7 Best Lightweight Trail riding saddles Buyer’s Guide & Reviews

Western trail saddles. They are designed to keep you and your horse comfortable for miles on the trail. So how do you choose one? Finding the best lightweight trail Western saddles on the market can sometimes be tricky.

Here are the 10 Best Lightweight Trail riding saddles in India.

Let’s take a look at the Best Lightweight Trail riding saddles!

Finding the best was next up on our list of challenges. After several hours of testing, we decided on a few models that we think are suited.

Here are the Top 10 & Best Lightweight Trail riding saddles in India in 2021

Types of Western Saddles Or Western Saddle Styles

The different types of western saddles may have various:

• Materials used in manufacturing
• Structures & designs

Let’s go through the uses and features of every kind of western saddle.

1. Trail Saddles Or Pleasure Saddles

Trail riding is used for outdoor horse riding on trails, bridle paths, and forest roads away from roads with motorized traffic.

If you want to ride your horse on a trail, then this type is ideal for you.

If you’re interested in buying a trail saddle, I’d recommend buying this one. It’s crazy how cheap it is!

The main features of Trail or Pleasure Saddles which make them different from other Western saddles are:

Lightweight

Trail riding can be a long event encompassing many hours.

Therefore, most trail saddles are lightweight.

Some trail saddles also made by using synthetic materials, which further reduces the weight.

Thus, they help the horse feel comfortable.

Round skirts

The round skirts of trail saddles help the horse move freely and make all the necessary movements without being constrained by the saddle.

Double rigging

The double rigging keeps the saddle secure in its place.

It especially helps in the rugged mountainous trails.

Cantle of Medium Height

This cantle (the raised curved part at the back of the saddle) gives the rider support, especially on uphill rides.

Secondly, it helps the rider in mounting and dismounting.

Wide Stirrups

Wider stirrups are there to give the rider a comfortable base.

Padded Seats

Seats are usually padded, giving a comfortable ride to the rider

Thin horn

The rider can easily hold on to the horn while riding if required.

Some riders also like to use breast collars for added comfort.

2. Youth Saddles

These saddles are used for kids.

If you plan to let your kids ride, then you’ll be needing one of these for their safety.

The different seat sizes used for youth saddles are:

• 7-8 inches for under three years old
• 10 inches for kids between 3-6 years
• 13 inches for average-sized kids over ten years old or a younger kid with a healthier build.

Do you want a beautiful Arabian for your kid? Here’s an article on Arabians for beginners.

The main features which distinguish youth saddles from normal western saddles are:

Smaller seat size

The youth saddles have smaller seat sizes to cater to the needs of smaller bodies of kids.

Fun and attractive designs

Keeping kids in mind different fun and catchy designs are introduced in youth saddles.

3. Pony saddles

Ponies are smaller in size as compared to horses.

Therefore, a horse size saddle doesn’t fit a pony’s back.

The Western saddles which are made particularly for ponies are called pony saddles.

The only difference between regular and pony saddles is their weight and size.

The main features of pony saddles are:

Smaller seat size

The pony saddles are made for children or small-statured adults.

Therefore, pony saddles have smaller seat sizes.

Shorter skirt size

The shorter skirt size of a pony saddle helps make a good fit for the pony. It also reduces the weight of the saddle.

Lighter weight

The weight of a traditional western saddle is too much for ponies

Due to the variation in size, the weight of a pony saddle is considerably light, making it manageable for the pony.

4. Ranch Saddles

These saddles are used for horses working on ranches.

With horses that work for long hours, you need a saddle that’s comfortable for both you and the horse.

My go-to choice in cheap ranch saddles is the Royal King Ranch Saddle. However, if you’re willing to pay the big bucks, check out this fantastic Young Ranch Saddle by NRS.

The main features which make ranch saddles appropriate for ranch work are:

Heavy duty structure

Ranch horses work for long hours on the ranches.

Therefore, ranch saddles have a substantial, sturdy, and durable structure.

Hard and deep seat

They have hard and deep seats to give the rider necessary comfort and security while working on the ranch.

Tall and thick horns

The horns of these Western saddles are also equipped with horn wraps.

These horns help in roping and dallying.

Double rigging

The double rigging keeps the saddle securely fixed to the horse during long hours of heavy ranch work.

Heavy Weight

The heavy-duty structure of these saddles makes them heavier in weight.

Saddle strings

Saddle string is available to attach additional equipment or items if required.

High cantle

The high cantle gives the necessary support to the rider during heavy work on the ranch.

It also helps to mount and dismount quickly.

5. Reining Saddles

Reining is a competitive riding event in the West.

In reining, the rider guides the horse to make a pre-determined set of moves in quick succession.

If you intend to participate in reining events, then this saddle should be your go-to saddle.

The prominent features of reining saddles are:

Medium Height fork & horn

The fork and horn of this saddle are of medium length, so they do not interrupt the rider’s hands and reins during the event.

Shorter skirts

These skirts give maximum body contact to the rider and the horse.

This way, the rider can communicate effectively with the horse.

