Posted on 05/04/202213/02/2023 by Toowoomba Saddlery

Limited Edition Competition Saddle

THE LIMITED EDITION

Introducing the mighty Condamine Drafter saddle. A striking and durable competition saddle designed to assist your performance for many events to come. Ideal for campdrafting, polocrosse and more…

COMPETITION SADDLE TREE

The new close-contact Equi-Fit saddle tree features large kneepads and an improved cantle angle to keep you in your seat. Fenders hang from stainless steel stirrup bars for maximum leg movement.

Strong, light-weight and manufactured in the USA. Equi-fit Classic saddle trees are cut from specially selected southern yellow pine, then reinforced using a composite meshing and resin coating.

BACKED BY A TEN YEAR CONDITIONAL WARRANTY

THE SPECS

Gullet Width: 6″ Semi Quarter Horse
Kneepad Height: 4 ¼”
Cantle: 3 ¼”
3 Saddle Sizes Available : 15″ (12 ½” seat), 16″ (13 ½” seat) & 17″ (14 ½” seat)

For more information on saddle measurements please see our article How to measure a Toowoomba Saddlery saddle ►

LEATHER THAT LASTS

Genuine, premium Hermann Oak^® saddle skirting leather. Full grain for full strength and character. Vegetable pit tanned in the USA since 1881.
For saddles that oil evenly and well, maintain their shape and rich colour throughout their long life.

The Natural coloured leather will age beautifully and the padded dark brown suede seat matches the colour of the felt lining.

Added Grip

Rough-out knee pads and Platinum series ox-bows complete with Leather on tread provide extra grip in those tight turns.

VERSATILE RIGGING

3 way rigging plates support multiple girthing options.

Compatible with pull-up straps or loop-on girth points, which can be removed and refitted as required (available separately).

A TOUCH OF STYLE

Not just for performance! This saddle is nicely finished with white thread, leather conchos on the seat flaps and barbed wire keeper stamps.

Condamine Limited saddle - leather conchos

Plus all the standard features of a Toowoomba Saddlery Saddle that make them so popular

MADE IN AUSTRALIA

For maximum durability, all Toowoomba Saddlery saddles feature stainless steel hardware, UV stabilised lock-stitched thread and low-maintenance felt lining as standard.

Condamine Competition Saddle - front view

Condamine Competition Saddle - back view

THE MIGHTY

This LIMITED EDITION competition saddle is Performance-PLUS – Don’t miss out, order now!

Available through Toowoomba Saddlery distributors Australia-wide FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY

Click here to find your closest distributor ►

Posted on 27/05/202110/02/2023 by Toowoomba Saddlery

The Moonie Drafter Saddle

Cover new ground with the

Moonie Drafter saddle

Featuring our NEW Australian Made saddle tree. Ideal for breaking in, competition, campdrafting and stock work.

Crafted on the new Australian Made Ramtough® Saddle Tree

Tough, high-expansion urethane, reinforced tree made locally in Queensland for Toowoomba Saddlery

‘Jump’ tested, ‘Road’ tested and Lab tested to breaking point!

Strength tested by USQ’s Centre for Future Materials
Gullet strength tested to 947kg
Stirrup bars tested to 850kg

To prove its strength, the new saddle tree was put through 3 phases of testing, so you can ride on it with complete confidence.
Click here for full test details ►

10 year conditional saddle tree warranty

With these results we are more than confident to back our new saddle tree with a 10 year conditional warranty. This warranty covers breakage and distortion of the saddle tree from normal use. The warranty does not cover accidental damage, misuse, intentional abuse or any alteration from its original shape.

THE SPECS

Gullet Width: 6″ Semi Quarter Horse
Kneepad Height: 3 ¼”
3 Saddle Sizes Available : 15″ (12 ½” seat), 16″ (13 ½” seat) & 17″ (14 ½” seat)

For more information on saddle measurements please see our article How to measure a Toowoomba Saddlery saddle ►

ONE PIECE SEAT

The unpadded one piece seat means business while providing a unique feel for the rider.

EASY ACCESS RIGGING

C-type rigging plates + flank dees.

Compatible with pull-up straps or loop-on girth points, which can be removed and refitted as required (available separately).

Specially shaped girth safe for easy access to the rigging.

