Circle Y Alpine Flex2 Trail Saddle Review – Luxury, Affordable Saddle

Jan 29, 2022

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The Circle Y Alpine Flex2 Trail Saddle isn’t an ordinary trail saddle. To put it into car terms, this saddle is made to feel as luxurious as a Cadillac while still remaining as rugged as an off-road vehicle.

It combines the scientific approaches of ergonomics to help ease the stress of the ride on both horse and rider, and the craftsmanship is just as advanced as the technology used to design it.

Circle Y Alpine Flex2 Trail Saddle – Who is Circle Y?

Simply put, Circle Y is a company located in Yoakum, TX (hint: the Y in Circle Y stands for Yoakum). It began in 1960 with founder Leland Tucker.

In that short amount of time, Circle Y has taken over several markets and established a Team of Champions that includes several Hall of Fame riders. It also has a dedicated I Ride Circle Y membership group that’s included in every part of the manufacturer’s design process.

This is how the company has been able to produce top-quality saddles that incorporate what riders are really looking for. It’s also why their saddles are such a great investment for any rider.

The people behind Circle Y

14″ to 17″ Circle Y Alpine Flex2 Trail Saddle 2377 w/Free Pad
List Price: $2,365.00
Our Price: $2,150.00

Specs:
Tree: Flex2 Trail Regular and Wide
Skirt Size: 15″ x 26-1/2″
Weight: Approximately 28 lbs.

It’s now headed by none other than Steve Tucker of Tucker Saddles. He’s made it his mission to produce high-quality saddles that promote superior comfort for both horse and rider. To do this, he’s utilizing technology and ergonomics.

That’s why this particular saddle is so much more advanced than a typical trail saddle.

As mentioned above, the Team of Champions and I Ride Circle Y memberships feature a star-studded list, including multidisciplinary rider and celebrated clinician Julie Goodnight, two-time World Barrel Racing Champion Kelly Kaminski, and owner and operator of Nowhere But UP Performance Horses Cody Crow.

Circle Y Alpine Flex2 Trail Saddle Shocking Technology

Okay. For starters, anyone who’s ever ridden on a long, rough trail ride knows he or she is going to be sore the next day.

Often, this isn’t due to being out of riding shape or having a bad seat, but instead points to problems with the seat itself. In this saddle, there’s an impact foam designed to offer cushion without wearing down quickly like other saddles.

That means it’ll last through longer trail rides. Think of it as the shocks on your car when driving down a bumpy road. Those shocks can make your ride smooth or make you regret taking the road in the first place.

Circle Y Alpine Flex2 Trail Saddle – Engineered Comfort

If you’ve ever had to deal with sore knees and ankles after a ride, you’ll be happy to know that this saddle offers ErgoBalance Stirrups. This means the bar at the top of the stirrup has been tilted so as to allow the foot to be even during the ride.

The skirt and tree have been designed with balance and comfort in mind. How? The tree has a dual-bar system that gives stability to the rider. But the beauty in this saddle is that the skirt creates a path along the spinal area.

This has proven to decrease rubbing, sore spots, and all the problems associated with pressure points along the horse’s spine. The skirt also has a neoprene filler that soaks up all the shock from rough terrain.

And if that’s not enough, the seat and fenders are made of Circle Y’s softest leather ever. It’s so soft that breaking it in isn’t an issue anymore!

What’s this saddle good for?

Specifications

Seat Size: 14″, 15″, 16″, 17″
Color: Walnut, Regular Oil
Tooling: Border
Tree: Flex2 Trail Regular and Wide
Hardware: Engraved Stainless
Rigging: 3-way adjustable inskirt
Swell Width: 14″
Cantle Height: 5″
Horn Size: 3″ Neck 2-3/4″ Cap
Skirt Size: 15″ x 26-1/2″
Weight: Approximately 28 lbs.

This lightweight saddle is designed to be beautiful to look at as well as easy on long rides. It’s best to use the Alpine Flex2 saddle for trail rides, but it can be used in endurance, ranch riding, training, and other areas where you need a comfortable saddle.

As always, be sure to measure yourself and your horse appropriately before purchasing any saddle. Overall, this saddle is perfect for pretty much any rider who wants to enjoy life on the trails.

