Is Western Too Heavy?

[ShortyRider9303]

Hello, I have a 19 year Thoroughbred Gelding. He broke his leg when he was younger racing.. Do you think Western would be too heavy? Or do you think he would be fine with it. Hes still a pretty hyper horse.. can still throw you off bucking... does everything a normal horse does.. but I am worried on making him lame by using him too hard...:confused: Whats your opinion?:;)

[monsoon1983]

i beleive you can get different types/weights of saddles, if in dought ask your vet hun.

[Keket]

I certainly wouldn't think so. If he can comfortably carry a rider, then an extra twenty pounds on a saddle shouldn't be an issue. If you're really worried about weight, you can always go for a barrel racing saddle. They tend to be much lighter then your average equitation saddle.

[Peace]

Have you tried heaving a western saddle up onto your TB yet?;)

I don't think it'll make much difference to him, but it may to you.:) I gave up western after throwing my back out one too many times in the process of hefting an almost 40 lb. saddle to the dizzying height of 14.2 hands.:p

Can't imagine trying to lift one to TB height!:eek::D

[rascalboy]

Oh gosh, don't even talk about heaving a western saddle onto a TB. I have enough trouble tossing the nice light endurance saddle on her... And that jumbo Billy Cook saddle is just barely light enough for me to push onto the poor 15+hh paint...
I don't think it will hurt him, as long as he's sound, and seems fine. If you're worried, try a synthetic one, or even an endurance saddle. They both are super light.

[BabyBear]

Not really sure if you are talking about western saddle or western riding?

My horse was schooled in western but never really excelled in it as he is too bouncy and his jog is hard to sit to.

His owner stopped riding western as she was worried that it would knacker his legs with all the sliding stops.

Don't know much about everything that's involved but if you're thinking sliding stops then it may cause problems with his previous injury.

[Peace]

Oh gosh, don't even talk about heaving a western saddle onto a TB. I have enough trouble tossing the nice light endurance saddle on her... And that jumbo Billy Cook saddle is just barely light enough for me to push onto the poor 15+hh paint...
I don't think it will hurt him, as long as he's sound, and seems fine. If you're worried, try a synthetic one, or even an endurance saddle. They both are super light.

I've heard Billy Cook makes a nice saddle.:) I used a synthetic Abetta for a couple of years, but I thought it pushed me into a sort of chair seat. Have you had this problem?

I got really frustrated with almost all the western saddles pushing my feet out in front of me. Finally, as I was trying yet another one at a tack shop, the sales person said "well, you can't expect it to ride like a dressage saddle." That was when I decided I probably needed to switch to dressage.:D

Unfortunately, I live in the back of beyond and am still searching for someone who can teach me.:o

[Roheryn]

I ride in a synthetic Big Horn that weighs about 15-16 lb. (not the pink one on the link!)--

http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/big-horn-saddles.html

I can get it on my friend's 16.3hh TB-cross (and I'm only 5'2" and not terrifically strong).

I haven't seen many barrel saddles that weigh much less than other types of western saddles.

I've heard some people say that the bigger (heavier) western saddles with the larger skirts are easier on the horse because the skirts spread the weight out over a larger area than the smaller saddles' skirts do. My guy seems quite happy with my little saddle.

I've heard somewhere that reining saddles put you in more of a dressage position than a chair position, but I don't have any personal experience of reining saddles. My saddle puts my legs in more of a chair position too, but that position is more comfortable for me than a proper dressage position.