Carrying Chainsaw on Horseback

My bride and I volunteer to help maintain trials in our area (North Georgia). The work often involves the clearing of blown down trees using chainsaws. We have looked into using panniers for transporting our saws, however, that requires another horse trained in "packing in". It would be much simplier to carry the chainsaw on our saddle, if possible to do so safely. Any ideas?

Maybe you could get someone to custom a thick leather chainsaw "holster" so it could hang from the horn. Other than that, I have no clue how to carry it safely.

I agree..

Would be hard to carry safely but possible with a short bar. I wouldn't hang it from the horn though, they are heavy enough to pull your saddle off to one side. Try strapping it down behind the cantle, migh help to put something rigid between it and the saddle.

Easy, take the tools for it and remove the chain. Like unloading a gun.....just a thought.
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I take an extra, throw a saddle pannier over the saddle. Put the chain saw on one side, Extra gas, oil, tools on the opposite side and go enjoy the day.

I have enough trouble getting all my horses exercised to leave one home. So any excuse to take and extra horse I'm all over it.

It's also great training for the horse to deal with the noise of a chain saw, standing pateniently while I get off and work.

And no it's not much work to trail a horse to carry a pannier. Hauling the chain saw is great training on packing

If you really don't want to use an extra horse put the saw in a carrying case (or at least cover the bar with a plastic scabbard), cut a slot in the bottom of a large saddlebag you don't use anymore, and carry it by putting the bar through the slot, engine unit in the saddlebag.

Put gas, oil, tools, in the opposite saddlebag. Be a little off balance, but that could be corrected with a rock if it was a big issue.

It'd take a good sized saddlebag (depending on how big the saw/case is) but it should carry fine. Might be easier to just scabbard the bar instead of using a full case just so it'd fit in the saddlebag easier.

We do this all the time in our trail club.
One person has 'built' a rawhide carrier that covers and keeps the saw/chain safely away from the horse and then attaches it to the back of the saddle on along with the regular saddle pads. Someone else refashioned an old saddle bag and put extra pads/protection on it too keep the heat from a freshly used saw from burning the horse. (and straps to 'tie' it on!) Also on the back of the horse behind the saddle.
Problem is, you need to be extra nimble to get your leg over it when dis/mounting! =)

Sadly, I don't have a picture of the rawhide sheath thingy the one guy made. It's pretty cool! Even though I don't believe in using leather/rawhide/dead animals.

Heres the holder I had made to carry my axe.

A bit off topic, I apologize, but me and my dad were at an antique steamshow sort of deal once-lots of old steam tractors, horse-drawn plowing etc, and we were talking with one guy (with a hitch of three Belgians on a plow) who said he does a lot of lumber stuff with them back in the forest. I still don't know if he was pulling our tails, but he swore that when his horses' feet had chips or got a bit long on the edges, he would take his chainsaw and do their feet and trim them down a bit. I still think he's bluffing, but the horses were dead quiet. If anyone could do it, he could. I know if we even thought about getting a chainsaw near our drafts, we'd either be holding a severed foot or we'd be patching a hole in the roof. Interesting story, thought I'd share