Q&A    Questions and Answers:

I am thinking of buying a Circle Y Ranch saddle that sells in the stores for $2,050.00. The person selling it to me is selling it for $500.00.

I am concerned that the weight (44 lb.) is too heavy? What do you think? It is size 16", my horse is a 14.5 AQHA

At 45 lbs., that saddle is at the high edge of the normal weights for saddles -- especially for a smaller horse like yours.

The primary question you need to answer is "what am I going to use this saddle for?" If you'll use it mainly for trail riding, you may want to look for something under 25 lbs. Barrel racing saddles generally run between 20 and 30 lbs. Roping saddles, on the other hand, need to be more substantial and will range between 40 and 50 lbs.

Judging from the original price tag, I'm guessing that your friend's saddle is a show saddle, which could reasonably run in the 40 - 50 lb. range due to the extra ornamentation. The relatively short time a horse spends in the show ring means that weight isn't too important.

In addition to asking what the saddle will be used for, don't forget to look closely at how it fits both you and the horse. Even with a show saddle, you don't want the horse to start acting up because of uncomfortable tack.

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