LEATHER THAT LASTS

Edge-dyed leather in a contrasting finish – Smooth-out with rough-out saddle flaps and padded suede seat.

MADE IN AUSTRALIA

For maximum durability, all Toowoomba Saddlery saddles feature stainless steel hardware, UV stabilised lock-stitched thread and low-maintenance felt lining as standard.

For safety, convenience and maximum leg movement the fenders are fully removable and swing from stainless steel stirrup bars.

We’ve put it to the test – now it’s your turn!

Cover new ground with Toowoomba Saddlery’s Moonie Drafter saddle…

Click here to find your closest distributor ►

Posted on 26/05/202113/02/2023 by Toowoomba Saddlery

The new Ranger Fender Saddle

The Ranger Fender

Blaze a new trail with this ruggedly handsome saddle ideal for competition, campdrafting and more…

Ranger Fender Saddle with pre-turned fenders

The first saddle to be crafted on the new Australian Made Ramtough® Saddle Tree

Tough, high expansion urethane, reinforced tree made locally in Queensland for Toowoomba Saddlery

‘Jump’ tested, ‘Road’ tested and Lab tested to breaking point!

Strength tested by USQ’s Centre for Future Materials
Gullet strength tested to 947kg
Stirrup bars tested to 850kg

To prove its strength, the new saddle tree was put through 3 phases of testing, so you can ride on it with complete confidence.
Click here for full test details ►

10 year conditional saddle tree warranty

THE SPECS

Gullet Width: 6″ Semi Quarter Horse
Kneepad Height: 3 ¼”
3 Saddle Sizes Available : 15″ (12 ½” seat), 16″ (13 ½” seat) & 17″ (14 ½” seat)

For more information on saddle measurements please see our article How to measure a Toowoomba Saddlery saddle ►

PRE-TURNED FENDERS

Fans of turned / twisted fenders talk about it being easier on the ankles and making the mounting process faster and easier.
Having pre-turned fenders saves you time and gets you riding faster.

STIRRUPS WITH GRIP

Platinum series ox-bows complete with Leather on tread provide extra grip in those tight turns.

Ranger Fender saddle easy-access girth safe with 3 way rigging

VERSATILE RIGGING

3 way rigging plates + flank dees support multiple girthing options.

Compatible with pull-up straps or loop-on girth points, which can be removed and refitted as required (available separately).

Specially shaped girth safe for easy access to the rigging.

LEATHER THAT LASTS

Edge-dyed leather in a contrasting finish – Smooth-out with rough-out saddle flaps and padded suede seat.

MADE IN AUSTRALIA

For maximum durability, all Toowoomba Saddlery saddles feature stainless steel hardware, UV stabilised lock-stitched thread and low-maintenance felt lining as standard.

For safety, convenience and maximum leg movement the fenders are fully removable and swing from stainless steel stirrup bars.

We’ve put it to the test – now it’s your turn!

Blaze a new trail with Toowoomba Saddlery’s Ranger Fender saddle…

Click here to find your closest distributor ►

Posted on 03/04/202023/07/2021 by Toowoomba Saddlery

Saddle Tree Strength Testing

Testing Saddle Strength

QUICK LINKS: Click the heading to skip directly to the section you need.

Ramtough Video • Ramtough Results • Equi-Fit Testing • Equi-Fit Results

Saddle strength is primarily determined directly by its bones – the saddle tree. Like any other skeleton the tree provides structure, and helps distribute the rider’s weight across the horse. It is important that these bones are strong enough to endure hours of riding

In 2019, Toowoomba Saddlery worked for months with local manufacturers to develop a brand new saddle tree. The material is a new high-expansion, reinforced Polyurethane-composite with excellent strength characteristics.

We knew this new saddle tree was strong, but the question remained – how strong?

Ramtough Strength Testing Video

Phase 1: Traditional ‘Jump’ Testing

The traditional test of saddle tree strength is quite simple. The saddle tree is placed on the ground and a volunteer proceeds to jump on the saddle tree as hard as they can. What could go wrong? For the saddle tree – not much, it remained in one piece, undamaged, unlike the ankle of our unfortunate volunteer. Always keen to prove the quality of our products, the volunteer for this test was none other than our very own Director Robert Delbridge. With traditional methods proving too unsafe, we began thinking – there must be a better way!