Did you find this review on Circle Y Alpine Flex2 Trail Saddle helpful? I’d love to hear your comments below. If you’d like more reviews on trail saddles, please read my Julie Goodnight Trail saddle review.

Comments

8 responses to “Circle Y Alpine Flex2 Trail Saddle Review – Luxury, Affordable Saddle”

LineCowley

We have been looking for a lightweight saddle for a teenager, so I am very pleased that I came across this review on the Circle Y Alpine Flex2 Trail Saddle. With the impact foam designed to offer cushion and reduce shocks, and therefore soreness, it will be perfect for her.

Do you have any suggestions how to best care for the saddle? You mention it is made from Circle Y’s softest leather, but any cleaning suggestions and products to maintain the leather, will be appreciated.

Reply
1. Shalisha Alston
  
  Hi there! Thank you so much for your question. There are so many tips Circle Y gives for upkeeping their leather saddles – actually, too many to mention here. So click here Circle Y Leather Saddle Care Instructions for the full instructions. Basically, they recommend for brand new saddles – every new Circle Y saddle has been oiled and then finished with a protective finish, which means you don’t need to oil it for about six months. If you’re riding a lot in dry or variable weather conditions, you should oil it sooner.
  
  When Using Oils
  
  Oil with the best oils and leather conditioners available to you. Use specific leather care products made for cleaning and conditioning leather and follow the instructions – use regularly to keep leather soft and supple. We like liquid, glycerin-based saddle soap to remove mud, grime, mold, and mildew. Follow with a leather conditioner. We don’t recommend animal fats, olive oil, or mink oil as it can darken the leather.
  
  These are only a few suggestions. So, click on the link to get the full scoop. I hope this helps you, and thanks for stopping by.
  
  Reply
Toplink

Wow, just visiting your site and viewing the images immediately captivates my senses. I actually smell the fresh rawhide, feel the wind blowing in my hair and special memories of riding come streaming into my memory. At the same time, I remember the times when I was very sore after a ride. The saddles you are reviewing are incredible and the notion of engineered saddles is almost too much to comprehend. Our early ancestors would have been ecstatic to even dream about the possibilities of owning these saddles!

Reply
1. Shalisha Alston
  
  Hi there. Thank you so much for giving me vivid imagery of you experiencing one of my saddles. What a compliment. My article has done it’s job. I’m so happy. Yes, saddle technology has come such a long way. Our ancestors would totally love these saddles. Please come back again.
  
  Reply
Ann

I am acquainted with the Hall of fame riders that are in the team of champions Circle Y has cherished. I have always wanted a luxury saddle without breaking the bank. I think my dream has come true. Circle Y Alpine Flex2 trail saddle has the best of both worlds. Thank you for the review.

Reply
1. Shalisha Alston
  
  Hi Ann. Thanks for your feedback. Yes, Circle Y has a range of affordable, high-quality saddles. The Circle Y Alpine Flex2 trail saddle is indeed an excellent saddle – and it’s $300 below list price. I’m so happy I’ve helped one of your dreams come true. Have you checked out the used Western saddles section on my site? You can still get high-quality saddles, already broken in, at huge discounts. Please stop by again.
  
  Reply
gchanges

HEY Shalisha,

Nice post. I like horses, but I really know nothing about saddles. What a great website! Thanks for taking the time to research and to share such interesting information. This saddle is heavy, which attests to the craftsmanship put into it. The deep seat will keep you well balanced and in position throughout the day. Can this saddle also help the horse from tiring as the day wears on?

Reply
1. Shalisha Alston
  
  Hi there. I’m so happy you found my post helpful. And I’m so glad you like my website. The Circle Y Alpine Flex2 Trail saddle is well made. It weighs 28 pounds, which for a Western saddle is in the middle weight range. Saddles can weigh anywhere from 10 pounds to 60 pounds. But trail saddles are made to be lightweight.
  
  What I love about this saddle is that while it is designed to be used as a trail saddle, it can be used for endurance, ranch riding, training, and other areas of riding where you need a comfortable saddle. Again, thanks for stopping by.
  
  Reply