Trail riding season. Looking for the best lightweight western trail saddles on the market? Look no further. We’ve got a sale going on here! The ideal trail saddle is supposed to be designed to keep you and your horse comfortable over miles on the trail.
But hey, not all trail saddles are made alike.
Some trail saddles provide comfort for the rider, while the horse suffers. And other trail saddles, are designed for the horse’s comfort, but not the rider’s. So how do you choose one? Looking for the best lightweight Western trail saddles on the market can be downright frightening.
Let’s face it. Saddles are expensive. You don’t have the luxury of buying the wrong size or type. What should you look for? What kind of material should they be made from?
I’ve decided to make the task a little easier for you by listing my top 5 (in my humble opinion) best lightweight Western trail saddles on the market, and what you should look for in a trail saddle. I’ll also post a few other lightweight trail saddles by Circle Y.
Best Lightweight Western Trail Saddles #1
15″ to 17″ HR Hud Roberts Chocolate Trail Saddle 390
Specifications
- Comes in seat sizes 15″, 15.5″, 16″, 16.5″, 17″
- On a Bull Hide Covered Tree
- 6 3/4″ Gullet And Full Quarter Horse Bars
- Hand Tooled Corner Basket Chocolate Color
- Double C plate Rigged
- Flank Set Pre Turned Stirrups All Smooth Fender And Jockey
- Padded Grain Out Chocolate Seat
- Leather Horn
- Strings and Rings Slotted Berry RCS Conchos
- Nylon Off Billet
- Tie Strap
Initially, you’ll look for high quality materials in a trail saddle. The foundation of the saddle is the tree. bull hide covered tree is the strongest in my opinion. Like the saddle above. They tend to last a lifetime. So, if you can by a bull hide covered saddle, go for it!
You’ll also focus on the design of your saddle during your initial considerations. Once you’ve zeroed in on a few models, you’ll focus on fit.
Fit is important because the more time you spend in a saddle, the more good fit becomes a critical factor. How?
Best Lightweight Western Trail Saddles #2
Tucker Horizon Journey Trail Saddle 275
Specifications
- Seat: 15.5″ 16.5″ 17.5″ 18.5″
- Tree: Medium, Wide, Extra Wide
- Color: Brown, Black (both come with a black seat)
- Cantle: 4″
- Swell: 13″
- Skirt: 24″ Full or Round
- Fenders: Trail or Western fenders
- Hardware: Chrome with engraved Tucker logo conchos and rings
- Rigging: In-Skirt Western – Single Front Dee (straight rear dee), Enduro Balanced Single Tie (angled rear dee), Enduro Balanced Double Tie (angled rear dee)
- Weight: Approx 31 lbs
Here’s how.
While a minor imperfection in an arena saddle may have zero (or very minor) consequences because you’re only going to be sitting in the saddle for an hour, that same imperfection can cause significant soreness for both you and your horse after riding all day on a trail over various terrain.
So What’s The Solution?
Fortunately, quite a few saddleries have and continue to cater to the needs of trail riders. Horse saddle manufacturers such as Abetta, Cashel and Circle Y (and a whole host of other manufacturers) are stepping up to the plate, offering many options for lightweight Western trail saddles.
That being said, I have to say when looking for some of the best lightweight Western saddles, “lightweight” is relative.
Considering some Western saddles can weigh up to 60 pounds, a saddle that weighs between 17 and 30 pounds is definitely considered lightweight.
