The Imus 4-Beat® Elite saddle weighs about 6 pounds lighter than its full leather counterpart (about 24 pounds fully rigged). The fender, skirting and rigging on the Imus 4-Beat® Elites are made of wax-wear which is a very soft yet durable wax and oil-infused synthetic material that lends it durability and also water and dirt resistance. The durability is great and you can expect the same wear out of the wax-wear as you do the leather. We use the same material for the top of our pads.The tree, leather suspended ground seat, and Supracor padding under the bars of the tree are the same in both the full leather and Imus 4-Beat® Elite, so functionally they perform and feel just the same for you and your horse.The Imus 4-Beat® Elite saddle boasts all the premium features of the traditional Imus 4-Beat® saddle, including top quality materials and workmanship. Our Elite saddle features:Web suspended, flexible tree bars to offer the horse freedom of motion, and the rider a close “feel” for the horse’s movementSupracor® padding beneath the tree bars to offer unprecedented “fit forgiveness.”  Thanks to this medical grade, resilient and durable padding, our two tree widths (standard and wide) work for over 95% of the horses we fit.Free-swinging, forward-set stirrups to take pressure off rider’s hips, knees and anklesA custom built tree designed to set the rider in a more forward and natural bareback seat position, while allowing the horse freedom of motion through the shoulders and zero pressure on the loinsLight-weight, heavy duty “wax wear” denier jockeys and fenders that are extremely durable, water and dirt resistant, easy to maintain, and great lookingTop quality leather for the seat and skirt3/4-fired rigging to keep the saddle in place, front to back, with a single girth, while helping to avoid "girth galls."All models come with a full set of d-rings and tie strings, to help secure your trail riding gear.Includes:6 Sets Tie StringsMatching 4-Beat® Supracor Padded StirrupsExtra Long LatigosAll "BUILD YOUR OWN" saddles are custom made per your order and take 4-6 weeks for delivery (we consistently hit 4 weeks but once in a while go a little over during the busiest season). If there is an option you do not see available below and would like on your saddle, call or email and please ask us, because we can probably make it happen with our extraordinary saddle craftsmen.We have addittional options for the cantle: Pencil Roll ($100) or Cheyenne Roll ($75)We can also pre-turn the stirrups for an additional $30We can make the seat Rough-Out for grip for $25We can meet just about any special request. Just ask!Available Configuration of the Imus 4-Beat® Saddle:Available in 15”, 16” or 17” or 18" Seat Sizes (western sizing) If you aren't sure of your seat size, check out our chart .Standard Tree or Wide Tree AvailableWestern, Endurance, or Endurance with Western Fenders ConfigurationsSpecially Designed Tree designed for unique forward placement, placing rider over horse’s true center of gravity. Designed for complete freedom of movement and to accommodate the gaited horse’s backFlexible Tree with leather suspended ground seat to prevent bars from collapsing under rider’s weight. Provides incredibly close feeling to the horse.Carefully calculated degree of flexibility in the bars offers gaited horses unprecedented comfort and freedom of motion, while still correctly distributing the rider’s weight.Forward set, free-swinging stirrups to avoid pressure on rider’s ankles, knees, hips and pelvisPlaces rider in “bareback” position, allowing rider to truly be in balance with their horse without constricts of saddleSupracor © therapeutic padding placed under the bars of the tree to eliminate pressure soreness and ensure a custom fitSupracor © therapeutic padding placed in the seat and the matching 4-Beat® stirrups for unparalleled rider comfort14 day trial to ensure a great fit for both horse and riderUnparalleled pre and post-sale support from knowledgeable staff!Each Imus 4-Beat® Saddles Comes Standard With:Matching 4-Beat® Stirrups with Suparcor © padding in the treadDee and O rings with 6 sets leather tie strings for attaching gearCrupper Ring2 extra long latigo leathers to accommodate 3-Point RiggingContact us if you'd like help fitting your horse!Check us out on our phoenixrisingsaddles website for more information and free gait training articles and videos!