Friend of mine is looking for a light weight, but high quality saddle to fit a typical cow bred quarter horse (big shoulders, slightly downhill). She had to have her rotator cuff repaired a few months ago, and is still finding it hard/painful to lift her heavy Bob’s up on to her horse. I am trying to help her look (she’s not super internet savvy), but I am at a loss of what would fit her quality standards (similar to a Bobs), but is also going to be lightweight. Any suggestions?
She might need to be a bit more flexible on what she deems as quality in favor of weight and fit. There are many barrel racing saddles that are light weight, anywhere from about 21 lbs to 30 lbs. Personally my wore out shoulders find 30 lbs too much. Brand is hard to recommend but you might start with a simple google for light weight western saddles. Alamo makes one that is 18 lbs, quality not near Bob’s but okayish. Cashel makes a trail saddle that weighs 21 lbs, comes in a wide generous gullet size. Circle Y has some that are light weight. Deb Sibley makes a very light saddle for barrel racing. Since you don’t say what if she competes in a certain event or not hard to make more specific recommendations. But usually, barrel saddles will be the lightest. Additionally, weight will also very depending on seat size, the larger the seat size the heavier the saddle.
I have a Brazilian Barrel Saddle, ridiculously overpriced (I can emphasize that enough) in the US, cheaply priced in Brazil, quality is not there; HOWEVER, it weighs 12 lbs and that makes it worth owning one when you really need something light weight.
I was looking at the Cashel saddles as something to suggest to her since they are made by Martin. They do make a square skirted one. I know for sure that she doesn’t want anything with a round skirt. She doesn’t show, but she still likes to look the part. The trail Cashel I know she will probably turn her nose up at, but it only weights 24 pounds. I am trying to find a weight on the square skirt. The rounded edged one weights 34 pounds which is too bad as I think it would be perfect.
I am not sure how much her current saddle weights, but it is HEAVY. I borrowed it for a clinic and I had a hard time slinging it up on to my 16 hand horse’s back.
Obviously the more leather the saddle has, the more weight it will have. So if she is stuck on a square skirted leather saddle, then she’s not going to be able to give up much in the weight department unless maybe she goes to a fiberglass tree and synthetic fenders or something like that - but then she’d not be “looking the part.”
There are lots of lightweight saddles to be found out there - BUT, the way they get to be lightweight is by cutting back on any leather that isn’t necessary in skirting as first step. If that isn’t enough, the fenders are the next to go by making them synthetic.
It is simple science.
http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/alamo-barrel-racing-saddle1.html#.WNFb_5E8KhA
This one weighs 24 lbs, looks a little better than a trail saddle. Cannot attest to the quality, certainly not at a level of Bobs.
Yep, I have a feeling what she wants/needs is a needle in a haystack unless she is willing to give up having a full skirt. BUT I figured it couldn’t hurt to ask around for her.
http://www.sstack.com/Arabian-Western-Show-Tack/Double-S-Denver-Show-Saddle/
Claiming this weighs 23 lbs and is on sale for $529. Don’t know anything about the maker, guessing it is not quality but for that price could be worth trying.
Anybody have input on the quality and fit of the Cashel saddles?
Question from someone who knows almost 0 about western. Why would one have preference for a square skirt?
(I’m a broken body, also, who prefers light weight saddles, both for me and the horse. Thanks.
For showing a square skirt is more in fashion. You wouldn’t catch most AQHA or other breed show people dead in anything but a square skirt. I think even in the Arab and Morgan world the round skirt has gone out of style.
Not around here, about half and half are square or slightly rounded.
The difference for many is, where does the back of my saddle fit, better with a square or rounded skirt?
Some square points can hit a horse right under the hip bone, would not want to use those on them.
Now, fully rounded to hardly no skirts behind, that is not very common at shows, mostly for training saddles.
That super short skirt can let the back of the saddle, with less leather to spread the weight around back there, be a little harder on the horse’s back, if ridden long with that short a skirt.
You are right that fads have brought the square skirts, that were less common a few decades ago, back into the picture, just not to the point of being the only accpetable ones.
I’m just going by what I have seen at Congress, there wasn’t a single non-square skirt saddle anywhere. Same with at the WDAA World Show, where pretty much any style of western saddle is acceptable. Even at the local breed show level the only time I see a round skirt is occasionally in the speed classes, but even barrel saddles seem to be going to more square skirts.
But it could entirely be what part of the country you are in.
Crates Light Reiner or Lady Reiner are slightly less than 30 lbs, I think. Crates sold to Fabtron, so I don’t know about the quality of the brand new saddles, but I like the older saddles. I want to get a used Lady Reiner myself.
Also, they fit my very big shouldered QH great.
Fabtron Lady Trail.
I so wanted one of those when I was saddle hunting, but I need a 17 inch seat. 
I love my Pards, but now that I have been helping my friend look I almost want to look for a lighter weight saddle for myself too! :lol:
My regular roping saddle is heavy.
The Bob’s Lady Reiner is at least half as heavy, barely heavier than my English saddle.
We can also ride and train most of the time in the light English saddles and only use the heavier western ones for a few days before a show and for when needing those specific saddles.
There are ways to swing even a heavy saddle on a horse that makes getting it up there easier.
You do need to tie the off stirrup up, be sure the cinches are draped over the seat to the left and then you need a nice horse that will stand there when you swing and let the saddle lower onto the horse and is straightened up.
I had shoulder surgery and am thinking on rigging a pulley I can lift a saddle, walk a horse under there and let the saddle down on him.
Yeah, getting my saddle up on Sydney has always been a bit of a struggle. I’ve gotten pretty good at the swing and fling while still setting in gently down on to her back. Its the least favorite part of tacking up for me.
My Pards is not as heavy as this friend’s Bobs. Her Bobs is HEAVY. My Pards is still pretty heavy, but I would guess that it is still under 40 pounds.
I wish Lady Reiner saddles came in some bigger seat sizes. Most seem to stop at 16. 16.5 fits me perfectly, but most brands only offer whole numbers so I have to search out a 17.
I think you can get the other Reiner models in a 17" if you’re heart isn’t set on the Lady Reiner. I’ve sat in both and would be happy with either. I just like the narrower Ladies’ model for my own comfort. I ride in a 16". My old Crates steer wrestling saddle weighs close to 40 lbs, I think, so all the reiners feel comparatively light.
Actually, you might be able to use a steer wrestling saddle if a Crates 16.5 fits you. The seat feels a lot bigger than other models of the same size. I got mine to use for Western dressage.
Are Crates even still making saddles? Crate’s Facebook hasn’t been updated since 2013 ,and their website doesn’t give much information on where to find one either. The reining equi-fit tree fits Sydney pretty well, or at least the Big Horn version of the lady reiner did. They should be the same tree since they are both made by Steele.