Phase 2: Road testing

Time to ramp it up – cue the four wheel drive ! The concrete of our carpark still bears the scars of this test, the saddle tree however looked no worse for wear. With the weight of a Toyota Landcruiser bearing down on the tree, you can see where it has dragged across the ground, yet it sustains no damage.

Phase 3: Lab testing

Time for something a bit more scientific – something safe and accurate. With the help of the USQ’s Centre for Future Materials, we had the trees mechanically load-tested, and finally obtained the data we were looking for. Each tree was put through 2 tests:

Test 1: Stirrup bar strength test: Each tree tested was fitted with a pair of our standard 6mm stainless steel stirrup bars. Using a Shimadzu Universal Test Machine, increasing pressure is applied to both sides of the saddle tree on the stirrup bars and measured as kilograms of force. As the load increases, we monitor the tree and stirrup bars for bending or damage.

Test 2: Gullet strength test: Using an MTS Insight 100kN electromechanical testing system, the saddle trees are literally tested to breaking point with increasing pressure being applied to the pommel until the tree fails. This pressure is measured as kilograms of force.

Ramtough Saddle Tree Strength Test Results

Stirrup Bar Test: Test stopped at 850k – no movement whatsoever, no visible damage to the tree.
Gullet Strength Test: Snapped at 947Kg.

Based on these impressive results we find it unlikely that the tree would be damaged through normal saddle use – or even many accidental mishaps. We are more than confident to back our new saddle tree with a 10 year conditional warranty. This warranty covers breakage and distortion of the saddle tree from normal use. The warranty does not cover accidental damage, misuse, intentional abuse or any alteration from its original form.

For now, the new saddle tree is available in semiquarter horse only. The first saddle to be made with the new saddle tree is our brand new Ranger Fender. Find out more about this saddle here: https://ozsaddle.com/product/ranger-fender-saddle/

Saddle trees compared

We took this opportunity to have one of our Equi-fit saddle trees tested as well, we have been confidently using these trees for many years. The Equi-fit tree was put through the same tests as our new high-expansion tree.

Equi-fit Saddle Tree strength testing

Equi-fit Saddle tree stirrup gullet strength test

Equi-fit Saddle Tree Strength Test Results

Gullet Strength Test: Snapped at 1710k
Stirrup Bar Test: Test stopped at 875k – no movement whatsoever, no visible damage to the tree.
The Equi-fit trees are used in many of our saddles, click here to discover more about Equi-fit.

The Equi-fit saddle trees are supplied with a 10 year conditional warranty and with these results it is easy to see why. This warranty covers breakage and distortion of the saddle tree from normal use. The warranty does not cover accidental damage, misuse, intentional abuse or any alteration from its original form.

Posted on 17/10/201914/02/2023 by Toowoomba Saddlery

Why choose a Toowoomba Saddlery saddle?

Why Riders Choose

Toowoomba Saddlery saddles

Strength

Horse and rider benefit from a light-weight close contact, saddle tree backed by a 10 year conditional warranty

Safety

Fenders will detach to meet some of the enforced safety regulations.

Hermann Oak Leather

Crafted with genuine Hermann Oak^®leather. Tanned in the USA since 1881 by four generations of the Hermann family.

Australian Made

Made locally here in Toowoomba, Queensland you are supporting local manufacturing, and we provide you with local, professional service.

Versatility

Loop-on girth points (available separately), can be fitted and removed from any of our saddles as events require.

Durability

Lock-stitched with UV stabilised thread. Manufactured with quality materials including stainless steel rigging, hardware and genuine T.S. leather covered stirrup adjusters.

Because we know that Quality Counts!

We are constantly assessing our saddles and listening to feedback so we can be sure that our saddles are as good as they can be.

When cared for correctly your Toowoomba Saddlery saddle will give you years of service

We craft our saddles to embody the same spirit of endurance that our country towns and their people are renowned for. We salute these amazing communities and their riders by making many of our saddles their namesakes.

Products that succeed in Australian conditions cannot be compromised on quality. That is why Toowoomba Saddlery uses only high quality materials in it’s locally-manufactured saddles, crafted by a team of qualified and experienced saddlers guided by over 50 years of business knowledge. So you can have complete confidence in our products.

