A beautifully illustrated history of an iconic Australian object – the stock saddle

When Clancy rode down the Cooper, Ned Kelly went on the run and Hugh Jackman’s Drover headed for Darwin, they all rode in an Australian stock saddle.

Developed in response to the unique challenges of the Australian environment, the Australian stock saddle is known for its comfort and ease when riding, especially over unpredictable terrain.

From its early iterations in the 1800s to modern-day saddles, the stock saddle has underpinned many of this country’s most iconic historical events, but its history has never been written. Wild Ride captures this story – from colonial pioneers to Aboriginal stockmen and women, from bushrangers to the Boer War, and from the earliest crafters to the most recent handstitched examples.

Saddlers are highly skilled leatherworkers; it can take months to finish a single saddle. This gorgeous book captures the work of saddlers such as Jack Wieneke, J.P. Talty and Syd Hill as well as many contemporary makers, and celebrates a uniquely Australian object – a piece of functional art.

Illustrated with sumptuous photography of Australia’s largest saddle collection – the Drapac Collection – this comprehensive, beautiful book will appeal to all lovers of horses, the outback and Australian history.

With a foreword by Michael Drapac, Australian stock saddle connoisseur.

‘A comprehensive, illuminating history of one of the true icons of Australian rural life’ -Tom Burlinson

Fiona Carruthers (Author)
Fiona Carruthers has loved and ridden horses all her life, still fitting in a trail ride whenever she can around her job as a features writer and travel editor for The Australian Financial Review. Fiona is the author of The Horse in Australia and has previously held senior roles with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age‘s Traveller section, ABC Radio National, Deutsche Welle Radio, TIME magazine and The Australian. She lives in Sydney with her husband, too many pets – and not enough time to ride horses.