We here at James Saddlery are very excited to be finalising an order that is set to make its way to the Dallas Police Department in the USA!

These 4 Northern Champion Drafters left our workshop last week and the Dallas Police Department are thrilled to be getting back in the saddle!

Colt Revolver with Flex Tree and Emu Inlay

Colt Revolver Supreme with Flex Tree

Introducing the new Colt Revolver Supreme with Flex Tree! This saddle is much like the Colt with Flex Tree, except that it is completely hand tooled by Glen Gardiner, who himself owns a Santa MK III Revolver and Northern Champion Drafter. Anyone that is in the Indonesian area can contact Glen for professional saddle assistance and/or advice.

NOT JUST ANOTHER CHANGEABLE GULLET SADDLE! This saddle is built on a

FLEXIBLE SADDLE TREE.

Changing the gullet on a saddle does allow for one saddle to be used on horses with different shaped withers. However, it does not address the changing contour of the horses back that also changed with different horses.

Nor does it address the fact that a horses back changes shape as the horse goes through its various gaits.

The Flexible tree used on saddles designed and made by James Saddlery not only have flex in the gullet, but through the entire tree. This means that when girthed up and with the rider on board, the tree auto adjusts to any shape horse or any shape the horse may change to, for example at the gallop as opposed to a walk.

It also can adjust in its length to allow for shoulder movement. It is evident that in a one leg forward position the horses back becomes uneven and out of square. The flex tree alters accordingly.

A change of gullet does allow a saddle to be used on different horses and that is great if the horse stood still and maintained that position it had where the saddle is fitted. The fact is that the instant your horse moves, it changes shape. A changeable gullet saddle does not change to suit. The flexible tree saddle designed by James Saddlery does change shape to suit various horses and the changing shapes of a horse in motion.

FLEXIBLE TREES GIVE YOU THE ULTIMATE IN SADDLE FIT AND THE SHOCK ABSORBING QUALITY OF THE TREE ENSURE SUPERIOR RIDER COMFORT AND MINIMISE THE CHANCE OF INJURY TO THE BACK OF A VALUED AND VALUABLE HORSE.

ROTATING STIRRUP BAR DESIGNED BY TREVOR JAMES ENSURES FREE MOVING FRICTION FREE RIDE.

With the ever increasing popularity of fender saddles an emphasis has been placed on the ability of the fender to “swing” as the name “swing fender saddle” implies.

The American style rawhide covered tree is a true work of art and there are many Australian style fender saddles available built on rawhide covered trees. Their trees are carved from pine timber, rawhide covered and are very strong. However, they do not contain the steel gullet used in Australian saddles in order to support a stirrup bar.

The fender strap passes around the side rail of the tree. Once again this is very strong but has certain disadvantages.

Firstly the fender is there for life, it cannot slip off like an Australian Stirrup leather can. Secondly it cannot swing freely. Because it passes around the side rail and runs through a recess in the underside of the tree so no lump is created by the fender strap, it is locked down tight when the saddle is girthed up.

Trevor James of James Saddlery has recognised that these features are totally alien to the Australian rider who demands the safety aspect of the fender or stirrup leather to come off the saddle should the rider fall and be dragged. With this in mind all fender saddles made by James Saddlery have the fender mounted on a conventional stirrup bar, which also allows a foot forward position if the rider prefers that style or is simply galloping downhill.

This type of fender mounted on a stirrup bar such as in the Santa MK III has proven enormously popular with the safety conscious Australian market and of course the stirrup bar is recognised world wide as a distinctly Australian feature.

The stirrup bar has remained essentially unchanged since its conception a couple of century’s ago. However, with the increasing popularity of fender saddles Trevor James has seen the need to improve the stirrup bar. He has designed a stirrup bar, which is mounted on a sealed roller bearing and the whole stirrup bar rotates in unison with the fender. This bearing mounted fender ensures the ultimate free movement but still allows the fender to slip off as with a conventional stirrup bar.

This rotating stirrup bar can be disassembled to service or replace the bearings very easily and the assembly has a lock off point so that at a certain point no more rotation is possible and the fender cannot come off during normal riding but has the ability to slide off if the rider is being dragged. The new device can be fitted to any of the James brand swing fender saddles. These saddles are designed with strength, safety and the ultimate in a free moving friction free ride provided by the new bearing mounted fender designed by Trevor James and available exclusively from James Saddlery.

A new light weight flexible tree is now available in a saddle made by James Saddlery.

It has, for many years been a concept that to fit a saddle to a horse, measurements and angles must be taken with the horse standing upright with its weight evenly distributed on four legs. It is true that this is the best position.

Where this theory fails is that when riding, the horses shape changes as it goes through its various gaits. Perhaps you have experienced a saddle that raises or back slaps at the canter. It has proven pretty well impossible to make a saddle that will conform to these changes in shape a horse undergoes. It has also been difficult to make a saddle that will fit different shaped horses without some dismantling or alteration.

The new Flexafit tree does address some of these problems. The area known as the side rails and ground seat (the part of the saddle that contacts and distributes the rider weight on to the horses back) in the new Flexafit tree is fully flexible. This enables the rider weight to alter the tree shape to the horse it is on. It also allows the tree to change shape as the horse changes shape. It allows for the tree to flex to fit different shaped horses within reason i.e approximately 90 to 100 degrees. This eliminates many situations where multiple saddles are needed to fit all your horses.

The trees can flex in their length to conform to the horses shape and the kneepad section can flex to accommodate the horses shoulder movement when there is one leg forward and one leg back.

