Saddle weight as a proportion of the horse's weight combined w/rider's weight

[Mecate]

I've always wondered about this. What do you guys think? Does 15% sound about right? Would love to get a Wade, but am thinking 38 pounds plus my 140 or so might be too much for my 14.2 mare. Am guessing she weighs about 750-800 pounds...(do those tapes ever really work....)~Meg

[Excess]

What kind of mare do you have? My foundation APHA is 14.2hh (sometimes 14.3hh on good days) and I think he's somewhere between 800-900lbs. I have a 38lb McCalls and I wigh 160. He carries it all just fine. A lot of short and stocky breeds like the foundation horses and paso finos and mustangs are short and light but they can pack more weight than a 16'2 TB. Paso Finos were made carry plantation owners - we're talking big burly men - over miles and miles of terrain. Unless your mare is some sort of delicate and fine breed I wouldn't see a problem.

[Mecate]

Hi, Exy: She's a Saddlebred. I'm just guessing at the weight. As I said, I doubt the truth of the weight tapes. And like Paso Finos, Saddlebreds were built to go all day and carry the plantation owners...hmmm.

[Excess]

Hi, Exy: She's a Saddlebred. I'm just guessing at the weight. As I said, I doubt the truth of the weight tapes. And like Paso Finos, Saddlebreds were built to go all day and carry the plantation owners...hmmm.

Well I've seen pasos carry not only saddles but pretty big men too without an issue. We're talking 200lb muscle-men. You could also look into the lady-wades that Brighton sells. I forgot what weight they are but they're lighter than 38lbs and made for women - that is for a woman's body and for women to lug it up to a horse. They actually have two models, both made on a Wade tree the Lady Wade and the Lady pendleton. You can see both here: http://brightonsaddlery.com/xcart/customer/home.php?cat=285

[Mecate]

Thanks, Exy. I'll take a look. Do you have any thoughts about the value of a production/semi-production saddle like those you mentioned as compared to a custom saddle?

[WashoeKat]

It is not a horses height or weight that determines the load it can safely carry. It is the conformation of the back: length of the free span of the back, width of loin, width of ribs. Secondary is the conformation of the legs. Small stoat horses are often much more capable of carrrying a heavy load then a 16+ hand Tbred.

[Mecate]

Nice thought, Kat. Gives me some ideas about measurements/pictures that would be useful for the saddlemaker....