Designed for versatility, our current half-breed style saddles are the best of both worlds, combining the balance, feel and precision of a dressage saddle, with the comfort of a western saddle seat and the security of stock saddle knee pads. This makes them excellent all-round saddles suitable for a variety of horse breeds and disciplines, with some riders finding the seating not only comfortable but essential to their riding style. Our saddles are compatible with loop-on girth points and pull-up straps (sold separately) which can be removed and refitted as required for your convenience.

Today Toowoomba Saddlery saddles are used by stockmen and women, campdrafters and leisure riders not just in Australia but around the world. With care, Toowoomba Saddlery saddles will last for many years and their quality assists with good resale value if you ever need to part with one.

How Toowoomba Saddlery keeps its saddles competitive

The buying power and efficient manufacturing processes used, make Toowoomba Saddlery saddles excellent value-for-money. We invest in consistently high quality materials from reliable sources to maximise saddle durability and smooth out the manufacturing process.

We specialise in manufacturing specific styles of leather saddles in specific sizes, allowing us to manage time efficiently, implement batch manufacturing processes, and limit the materials required. Labour time and costs are significantly reduced with the assistance of sewing and cutting machines, although a high level of hands-on craftsmanship remains essential.

N.E. on Stanley Fender Saddle
Rode in my new Stanley Fender saddle today, my horse seemed comfortable straight up, it felt like a comfy chair…
K.W. on Sunset Drafter Saddle
Definitely a comfortable saddle, we have 2. Highly recommend

Discover the full range of Toowoomba Saddlery saddles ➤

Need help choosing which saddle is for you? Contact your local saddle store.

Click here to find your nearest distributor ➤

Posted on 16/05/201914/02/2023 by Toowoomba Saddlery

The Tanami Junior Comp Fender

Introducing…

The Tanami Junior Comp Fender Saddle

The Tanami brand has been manufacturing quality leather tack for Toowoomba Saddlery for years now. We work closely with the manufacturers to ensure consistent high quality supply of our existing products and now, following several years in development, Toowoomba Saddlery is proud to introduce Australia and the world to Tanami’s first saddle – the Tanami Junior Comp Fender Saddle.

Hand-crafted using pure vegetable-tanned, drum-dyed, Oak Brown saddle leather, this youth saddle is perfect for young riders just starting out in their chosen discipline.

The Complete Package

3-WAY RIGGING – Stainless steel 3-way rigging plates support multiple girthing options.
STAINLESS STEEL HARDWARE & STIRRUP BARS
REMOVABLE FENDERS – As well as being a safety feature, this means that you can switch between youth and adult size fenders, adapting the saddle to children with long legs, or smaller-sized adults.
Padded leather-on-tread youth oxbows (Safety stirrups available as optional extras)
PADDED SUEDE SEAT
Compatible with loop-on girth points or pull-up straps (available separately)

The Leather

This Tanami saddle is hand-crafted using pure vegetable-tanned, drum-dyed, Oak Brown saddle leather, with a padded suede seat and basket weave stamping.

Designed to be ecofriendly leather, special attention has been given on ecology specifications. The liming process is sulphide free, the tanning process is chrome free and the leather does not contain any toxic or hazardous chemicals.

The tannery from which this leather is sourced has been established for over 60 years, holds ISO certification for their quality and environment management systems and international certification for social accountability.

The Tanami Saddle Tree

The saddle tree is covered by a 5 year conditional warranty.

The tree is made from a 6 layer composite crossmatting and resin-finished with extra reinforcing blocks inside the moulded tree where any screws are placed.

Each batch of resin used in these trees is laboratory tested to meet strict 6746 : 1994 standards.

If the resin does not pass all of the strict testing procedures, the resin is rejected and not used in the saddle trees.

RESIN IS TESTED FOR

Appearance
Colour
AV
Viscosity (Brookfield)
Viscosity (Ford Cup 4)
Specific Gravity
Gel Time
Peak Exotherm
Gel Peak
Volatile Matter

Tanami Junior Saddle - 2020 - front view

The feedback for this saddle has been very positive, and the Tanami Junior Comp saddle looks to be a popular addition to the Tanami range.