The new Barkly is designed for people who want a light weight, genuine leather saddle that has all the safety features of a stirrup and bar 2 point girth system.

Both of these features are now mandatory for all sporting bodies in Australia and for very good reasons related to rider safety. The stirrup bar allows the fender to detach in a fall and drag situation and the two point girth system ensures your saddle stays on the horse if one system should fail.

FEATURES:

• Genuine Leather
• Light Weight
• Solid Brass Fittings
• Fender Web Reinforced
• Stirrup Bar
• 2 Point Girth System
• Hand Tooled
• Free Mounts Package

Free Mounts Package includes:

• Campdraft Girth
• Oxbows
• Campdraft Surcingle

TOTAL VALUE $170

TAKING ORDERS NOW. DELIVERY 4 – 6 WEEKS

James Saddlery offers a repair service. If your saddles and/or gear needs repairing, bring it in or send it to us and we will give you an obligation free quote to fix it for you. Anything from replacing trees, counterlining or just fixing up some stitching!

Give us a call on 07 32055839 or email us on jamessaddleryaus@gmail.com and we’ll be happy to discuss your saddle repair needs with you!

THE COLT SPECIAL SINGLE PIECE SEAT

ORDER NOW

This saddle was designed for a stockman in North QLD. Because of an accident, he has one prosthetic leg and had found that this caused a normal saddle to wear through the seat seam and stitching. With this seat moulded in one piece with no stitching or seam, the problem is completely eliminated. 

Also available for any rider who would like their saddle to last far longer and with absolutely no rub from a seat seam found in most saddles. 

Barcoo Saddle Trees $395

If you have Barcoos on the old style tree that were prone to breakage, new replacement trees are available. 

The new trees are made of fibreglass outer and injected with lightweight, super strong polyurethane with a solid steel gullet. These will not break. 

New Trees, All Sizes, JUST $395

FLEX FIT HALFBREED SADDLE – A SADDLE THAT ALTERS SHAPE, ALONG WITH YOU & YOUR HORSE. 

Flex Fit Tree. Click photo for more information

This exciting new saddle addresses the problem of saddle fit. It has long been accepted that the best way to fit a saddle to a horse is with the horse standing evenly on all four legs. This has been the ideal situation, provided a horse never changed from that position. 

As a horse moves through its various gaits, it continually changes shape. Not only does it alter shape along the length of the back, but shoulder movement means that a leg forward position causes a continuing alteration of shoulder muscle mass and underlying skeletal structure. 

The new totally flexible trees incorporated in the Flex Fit Halfbreed allow for the saddle to change shape along with the horse. It also means that one saddle can fit various shape horses. The rider weight, along with the girth system ensure a snug fit in all cases. 

The Flex Fit is otherwise a traditional Halfbreed saddle with Revolving Stirrup Bar (see Revolving Stirrup Bar). This is important as all sporting bodies now require this feature (See Important Information to Consider Before Buying a Saddle) 

The seat is blocked in one piece, eliminating stitching and seams that could wear and rub a rider. It is lined with genuine sheepskin. 

It is light, strong and incorporates the latest technology to provide horse and rider the ultimate fit and comfort in any situation. 

The fenders are mounted on the stirrup bar are web reinforced to prevent stretching or failure. The leather is best quality and they are hand made by Trevor & Daniel James. 

FLEX FIT TREES

A new light weight flexible tree is now available in a saddle made by James Saddlery.

It has, for many years been a concept that to fit a saddle to a horse, measurements and angles must be taken with the horse standing upright with its weight evenly distributed on four legs. It is true that this is the best position.

Where this theory fails is that when riding, the horses shape changes as it goes through its various gaits. Perhaps you have experienced a saddle that raises or back slaps at the canter. It has proven pretty well impossible to make a saddle that will conform to these changes in shape a horse undergoes. It has also been difficult to make a saddle that will fit different shaped horses without some dismantling or alteration.

The new Flexafit tree does address some of these problems. The area known as the side rails and ground seat (the part of the saddle that contacts and distributes the rider weight on to the horses back) in the new Flexafit tree is fully flexible. This enables the rider weight to alter the tree shape to the horse it is on. It also allows the tree to change shape as the horse changes shape. It allows for the tree to flex to fit different shaped horses within reason i.e approximately 90 to 100 degrees. This eliminates many situations where multiple saddles are needed to fit all your horses.

Series of photos showing the tree flexing from side to side. The tree was twisted to simulate the horses movement.

The trees can flex in their length to conform to the horses shape and the kneepad section can flex to accommodate the horses shoulder movement when there is one leg forward and one leg back. The saddles built on these trees are fitted with the revolving stirrup bar and cab be ordered now.

$2950 FULLY MOUNTED

WARNING

IMPORTANT INFORMATION IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING BUYING A NEW SADDLE

It is now mandatory in Australia for all sporting bodies that saddles have two safety features. 

One is that your saddle has the fender or stirrup leather mounted on a stirrup bar. This allows the rider to be released from the saddle in a fall and drag situation. 

Two is that your saddle has two girth systems so in the event that one fails, your saddle will not come off. 

It is extremely important that if you intend to use your new saddle at any sporting event, that you ensure it has these safety features and is “Sporting Body Legal”. 

I am finding an influx of people who have purchased saddles online or at various saddle outlets and then bring them to me for alteration to make them safe and legal. IT CAN NOT BE DONE. 

Please check with your Club or Association to ensure what is required before wasting money on these unsafe and unusable products. 

All saddles sold by James Saddlery are Sporting Body Legal.