improve and we come back from each trip with fresh ideas.
In 2006 we visited 120 cattle stations in eighteen weeks usually staying overnight at each station. There are currently more than 80 large cattle stations using Kent saddles.
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REVOLUTIONARY CHANGES |
Flap Saddle
Fender Saddle |
The changes we've seen in seventeen years have been enormous. In our first year of travel, flap saddles were the style of choice on cattle stations and we saw only one fender saddle. Now fender saddles make up over 90% of all station saddles.
Initially most time was spent repairing old flap saddles - renewing seats, knee pads and covers and putting on new felts. From this experience we began to develop a saddle style which didn't require ongoing maintenance. We've eliminated most of the seams in our saddles and are always looking to improve each model.
In recent years we have seen a trend towards fenders swung from spring bars rather than placed over the tree. This trend has come about because of the preference of some riders to move their feet forward. Heightened safety awareness has also contributed to the popularity of fenders swung from spring bars. Fenders swung from spring bars should come off if the rider gets hung up.
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NO NEED FOR A LOT OF PADDING
There was a time when it was thought that there was a need for a lot of soft padding under the saddle to protect the horses back; with the result that the saddle sat higher and higher making it very difficult to keep on the horse. These saddles moved around a lot resulting in rub marks, particularly on the sides of the wither.
Saddle comfort for the horse is not about softness, its about a good fit. Less padding under the saddle also puts the rider closer to the horse's back.
We've developed our saddle style to give the rider a feeling of security in the saddle while still allowing plenty of freedom of movement and a way out if the horse falls.
Our saddles are custom made to individual requirements. (See our Choosing a Saddle page.)
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