In literature, the word “saddle” serves both as a tangible element of the riding experience and as a potent metaphor for the burdens, responsibilities, or transitions characters face. In some works it signals a call to action or readiness—evoking images of mounting a steed as in the call to “saddle my horses” [1] or the practical preparations of travel [2]—while in others it underscores the discomfort or encumbrance of duty, as when a character laments being uncomfortably “in my saddle” [3] or is saddled with unwanted debts [4]. At times, it even functions as a playful or ironic detail in scenes involving everyday life or ritual, whether it’s about literally placing a saddle on an animal [5] or making a witty remark about riding challenges [6]. This duality of meaning—from the concrete realm of equestrian gear to the abstract domain of emotional and social weight—illustrates how the saddle becomes a versatile symbol woven throughout both classical and modern narratives [7], [8], [9], [10].