Choosing Between a Traditional Sawbuck and the ComfortStride® Adjustable Pack Saddle

One of the questions we're asked most often is, "Should I choose a traditional wooden sawbuck or a ComfortStride® Adjustable Pack Saddle?" The answer depends on the shape and condition of your animal.

Traditional Sawbucks: A Proven Design

When we developed our traditional wooden sawbuck pack saddles, we spent countless hours studying donkey anatomy to ensure they fit animals ranging from a 30-inch miniature donkey to a 15-hand mammoth donkey.

One of the most interesting discoveries we made was that the slope of a donkey's back remains remarkably consistent, regardless of its size. Whether it's a tiny mini or a large mammoth donkey, a healthy donkey's back has a very similar profile.

This consistency is one of the reasons traditional sawbuck pack saddles have worked so well for centuries. If your donkey is in good body condition and has a typical back shape, our wooden sawbuck is an excellent choice. It's simple, dependable, time-tested, and has been trusted by packers for generations.

When an Adjustable Saddle Makes Sense

As Mountain Ridge Gear grew, customers began asking for saddles to fit animals beyond donkeys, mules, and horses. We frequently received requests for miniature ponies, Highland cattle, llamas, goats, and other animals.

That's when we discovered a challenge.

Many of these animals have much flatter backs than a donkey. On a flatter-backed animal, a traditional sawbuck may only contact along the outside edges of the bars instead of distributing pressure evenly across the entire surface. Over time, this can create pressure points and discomfort.

We also found that some donkeys become overweight. As a donkey gains excess weight, its back often becomes flatter, making it more difficult for a traditional fixed-angle saddle to fit as well as it was designed to.

Why We Created the ComfortStride®

Rather than trying to make one saddle fit every animal, we designed a new solution.

After several years of development, we introduced the ComfortStride® Adjustable Pack Saddle. Its adjustable bar angle allows the saddle to match a wide variety of back shapes while maintaining even pressure distribution.

Because of its adjustability, the ComfortStride® can be fitted to animals including:

• Donkeys
• Mules
• Horses
• Miniature ponies
• Highland cattle
• Goats
• Llamas
• And many other pack or working animals

The adjustability also makes it an excellent choice for donkeys that are changing body condition. As an overweight donkey loses weight and its back shape changes, the saddle can be adjusted to maintain a proper fit instead of requiring a different saddle.

Which Saddle Is Right for You?

In most cases, the decision is straightforward.

Choose a Traditional Sawbuck if:

• Your donkey is in healthy body condition.
• It has a typical donkey back profile.
• You want a simple, proven, time-tested design.

Choose the ComfortStride® Adjustable Pack Saddle if:

• Your animal has a flatter back.
• Your donkey is overweight or likely to change body condition.
• You're fitting a species other than a typical donkey.
• You want the flexibility to fine-tune the fit as your animal changes.

Our Recommendation

At Mountain Ridge Gear, our goal isn't to sell you the most expensive saddle—it's to recommend the saddle that will provide the best fit for your animal.

That's why we often ask customers to send us photos before purchasing. By looking at your animal's back shape, and overall body condition, we can recommend the saddle that will provide the best comfort and performance.

A comfortable animal is a happier, safer, and more willing partner, and that's always our top priority.