off-saddle, noun

Origin:
From off-saddle verb.
obs.
A break in a journey during which horses are unsaddled.
1845 W.N. Irwin Echoes of Past (1927) 235I..take the opportunity of the first off saddle to stretch myself in the Shade, and, while my orderly sits Smoking or Cooking some Cos (flesh), read your welcome epistle.
1860 A.W. Drayson Sporting Scenes 72My horse appeared much distressed. The day was intensely hot, and I thought an ‘off-saddle’ for half an hour might refresh the animal.
1875 J.J. Bisset Sport & War 188After a short off saddle we crossed the beautiful river of clear crystal water.
1882 Lady F.C. Dixie In Land of Misfortune 394For seventeen hours, with the exception of the two short off-saddles, the horses had been on the move.
1893 ‘Harley’ in Cape Illust. Mag. Vol.4 No.10, 377His horse, rather young and skittish for a trooper, broke away from him at the first off-saddle.
1907 J.P. Fitzpatrick Jock of Bushveld 309It was at the ‘offsaddles’ on long journeys..or during the rest in the day’s hunt that trouble was most to be feared.
1912 W. Westrup Land of To-Morrow 227Even if they came right through, without an off-saddle, it’s a four-and-a-half hours’ trek.
1925 D. Kidd Essential Kafir 9We suggest an ‘off-saddle,’ and so dismount close to a stream, and knee-halter our horses, allowing them to roll or graze at pleasure.
1937 J. Stevenson-Hamilton S. Afr. Eden 191With donkeys I usually found it best to complete the day’s trek without making a long halt with its necessary off saddle, and just to stop every hour, see that the loads were all right, and that the pack saddles had not slipped.
A break in a journey during which horses are unsaddled.
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18451937

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obsolete or obsolescent
off-load, verbv.off-saddle, verbv.
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