Low cantles & Flatter Seats

Reining requires the horse to be more mobile for executing different moves.

Low cantles and flatter seats provide them with that required mobility.

Narrow fenders

Like shorter skirts, narrow fenders also provide better contact with the horse by minimizing the interface between the rider and the horse.

Dropped rigging

Usually, the Reining saddles are manufactured with double rigging by default, but most professionals do not use double rigging.

Therefore, rigging is generally dropped to minimize the bulk beneath the legs of the rider.

This saddle is at times used as a training saddle.

American Quarter Horses are great at reining. Here’s an article on more uses of the mighty Quarter Horse.

6. Roping Saddles

These saddles are used in roping events.

In roping, the riders need strong and sturdy saddles which can withstand the weight of a cow and simultaneously keep the horse comfortable.

Check out this excellent roping saddle if you’re interested in buying one.

The main features of roping saddles consist of:

Strong trees

The strong trees of roping saddles give them the strength required to rope heavy animals like cows.

Generally, trees for roping saddles are made with durable wood.

Strong horns

The cow is dallied against the horn.

Only strong horns can withstand the required force of dallying a cow.

Deep seats

The deep seats give comfort, support, and balance during a physically exerting roping event.

Usually, the seats are covered with roughout leather to provide with extra grip.

Low cantle

The cantle in a roping saddle is lower, so that, the rider can quickly dismount after roping and dallying the cow.

Double rigged

Double rigging keeps the saddle securely attached with the horse during the event demanding heavy strength from the saddle.

Heavy 

The required strength and sturdiness of these saddles make their weight heavy.

Due to their heaviness and sturdy and robust structure, roping saddles should not be used for long hours of riding.

7. Cutting Saddles

Cutting saddles are mainly used for cutting events.

This event involves cutting a cow, calf, or a steer from a herd.

Cutting requires good cow sense and quick maneuvering by the horse to tackle the animal.

In addition to cutting, these saddles can also be used for sorting stock on ranches, reining, and for training purposes.

Their main features which distinguish cutting saddles from other western saddles are:

Large size

These saddles are larger than other saddles.

The rider has the room to move around and react according to the movements of the horse.

Flat seats with Lower Cantle

Cutting saddles have flatter seats and lower cantles.

This design keeps the rider safe during quick movements.

Tall and thin horn

This feature of the horn makes it easy to hold the horn if required.

Double rigging

Horses make many quick movements during cutting events, so cutting saddles require extra support to stay in place.

Double rigging provides this extra support to the saddle.

8. Flexible Tree Saddles

These types of saddles have adjustable dual bars, one on each side of the saddle.

These bars provide flexibility to the horse.

The features which make these saddles good are:

Flexibility

The most important feature of these saddles is their ability to stretch with the horse’s movements.

Rigid fork & cantle

The rigid fork and cantle provide the support and stability for a smooth ride.

Fits Different Sizes of Horses

The flex bars make these saddles to fit a broader range of horses.

Lightweight

Generally, these saddles are made with synthetic materials, which makes them lightweight.

These types of saddles cannot be used for heavy riders and very long durations.

The flexible bars may flatten or break if heavy riders use them for long hours.

9. Barrel Racing Saddles

These saddles are used for barrel racing, gymkhana events, mounted games, and training the horses.

In barrel racing, horses need to bend down and make sharp turns quickly.

The barrel saddles support these excellent and quick movements of the horse.

Here are some of the main features of these saddles

The Smallest in Size & The Lightest in Weight

Of all the types of Western saddles, barrel racing saddles are the lightest and the smallest.

This feature gives the horse freedom of movement during the event.

Higher cantle

A higher cantle gives support to the rider during fast & sharp turns.

Tall and thin horns

The rider can hold on to tall and thin horn when turning.

Free-swinging fenders

These fenders give more space to the legs of the rider for a balanced and centered ride.

Single rigging & Short skirts

While bending or turning around the barrels, the horse needs minimum equipment in its way.

A single rigging with short skirts design gives a barrel racing horse precisely that.

Roughout seat

A roughout seat gives extra grip during the event.

10. Endurance Saddles

Endurance racing requires the use of endurance saddles.

These events consist of 50-100 miles per day of horse racing.

The features which make endurance saddles perfect for such long events are:

Lightweight

Endurance saddles are made lightweight to minimize the pressure on horses.

Comfortable padded seats

As endurance racing involves miles and miles of racing, the saddle seats are made comfortable with extra padding.

Strings & D-rings

Extra strings and D-rings are available with these saddles to attach extra gear.

Hornless Or Very Short Horn

In endurance racing, a regular horn may pound against the stomach of the rider.

To minimize the impact of the horn, endurance saddles either have a very short horn, or they are entirely hornless.

Centerfire rigging

A centerfire rigging is used in endurance saddles.

During the ride, this type of rigging helps the saddle from tipping forward.

Short skirt

Skirts are kept short in endurance saddles to keep them lightweight.

Stirrup with a wider platform

The joints of the rider face a lot of shock during endurance riding.

This shock to the back and ankle and knee joints is reduced with deep, wider, and padded stirrups.