Liversage Saddles Australia - Trail Rider

Workshop is flat out getting orders our before closing for the Christmas break. We will make around 900 saddles this year.

Some photos from the pack horse ride in the Ashburton Valley. Warm days and cool nights.

Somewhat belated, attached are some photos from TQ25 in Tasmania. By all accounts a very successful event and a credit to the numerous people involved to make it happen. Weather was just about perfect for the actual 24 hours. A bit rough earlier in the week.

Nice pack horse ride today with Matt & Lisa Sherriff. Getting ready for the Ashburton in July.

The wet season has been slow in coming in the Ashburton River catchment but we are hopeful. With several caveats including getting the rain so we have good horse feed, we are planning to ride there in July for a couple of weeks. Various riders have over the years expressed an interest in joining us. So, should there be an interest in joining us, please contact me. The plan is at this point flexible. We will do day rides from a camp or the station and we may do some packing. You will need to be self sufficient, be a competent horse rider and be comfortable living in the remote location. Greg 0417 981814

We are now doing regular trails from the Liversage Ranch property, near Lydenburg, South Africa. We offer an all inclusive experience or can tailor the ride for individual groups. Rides vary from day rides to 5 day rides.

Enquires can be forwarded to Greg Steemson, Liversage Australia, [email protected], 0417981814.

Hi everyone, I am planning to travel to the workshop in November 2024 for about 3 weeks. In addition to the usual workshop activities, we plan to ride from the farm at Lydenburg to Pilgrims Rest (in the area of north east South Africa) and back. The ride will be along some of the remote historical trails in this mountainous area in an alpine type terrain. November is usually warm but can be wet with summer thunderstorms. Camping is usually at huts but occasionally sleeping under the stars is necessary. The ride is challenging and interested riders need to provide some evidence of their experience. Everything apart from personal items is provided. On previous rides, Australian participants have also visited other trail riding venues. Interested riders can contact me for more information. My number is 0417 981 814.

During a recent trip to Norway, Lisa and Matt Sherriff saw something familiar, a Liversage Trail Rider made around 2000. Trail Rider saddles are spread far and wide.

Hi everyone, 2024 is well underway. The weather in WA has been ordinary. However, there has been some rain in the Ashburton valley so we are heading there around 7 May for a couple of weeks riding. Usually very pleasant riding weather although in 2022 there was A LOT OF RAIN! The workshop is very busy - a good thing - and Kylon is also busy with the new trails. We have good stock levels available for the coming cooler months including some nice Reiner saddles. The next shipment should include some Roper saddles.

I've been riding since I was six years old ( a loooong time ago!) so my bum has spent a vast amount of hours and countless kilometers in the saddle!
🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎

From Ba****ck, to English style, Western to Australian Stock, Traditional Ethiopian Goat Skin and Wooden creations to saddles made and designed from the softest premium Peruvian Leather.......there's not many saddles I haven't had the pleasure of sitting in but one style always comes top of my list for long distance comfort for rider and especially the horse.........🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴.

Many of our modern day saddles have been fashioned with the historic military saddles in mind as time and again the saddlery used by the mounted forces has been proven to be exceedingly compatible for strenuous riding over long distances.

The McClellan Military Saddle was first designed for military use by George B. McClellan of the US Army. Assigned with the task of developing new cavalry equipment, he produced the first design of his now infamous saddle in 1857 which he claimed to be a revised version of the Hungarian models used in the Prussian Services.............this however is still occasionally questioned as the saddle he created had a distinctly Spanish -type saddle tree resembling that which was found extensively in Mexico during this era.

However, after a number of adjustments, it became the official military saddle for the USA in 1859 largely due to its simplistic, light weight design which was comfortable on the backs of the cavalry horse whilst at the same time sturdy enough for rider support and additional gear.

It reigned supreme as the exclusive American Cavalry Saddle until the last mounted military force was disbanded.
This style of saddle was also found in countries such as Mexico, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and even utilised by the British during the Boer War.

Although not without its critics, the McClellan style of saddle has had continued use today, and has since been repeatedly remodeled and used largely for endurance riding.

Why do I like this style of saddle?
Well for starters it is designed for maximum horse and rider comfort over long distances and varying terrain. Think about it, mounted military clocked up hundreds of kms in the saddle, riding day and night......you need a pretty damn good saddle design to withstand that usage and not cause any adverse affects to the horse.

I particularly am fond of the high wither clearance. Of course it's important to have a saddle that fits your horse correctly, and today's designs are made to measure......but such luxuries were not available back then, one saddle had to fit a number of horses and having high wither clearance ensured no pressure on one of the most sensitive and delicate areas of the horses anatomy.

Pictured is a Leon Liversage Trailrider, designed for hardwork and effective trail rider, specifically developed for comfort over long distance and varying terrain and closely resembles the military saddles of old..........the only partner for a Globetrotting Cowgirl 🤠

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