Saddle for an OTTB and a rider that can't lift anything heavy - what a combination!!

[LoriW]

So, I had previously purchased a High Horse (made by Circle Y) which is 1/2 leather 1/2 cordura but just not in love with for him or for me.

I just had my 4th brain surgery for which I’m hope recuperating and have nothing better to do than look and shop for western saddles!! I’m probably looking for the holy grail but I know there must be something out there. Here are my needs (or wants):

1 - OTTB 16.2 with substantial (but not horrifying) withers and some hollows under his withers. He has a Prestige Roma English saddle which fits him to a “t” with nothing but a baby pad underneath if that helps at all.

2 - Me. A whole other can of worms. Just had my 4th surgery on my head/neck. I have a plate in my head, missing half of my top vertabrae and just had a stent placed in my jugular - yee ha! But, looks like I’m doing well and will be fine (I’ve ridden after all my surgeries anyway - hey, I could just as easily fall off a curb [which I’ve actually done!]. That being said, I cannot lift anything heavy. I think 25-28 lbs. would be my max. I would like all leather, no synthetics so… Have at it. Is there such a beast?

Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have nothing but time right now to play and look!!

[NoSuchPerson]

How do you feel about stripped down saddles? They are a bit odd, but I kind of like them.

http://www.dhrss.com/saddles/strip-down.html

One of these with the synthetic tree and cable rigging would be pretty light.

I don’t have a stripped down saddle, but do have one with the poly-tuff tree and cable rigging and it’s already pretty light. Do the stripped down version and I bet it would be well within your weight limitations.

[js]

The Alamo light weight barrel saddle weighs 18 lbs. http://www.alamosaddlery.com/store/?model_number=128 - not a high end saddle by any stretch but still a quality that will work, stay with a semi QH bars.

http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/cashel-trail-saddle.html#.VnqpaTZdGUk
The Cashel trail saddle weighs 24.5 lbs. regular tree might work for your OTTB.

[Foxglove]

Don’t know if this will work for you --but it does for me. I have a Percheron 18.2 hh draft. My logging harness is too heavy for me to lift on to his back. For YEARS I tried ladders and steps -most unsafe! Then my ancient ma told me about the firehouse in her small town of Wyo that “still had the pulleys in the rafters,” from when fire trucks were pulled by horses. The horses were taught to stand under the harness that lowered on to their backs. BRILLIANT! My stable boy (a physics major) installed a pulley (actually, I think it’s a block and tackle, but don’t quote me), that allows me with ONE FINGER to lower my harness on to my boy’s back from the rafters of the barn. I can lift it off with the same ease. I still have to put on the collar, but the rest of the harness is kept up in the rafters.

Time goes on --Percheron is now a bit too old to do harness work, as am I, but I’m seriously thinking about putting my western saddle on that pulley (attached by the horn) and then lifting, lowering on to my riding horse. I can’t see why it would hurt the saddle since I lift it by the horn now.

FYI it took my Percheron very little time to learn to put his feet and body in perfect position for the harness to lower. I can’t see how my saddle horse would mind if I practiced with him a bit.

Foxglove

[barnchick277]

What are you wanting to do in the Western saddle?

You could look at an endurance type saddle which are generally quite light

Something like this http://www.outfitterssupply.com/Circle-Y-Virginia-Trail-Gaiter-Saddle/productinfo/CY1588/

Or a quick google search brought me to this page http://www.stonewallsaddles.com/index.html

[LoriW]

[QUOTE=NoSuchPerson;8452011]
How do you feel about stripped down saddles? They are a bit odd, but I kind of like them.

http://www.dhrss.com/saddles/strip-down.html

One of these with the synthetic tree and cable rigging would be pretty light.

I don’t have a stripped down saddle, but do have one with the poly-tuff tree and cable rigging and it’s already pretty light. Do the stripped down version and I bet it would be well within your weight limitations.[/QUOTE]

There are a lot on there that might work, going to give them a call. Thank you so much!!!

[sirbeastmom]

Check out Allegany Mountain Trail Saddles. They’re custom saddles, full leather (I think), and the endurance model (which you can get with a horn) is 22 lbs.

[LoriW]

Endurance won’t work - we actually do some cow working so I’d like a proper western saddle with a horn. I used my English last year and was drooling over the heavy McCall’s everyone else had! But 35-40 pounds just isn’t going to cut it and I called McCall yesterday and asked them about their Diamond M line which is much lighter and send them some pics of my TB and he said no way would they work. So that made that an easy decision

[Bluey]

I would say, barrel racing saddles tend to be some of the lightest and still western looking and fit well.

I would try to find a used one.
No sense in trying to get used to a new kind of saddle and try to break it in too.

Or just use your English saddle, why not?

[LoriW]

[QUOTE=Bluey;8452369]
I would say, barrel racing saddles tend to be some of the lightest and still western looking and fit well.

I would try to find a used one.
No sense in trying to get used to a new kind of saddle and try to break it in too.

Or just use your English saddle, why not?[/QUOTE]

For trail riding and our cow clinics, western is just easier. My balance is not so good after all these surgeries so a little “more” saddle would be helpful if you know what I mean.

[lovemytbs]

I bought a Fabtron trail saddle, super light and fit my TB perfectly as it’s semi QH bars and has wither clearance. Actually sold the high withered TB I got it for after never riding in it! It’s for sale if interested!

[beau159]

Barrel saddles tend to be lighter. My mother has a Kenny Harlow by Circle Y and she really likes it. We use our barrel saddles for everything, including long trail rides. I swore the saddle was 19 pounds, but this website says 21 pounds.
http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/circley-kenny-harlow-grainout-saddle-cl.html#.VnrmT1JBncc

Barrel saddles also tend to give you plenty of wither clearance, as a generality. So if your horse has high withers, that usually works well.

[keepthelegend]

http://www.saddleupcolorado.net/15-used-hereford-tex-tan-trail-saddle-2-501/
23 lbs

http://www.ebay.com/itm/15-Crates-Western-Show-Saddle-SQHB-leather-brown-tooling-/331739000351?
20-25 lbs

http://www.ebay.com/itm/331409951445?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
24 lbs.

http://www.saddleupcolorado.net/15-used-simco-trail-saddle-2-722/
21 Lbs

The Circle Y Flex2 saddles are pretty light as well.

[js]

[QUOTE=js;8452215]
The Alamo light weight barrel saddle weighs 18 lbs. http://www.alamosaddlery.com/store/?model_number=128 - not a high end saddle by any stretch but still a quality that will work, stay with a semi QH bars.

http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/cashel-trail-saddle.html#.VnqpaTZdGUk
The Cashel trail saddle weighs 24.5 lbs. regular tree might work for your OTTB.[/QUOTE]

http://www.braziliansaddle.com/ Synthetic but the lightest weight you will find; pricey for a synthetic, very pricey. I own one, not worth the cost but well worth being a very very light saddle, if that’s what you need.