Best Lightweight Western Trail Saddles #3
14″ to 18″ Circle Y Reno Flex2 Trail Saddle 2373
Specifications
- Seat: Apache Brown or Black
- Tree: Flex2 SS Trail Regular and Wide
- Tooling: 1/2 Spider with Camo Border Hand Tooled
- Hardware:Antique Patina Flower with Alternating Copper and Nickle Spots
- Rigging: 3-Way Adjustable In-Skirt
- Swell Width: 14″
- Cantle Height: 5″
- Horn Size: 3″ Neck, 2-1/2″ Cap
- Skirt: 15″ D x 26.5″ L
- Weight: 30 lbs
Special Features
 | The Flex2 tree has a rigid ground seat with a dual bar system that provides both stability and flexibility where it’s needed. This tree is available for riders of all sizes and has proven over time to fit a large variety of horses. |
 | Tired of a sore butt after a days riding? The impact foam seat offers you unmatched comfort in the saddle. Engineered to offer maximum cushion without wearing down quickly, this seat is everything you’ve been looking for to get you through the trail. |
 | 3-Way adjustable in-skirt rigging with several rigging options and positions to best suit fitting all of the different horse conformations. |
 | Annoyed with the break-in period of your new saddle? No more! Softee Leather is revolutionary. Real full-grain leather with a broken in feel. Softee seat jockeys and fenders are ready to ride right out of the box. |
 | The Flex2 Tunnel Skirt creates a channel in the spine area which will decrease rubbing, sore spots and any kind of pressure along the spine. The tunnel allows for hot air to escape while cool air flows in. |
 | The Neo-Shock skirt absorbs shock from rough terrain and uneven surfaces through the neoprene filler. This filler is designed to muffle any vibration for a smoother ride for both you and your horse. This skirt also conforms to the conformation of your horse. |
 | EBS (ErgoBalance Stirrups) tilt the stirrup to eliminate torque on the riders knees and ankles. No more sore joints after your ride! This will provide you increased comfort while promoting balanced riding. |
Now, let’s take a look at my next pick for a lightweight Western saddle trail, which is a bit more expensive.
Keep in mind, just as cheap doesn’t always mean poor quality, expensive doesn’t necessarily mean it will be a good fit for you and your horse.
But I think The Cashel Lite Trail Saddle CLT is an exception.
Best Lightweight Western Trail Saddles #4
Cashel Lite Trail Saddle CLT
Specifications
- Tree: Fiberglass covered wood tree, Reg QH
- Seat Size: 14″, 15″
- Cantle: 3.5″
- Horn 2″ with 2″ horn cap
- Skirt Length: 14″ Seat – 22″; 15″ seat – 23″; 16″ seat – 24″ (approx)
- Skirt Lining: Cotton PolyBlend
- Weight: Approx 19-20 lbs
If you’re searching for the perfect mix of efficiency and ease, you’ll find it in the Cashel Lite Trail Saddle CLT. This Lite Trail saddle gives the perfect blend of tactical riding features without breaking yours (or your horse’s) back with excessive weight.
What Materials Are Used?
The trees used at Cashel are wooden and handmade, one by one – not mass produced. The saddles are then carefully dried to avoid warping. Then fiberglass is used to finish the saddle for extra strength to prevent future warping.
Special Features:
As you know, riding trails vary. If you’re riding over rocky terrain, the rough-out seat jockey and fenders provide extra grip for this sort of advanced trail riding.
And the cantle keeps you locked on the correct, as well as comfortable, riding position.
This light saddle comes with lots of strings for all your trail riding needs. The breast collar and flank strap are included. Cashel exclusively offers a cool skirt padding design as well.
Best Lightweight Western Trail Saddles #5
Circle Y Pioneer Flex2 Trail Saddle 1665
Specifications
- Seat Size: 14″, 15″, 16″, 17″, 18″
- Color: Walnut, Regular Oil
- Tooling: Border
- Tree: Flex2 Trail Regular, Wide, or Extra Wide
- Hardware: Frosted Rope Edge
- Rigging: 3-way adjustable inskirt
- Swell Width: 13″
- Cantle Height: 4″
- Horn Size: 3-1/4″ Neck 1-7/8″ Cap
- Skirt Size: 15″ x 26″
- Weight: Approximately 25 lbs.
Lastly, we have the Circle Y Pioneer Flex2 Trail Saddle 1665, which is chock full of benefits for the horse and the rider (but especially the horse) so I’m super excited about this saddle.
This saddle has lots of beneficial features for both rider and horse. First, there’s comfort for the rider. The saddle has an impact foam seat, known for one of the best seats you can find in the industry, which your butt will be thankful for after a long trail ride.
The Circle y Pioneer Flex2 Trail saddle also has a close contact cut skirt, which makes for a great arena/trail saddle combo for all-around type pleasure work.
Ergonomic Stirrups
The stirrups are EBS stirrups. That means the cone bar helps tip the stirrup so it’s in a more ergonomic position for your foot, which you’ll notice that at the end of a long ride.
Now, what about comfort for the horse?
Guess what other great feature this saddle includes? It includes a Neo Shock Skirt filler in which they take neoprene and fill the skirts underneath the leather, so it reduces shock on impact.
In addition to the neo shock feature, the horse has tunnel skirting.
