Buckaroo Ultralight

The Buckaroo Ultralight Saddle is Steve Edwards’ take on Mr. Wade’s original vision for a slick fork saddle. Built with a nod to the 1860s era of saddles, the Buckaroo Ultralight saddle is built on a wooden slick fork tree coated with fiberglass, and finished with a combination of leather and Cordura material.

Designed for long hours in the saddle and pulling, dragging, or leading just about anything you can imagine, the Buckaroo Ultralight is a shocking 22 pounds in total weight, over 15 pounds lighter than the original all-leather Buckaroo saddle.

A distinct trait of slick fork saddles is the unique, high and narrow pommel, a sign of a true cowboy saddle. In addition to the slick fork pommel, the Buckaroo Ultralight features a 5″ cantle ensuring that any rider can easily swing their leg over the saddle and get seated and ready to ride easily.

This saddle has been designed and tested by Steve Edwards to ensure it meets his top quality standards. The mule bars were designed by Steve and he has used them since 1981 – they have stood the test of time. The Buckaroo Ultralight Saddle is made in America and bares the Queen Valley Mule Ranch emblem, ensuring you have invested in the best.

The saddle uses imitation fleece lined skirt which has been adopted based upon Steve’s 45 years of riding. Wool has no better wear than the imitation lining and offers a longevity equal to that of wool. Wool was originally used by cowboys because saddles were never paired with blankets. The imitation fleece lined skirt is designed to work seamlessly with Steve’s Saddle Pad to create a very secure velcro-like bond, preventing the saddle from sliding along the pad.

Nylon Tie Straps Included with Your Saddle

Each saddle comes with 4 nylon tie straps. Some customers ask about replacing the tie straps with billets and we strongly discourage this. The cinches need to be balanced and centered which is why we ship with nylon tie straps. Billets do not allow for the cinches to be centered and as a result, the saddle will roll and not be balanced. Billets result in the cinch being higher on one side than the other.

Will This Saddle Fit My Mule?

Steve Edwards saddles are designed to fit the bone structure of the mule, not the muscle mass. Because muscle mass can change multiple times over the course of the calendar year, Steve has designed his saddle to fit something that never changes: the skeletal structure.

No matter the size of your mule or donkey — 13.2, 14.5, 16.1 or just about anything else — Steve’s saddle utilizes a bar design that removes pressure from the scapula and kidneys of the mule, unlike a quarter-horse or semi quarter-horse saddle. This ensures the mule and donkeys natural movement is accommodated and creates a more comfortable ride for you and your animal.

In instances where an animal has a downhill hip — the top of the hip is higher than the top of the withers — Steve has designed a Downhill Hip Saddle Pad to work in tandem with his saddle to compensate for gravity and help prevent the saddle from continuing to slide forward.

Steve’s Buckaroo Ultralight is certain to fit any mule with good conformation and no structural deformities.

Saddle Fitting Video Included

The Buckaroo Ultralight tree does the work of fitting the saddle to the mule / donkey bone structure, however, you still have the responsibility of properly fitting and tacking up the saddle. To help, every Steve Edwards Signature Saddle includes Steve’s Saddle Fitting Video and walks you through how to care for your new saddle as well as the basics of fitting.

Steve’s saddle and tack are designed to work together from the fluid breast collar design, to the saddle & cinches, to the britchen.

This video will walk you through each step and when you do have questions, Queen Valley Mule Ranch customer service, provided by Steve Edwards himself, will be happy to evaluate photos of your saddle fit and provide tips for precise positioning and adjustments.

Saddle Stirrups

The Buckaroo Ultralight Saddle can be used with the stirrups you already own or you can add one of Steve’s stirrup design for an additional charge. If you’re looking for a recommendation, Steve always recommends (and rides with) Tapaderos as the safest stirrup you can own. Queen Valley Mule Ranch also offers a top of the line leather covered stirrup in multiple sizes.

Features

• 22 pound Ultralight design
• 5″ Cantle
• Slick fork saddle design
• Mule and donkey designed rigging plate
• Fleece lined skirt
• Leather seat, cantle, and pommel
• Cordura skirting and fenders
• 4 nylon cinch tie straps (2 front, 2 rear)
• Stainless Steel Hardware
• Steve Edwards’ Signature Saddle Conchos

Recommended Accessories

• Breast Collar
• Britchen
• Stirrups – Tapaderos
• Stirrups – Leather Covered

Steve ALWAYS recommends using a britchen and breast collar regardless if you’re on flat ground or mountains. You have to remember that you’re riding a mule bone structure (which is a donkey bone structure) and your saddle will go forward due to the donkey V shape in the shoulders – this explains the saddle riding forward.