- 1). Measure your Western and English saddles if you have them. While the sizes are not directly transferable, knowing what seat size you take in an English and Western saddle will give you a baseline when you start looking at Australian saddles.
- 2). Borrow an Australian saddle from a friend if you can. If you do not know anyone with an Australian saddle you can visit your local tack shop, where the staff will be happy to show you a number of different saddles.
- 3). Make sure the saddle is sitting on a sturdy saddle stand, then sit in the saddle as you would if you were actually riding your horse. The leg position on an Australian saddle is similar to that of a Western saddle, so make sure your legs are properly positioned--neither too far forward nor too far back.
- 4). Take note of how the saddle feels on your seat bones and lower body. The saddle should not leave you feeling cramped, but you should feel secure--with a tight seat and legs. If the saddle is too large you will not have the security you need in an emergency situation. If the seat is too small it will quickly grow uncomfortable during a long ride.
- 5). Measure the seat size of the Australian saddle that fits the best. To measure the seat size place your tape measure at the front of the saddle horn, then run it to the back of the seat. It is best to use a soft tape measure like the ones used by tailors, but you can use a traditional carpenter's tape measure if nothing else is available.
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