A lot of saddles are closed off in the back. But with this saddle, you can look in the front of the saddle straight to the back. This feature allows more airflow and keeps your horse cooler.
Fits All Horse Sizes
What kind of skirt does it come with? This awesome saddle comes with a shorter skirt and comes in medium wide and extra wide flex2 tree, so you can get a fit for any horse. That means that if you have a high withered horse, mutton withered horse, or short back horse, this saddle will fit them.
What Materials Are Used?
Circle Y saddle tree is coated with DURAhide to ensure that it stays strong and resistant to the elements.
Special Features
You know Circle Y is known for keeping up with the latest technology, right? Well, this saddle features Circle Y’s latest technology of high density and low-density bars. High density and low density bars ensure that the saddle conforms to your horse’s back, even while in motion.
Another special feature of this saddle is the Neo Shockprene, which reduces shock on impact, and tunnel skirting.
How does it work?
Here’s how it works. There are 2 layers. The high-density portion above gives support under the rider’s seat, while the low-density bar, which is next the horse’s back, is more flexible.
The tree in the middle is rigid, but its outer edges flex whenever the horse moves.
ErgoBalance Stirrups
The stirrups are EBS (ErgoBalance Stirrups), which means the stirrups give a more ergonomic position for your foot.
Softee leathers ready to go out the box (which are 2 softer pieces of leather that have been stitched together. It comes in sizes that fit all horses.
Best Lightweight Western Trail Saddles – And The Winner Is…
So, which are the best lightweight Western trail saddles?
Well, out of all of the saddles I featured in this article, I think the best lightweight Western saddle is the Circle Y Pioneer Flex2 Trail Saddle 1665
Why?
While I love the other 4 saddles I mentioned above, the Circle Y Pioneer Flex2 Trail Saddle 1665, even though it weighs in at 25 pounds, has a lot more features that are comfortable for both rider and horse.
The fact that Circle Y places emphasis on the horse’s comfort in this saddle is what sold me.
I definitely wouldn’t mind 8 more pounds on a saddle if I had the reassurance that the saddle can:
• Fit any horse type
• Assure me that my feet wouldn’t be sore
• Allow the horse’s back to breathe
• Conform to the horse’s back when moving
• Resist to all elements
I hope you enjoyed my take on the best lightweight Western saddles.
Was this post was helpful to you? Would you like to see more reviews on trail saddles? Read my post, “T60 High Plains Saddle Review – Lightweight, Comfortable for Weekend Riders”. Or, maybe you’re on a budget and want to try used saddles? Please leave your questions and comments below!
I love horses and my daughter wants to ride horses but we do not own one ha. I hope that wherever we go to ride horses has read this article so we have a nice comfortable ride 🙂 I really enjoyed the information you gave and how you laid it out so nicely for us readers.
Thank you!
Hi there. Thanks for your comment. Yes, owning a horse is expensive. Not owning one is expensive too. But horseback riding is fun, and investing in a good saddle is the most important component to a great ride for both you and your horse. I’m glad my information helped. Please stop by again.
I find it fascinating that horse saddles are made with different materials for comfort and convenience. My uncle wants to try owning a horse after watching a couple of movies that feature them. It might be a good idea for him to find an equine supply store that sells horse essentials before purchasing one.
Hi Zachary. Thanks for your comment! The saddles on my site come directly from The Horse Saddle Shop. They do a fine job with their saddles. They focus on comfort for the rider and the horse, which means they really care. So if you’re looking for a good trail saddle, just click on the link in my site in this post, and it will take you to the horse saddle shop. Please stop by again.
Thank you for that concise review of saddles. I love my 35 pound saddle but continue to look for something a little more light weight as I and my horse age.
Hi there Anita. Thanks for your comment. I agree with you. As horses age, they’re not able to carry as much weight as they could when they were younger. I’m just wondering, what kind of riding do you do? Are you a rancher? Do you just do trail riding? If you just do trail riding, I highly recommend buying one of our lighter saddles by Circle Y. If the cost is too high, you can trade your 35 pound saddle in and buy a used or new saddle at the Horse Saddle Shop. At the Horse Saddle Shop, you’re guaranteed money back if your saddle doesn’t fit. They have a consignment program too.