Need to know more?

See the specs for this saddle, or provide feedback on a Tanami Junior Comp saddle you already have.

See the product page ➤

Find your nearest distributor ➤

Complete your Tanami Saddle with Tanami saddle pad and other Tanami tack and accessories.

Discover the full Tanami range ➤

Posted on 06/11/201804/08/2023 by Toowoomba Saddlery

How to measure a Toowoomba Saddlery saddle

HOW TO MEASURE A TOOWOOMBA SADDLERY SADDLE

One of the most common saddle questions we hear is “Which saddle size do I need?”
When answering this question it is important to know how the saddle is being measured.

To help you better understand Toowoomba Saddlery saddle sizes we have prepared a brief guide.

Skip to: Saddle vs Seat Size | Size Comparison | Saddle Parts | Other Measurements | Fender Length

You may already know that Western style and Australian stock saddles are measured differently to English style saddles. It is also worth noting that some saddleries may take their measurements from different points on the saddle.

Saddle Size vs Seat Size

Toowoomba Saddlery’s saddles are available in up to 5 saddle sizes. These diagrams and table should give you an idea of how each saddle size compares to the seat size and saddle length.

Saddle Size Measurement
Measure from front-most part of the pommel to inside back seat.

Seat Size Measurement
Measure from the back of the pommel to inside back seat.

Comparison Chart

INTERACTIVE: Select a saddle size from the box to see the relative saddle size and length.

(A) SADDLE LENGTH

21″ (53.4cm)

(B) SADDLE SIZE

11.5″ (29cm)

See the saddle size conversion information as a static chart

(A) Saddle Length	(B) Saddle Size	(C) Seat Size
22″ (55.9cm)	14″ (35.5cm)	11.5″ (29.0cm)
23″ (58.4cm)	15″ (38.0cm)	12.5″ (31.5cm)
24″ (61.0cm)	16″ (40.5cm)	13.5″ (34.0cm)
25″ (63.5cm)	17″ (43.0cm)	14.5″ (36.5cm)
26″ (66.0cm)	18″ (45.5cm)	15.5″ (39.0cm)

Parts of a Saddle

A. Pommel
B. Kneepad
C. Cantle (The raised curved part at the back-top of the seat)
D. Seat Flap
E. Fender

Saddle Measurements

H. Seat Dip Measurement
Can be measured by placing a ruler or straight edge on pommel and top of cantle. Take measurement from this ruler to the lowest point of the seat.

I. Kneepad Height Measurement
Measure from the base of the kneepad to highest point of knee pad.

J. Chamber / Gullet Width Measurement
Measurement taken from the saddle tree (for consistency).

saddle measurements diagram — The diagram above indicates how the sizes listed in our saddle specifications are measured.

Saddle Fender Length

The benefit of removable fenders is that you can easily source spares or replacements as well as being able to mix-and-match saddles with fenders for a better fit. E.g. For a child with long legs you could purchase a youth-size saddle, then replace the standard youth size fenders with an adult size pair.

Standard adult size saddles fenders: Adjustable from approximately 19” to 26” in length.
Shortened adult size fenders: Adjustable from approximately 17 ½” to 24 ½” in length.
Standard youth size saddles fenders: Adjustable from approximately 14 ½” to 18 ½” in length.

How we measure fender Length
Measure from the top of the webbing (where it hooks over the stirrup Bar) to the bottom of the leather.

Spare saddle fenders are available, and supplied by the pair.
Click here to view fender options ►

Ready to compare saddles? View all Toowoomba Saddlery saddles ►

Posted on 06/11/201814/02/2023 by Toowoomba Saddlery

How to care for your TS leather saddle

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR TS LEATHER SADDLE

At Toowoomba Saddlery, we craft our saddles with durability in mind.
With proper care, your Toowoomba Saddlery saddle will provide many years of service.

Frequently Asked Saddle Care Questions

Do I need to oil or condition my new saddle before I ride in it?

Toowoomba Saddlery recommends a light initial oil prior to your first ride (avoid over oiling) to protect the leather from the elements. It is normal for the leather to slightly darken after oiling.

Which products should I use to oil or condition my new saddle?

Toowoomba Saddlery uses and recommends Oakwood Leather Conditioner and leather oil and also Joseph Lyddy leather care products.

