Shotgun recommendations for wife (for ducks mostly)

My wife got into duck hunting with me 3 years ago when we got married. She had only deer hunted before so we had to buy her a shotgun...she was insistent that she wanted a pump in 12 gauge, didn't matter what I said. She eventually settled on a Remington 870 in 12 gauge...basic model, not the field master or whatever. Fast forward 2 years, and it's wearing her out and bruising up her shoulder (I warned her before we bought the thing that it was gonna be a rough gun).

Now she has decided she wants a semi auto and something that kicks a little less. I shoot a SBE2 and she likes the feel of it, but we aren't trying to spend that kind of money. Budget more around $1000 or less. The only shotguns I have ever owned or shot are an old 20 gauge Remington 870 express I shot when I was growing up, a Remington 1187 I used throughout high school that felt like it weighed about 30 lbs, and then bought my SBE2 after college once I got a real job...plus her 870, so I don't really have experience with a wide range of shotguns.

So, trying to find a nice middle ground between being light enough for a 130lb women to carry around and shoot, without being too light and having recoil to knock her in the water.

Any suggestions welcome. Thanks.