I’ve always been an English writer but I have now acquired a horse that I have to ride western. This saddle that you speak of I was wondering would it be good for ring work and like ranch riding if I was showing? Right now we’re doing a lot of ring work. I really need some thing light weight because these other saddles I pick up or so heavy and I feel bad for the horse.
Hi Carla. Thanks for your question. Always remember, there are different types of saddles for different specific uses.
Show saddles are specifically for showing in the ring. They’re designed to look beautiful. They’re also designed so that the horse can feel the rider’s cues easily. Trail saddles are for pleasure riding on the trail – as opposed to ranch saddles. Ranch saddles are to do work on the farm. Then there are saddles specifically for western sports – like barrel racing, roping, cutting.
My suggestion to you is to first, figure out what specifically you want to do with the horse. Once you know what you want to do, then you can decide what type of saddle you’ll need. Every type of saddle has lighter weight versions. I hope this helps.
First thanks for an informative article. I am looking for a very light weight saddle I’m 78 and have had bilateral shoulder issues, but I most of all want my horses to be comfortable. Will the Circle Y saddle fit different horses. I have 4 horses, 2 that I may ride and they are built quite differently. One is Arabian/Mustang cross the other is a rather large Appaloosa.
Hi Linda. Thanks for your question. I’m not a doctor, so I can’t advise you what type of saddle you should get with respect to your shoulder injury. As for saddles for your horses, it really depends on the type of horse you have and the size of their backs. If their backs widely differ in size, you’ll have to get different saddles. However, if you contact The Horse Saddle Shop, via their chat button and talk to them about your horses, the types you have and their back shape, they will be better able to advise you as to whether you can use one type of saddle for all of your horses.
Hey,
This is a great article for me because my niece goes horse riding a lot and her parents struggle with the saddles. I totally believe that they will learn a lot from you and your articles. I have forwarded this article on to them and I have advised them to get in touch. At the moment they are not riding due to the pandemic here in the UK and we are going back into full lockdown. But, it will be good for them to make the choice of saddle now, so they are ready when they go back to riding.
I will let you know their thoughts on the saddles and what they choose.
Stay safe and well.
Tom
Hi Tom. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I always appreciate when people share my content with others. I’m also glad my content is helpful to others.
Thanks for the information. I’m starting to do research to replace a cutting saddle with a trail saddle. I have only rediscovered riding for about a year, and trail riding is the kind of riding I do most of the time. I don’t have much knowledge about saddles, so I am spending time researching, and your article is helping me get started.
Hi Tara! Thanks for stopping by. Always remember, when picking a saddle, you have to know what the intended purpose is of that saddle. A reining saddle is designed with the movements of reining in mind, circles, spins, speed, and sliding stops. The saddle seat sits low on the horse’s back so that the rider is able to roll their pelvis back when performing the sliding stop. The skirts are close contact to allow for a better horse to rider communication.
Trail saddles are made to be lightweight. They are for going up and down trails. They are not designed for roping, heavy ranch work, quick maneuvers, or quick start and stop like the reining saddle. What is it that you intend to do with this saddle? What kind of riding do you have in mind?
Hi there. This was a very in-depth review of a few different types of saddles. I like the Circle Y saddle mainly because their focus was also on the safety and comfort of the horse.
All the best.
Hi Wendi. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and comment on it. I agree with you. Any saddle company that specifically (or equally) focuses on the horse’s comfort, is a favorite of mine as well.
The article was very informative and gave me good advice if I would buy a saddle for my horse. I have to admit that I know very little about horse riding but now I know a lot about what makes a good saddle 🙂
Thank you!
-Geir
Thank you for your comment Geir! I’m glad this information was helpful to you if you decide to start riding horses. Yes, it’s so important to buy the right saddle for your horse.
Another great article, as usual. I have learned a few new things about saddles today!
Thank you Andrew. What specifically did you learn?
I like the looks of you sublime super cushion trail saddle 20500. The saddle looks so comfortable. The details you have on each of these saddles is great with the materials used and all. Thank you for this great article.
Hi Tim. Thanks for your comment. I thought it was important to let the reader know in detail what the saddle material is made from so that they can decide how easy the saddle is to clean. That plays a significant factor (saddle care) in whether people want to buy a particular saddle.
So thorough, clear and easy to read. I liked how you considered horse and rider keeping in mind overall value. Very helpful!
Thank you
Thank you Walt. The horse really has to be the priority as they can’t do anything to communicate to us when they’re in pain.