How often should I oil or condition my saddle?

It depends… but as a general rule you should oil your saddle before your first ride, and perhaps every 2 – 6 months there-after depending on how often you ride and your climate. If you ride in very dry or very humid conditions, you may need to oil or condition your saddle more often.

How often should I clean my saddle?

Wiping down your saddle after every ride is a good habit every rider should establish. As with conditioning, how often you perform a thorough saddle clean depends on how often you ride and your climate.

How do I care for rough-out leather on a saddle?

Once dry (after cleaning), you can lightly brush rough-out leather with a stiff bristle brush to give it new life.
You oil rough-out and smooth-out leather in exactly the same way.
NOTE: Toowoomba Saddlery does not pre-oil suede or rough-out leather on our saddles prior to dispatch as some riders prefer to use them without oil, to increase the grip this leather finish provides.

How do I care for a suede seat on a saddle?

Suede is a split leather, thinner than full grain leather and as such requires a little more maintenance. Over time, with the constant friction of riding and cleaning, the nap can ‘slick’ down, however as with all leather products, proper maintenance will extend its life as much as possible.
You can pre-treat with waterproofing and stain preventing spray before the suede is used.
Regularly remove surface dust and refresh the nap with a nylon bristle brush (similar to a nail brush). Raising the nap helps remove dirt and debris trapped between fibres and keeps the grippy texture. For heavier soiling, clean gently with soapy water and brush. Try not to oversaturate. For stains, you can try a ‘suede eraser’ which acts similarly to an eraser on pencil-marks.

CLEANING YOUR LEATHER SADDLE

We recommend Oakwood or Joseph Lyddy saddle soap.

Scrub with luke-warm (not boiling) soapy water using a soft brush or cloth.
Rinse well with clean water.
Wash the felt lining in the same way.
Allow your saddle to dry in a well ventilated shaded area (NOT in direct sunlight).
When completely dry, you can re-oil / dress your saddle.

OILING YOUR LEATHER SADDLE

We use and recommend Oakwood Leather Oil, or Joseph Lyddy Neatsfoot Oil.

Ensure the saddle is clean and dry.
Apply the oil all over the saddle, use a clean paint brush to cover hard-to-reach areas, and a soft cloth or sponge for the larger areas.
Give the oil some time to soak in (around an hour).
Wipe off the excess with a clean, dry cloth.

CONDITIONING YOUR LEATHER SADDLE

Always use a quality leather conditioner.
We use and recommend Oakwood Leather Conditioner.

Ensure the saddle is clean and dry.
Apply first with a brush to get into all the crevices.
Rub over the larger areas in a circular motion with a sponge or soft lint-free cloth.
Buff the leather with a soft, dry cloth.
Once conditioned, the leather can take 24 – 48 hours to fully dry.

SADDLE CARE DON’Ts

NEVER WASH YOUR SADDLE WITH BOILING WATER !
Leather is the same as our skin, if the water is too hot for our bare skin, it is too hot for leather. Many times, we have seen where very hot water has been used on saddles (mainly to shape fenders and the like), destroying the leather surface.

NEVER OIL A WET SADDLE!
This can trap moisture in the leather, potentially leading to mould or rot.

NEVER USE HOT OIL !
This will damage the leather.

NEVER USE MINERAL BASED OILS
e.g. engine/motor oil etc… as this will dry the leather out.

NEVER DRY YOUR SADDLE WITH DIRECT HEAT!
This includes blow-dryers, heaters and direct sunlight. This can shrink, harden and crack the leather.

SADDLE CARE DOs

DO USE ONLY TEPID WATER
when cleaning your saddle.

DO CLEAN & OIL YOUR SADDLE REGULARLY!
If the leather dries out you risk decreasing the life of the product.

DO PERFORM REGULAR GEAR CHECKS !
Check your girth, girth points, stirrup leathers and bridles. Only use a reputable saddler for repairs.

DO LET YOUR SADDLE DRY NATURALLY!
in a well-ventilated, shady area.

Ongoing Saddle Care

Both Oakwood and Joseph Lyddy leather care products have a long history in Australia. Make them part of your regular leather care regime to get the most out of your leather products.
View our leather care products ►