Can anyone identify this style of Australian saddle?

[Curbstrap2]

Not your typical Aussie saddle. Can anyone ID this style? Thanks

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=310142662206

[Echo4V]

I think it's just an english saddle made in Australia.

David

[Curbstrap2]

I think it's just an english saddle made in Australia.

David

The poleys made me think it was perhaps a polocrosse saddle. I would think English too, but I would presume a kneeroll would be more appropriate for a English forward seat saddle.

[Traveller]

It looks like an English jumping saddle that was made in Australia. It has knee blocks rather than poleys, and the angle of the flaps make it look like a forward seat.

Looks like it's of decent quality, if a bit old.

[Curbstrap2]

The photos are a bit deceiving. The way it sits on a stand makes it look to have a forward flap. In reality it doesn't.

It has a longer, more Aussie or dressage style flaps. The way it sits, the front blocks would be more in the thigh area than the knee. I'm puzzled as to what is it.

I am pretty sure it is not a jumping saddle. The flap is too "all purpose" than forward despite what the photo implies.

Edited May 27, 2009 by Curbstrap2

[Curbstrap2]

Another interesting feature is that it has Australian style stirrup hangers vs. English style stirrup hangers. 3 billets on each side and a slot in both flaps for either an overgirth? or for excess stirrup leathers? (rather than a tab - if that makes sense), but no overgirth cinch ring.

Plus it has a crupper ring that a jumping saddle generally doesn't have.

[pella]

I cannot see the crupper ring on the ebay pictures but possible as it is made on a aussie tree.

The slot was probably for a overgirth, maybe it's a kind of cross-country saddle. It look made to jump.

Nice looking saddle

[daviD A Morris]

Thier name was Uhl not Luhl. They made a pretty good quality saddle and were around for many years. Jimsaddler or Barra will be able to give you the full history on the company. The saddle is just a GP (general purpose). At the time it was made, it would have been used for anything from polo to polocrosse to ponyclub, jumping. The flaps are cut fairly forward and cantle low, so nowadays you'd call it a jumping saddle, but in the era when that was made Ausies tended to ride more with their legs forwad and sit back in the cantle. Surprising that it appears to have a fairly "central seat" for that era. It looks to have plenty of wear left in it. All of the Uhl saddles I've ever seen (and there has been hundreds of them) all had good quality materials and excellent workmanship, lacked the "finness" and style of custom made saddles that were becoming fashoinable just at the time that the company closed down, but they made good robust work saddles.

dam

[Curbstrap2]

Thier name was Uhl not Luhl. They made a pretty good quality saddle and were around for many years. Jimsaddler or Barra will be able to give you the full history on the company. The saddle is just a GP (general purpose). At the time it was made, it would have been used for anything from polo to polocrosse to ponyclub, jumping. The flaps are cut fairly forward and cantle low, so nowadays you'd call it a jumping saddle, but in the era when that was made Ausies tended to ride more with their legs forwad and sit back in the cantle. Surprising that it appears to have a fairly "central seat" for that era. It looks to have plenty of wear left in it. All of the Uhl saddles I've ever seen (and there has been hundreds of them) all had good quality materials and excellent workmanship, lacked the "finness" and style of custom made saddles that were becoming fashoinable just at the time that the company closed down, but they made good robust work saddles.

dam

Well whadaya know!!! You are correct!! Upon closer inspection, the name reads L Uhl and Sons. So without knowing that, it just appears to be 'Luhl and sons'. Good info. Thank you! How old do you guess it to be?

Edited May 28, 2009 by Curbstrap2