Circle Y Gillette Saddle Review – A Great Saddle for Amateur Riders on a Budget

Sep 19, 2022

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The Circle Y Gillette Saddle is the perfect saddle, with a price tag that will satisfy any rider’s wallet. But it’s probably best suited for the amateur rider who can’t spend a ton of money on a fancy everyday saddle. It’s great for training and for the trail.

But what kind of horse will the Circle Y Gillette saddle fit? If you’ve got a horse that’s built like a tank, meaning, with a short back, and shoulders as broad as a football player, then this is the saddle for you. Our tree is uniquely designed especially for those pesky foundation horses.

Foundation Horses & Circle Y Gillette Saddle

Most Quarter Horse enthusiasts will tell you that foundation horses carry what the breed is meant to be. They’re not only versatile, but they were most popular with early settlers. Today, people seem to be getting back to the old school lines, rather than going for the ones you see in a show ring.

Quarter horses make the perfect companion for the weekend trail ride, or for relaxing with your partner after work. What’s more, they’re most popular with families due to their ability to work hard while still being great with children.

Getting Away For a Weekend Ride?

Specifications

Seat Size: 15″, 16″, 17″
Color: Walnut, Regular Oil
Tooling: Border
Tree: Fiberglass Reinforced Wide
Silver: Engraved Stainless
Rigging: 3-way adjustable in-skirt
Swell Width: 13″
Cantle Height: 4″
Horn Size: 3-1/4″ Neck, 1-7/8″ Cap
Skirt Size: 10-1/2″ x 26″
Weight: Approximately 30 lbs.

Features and Benefits of Circle Y Gillette Saddle

Why is the Circle Y Gillette Saddle perfect for weekend rides? Because the features are and benefits are perfect for the weekend rider. You’ll no doubt be riding a Quarter horse. Circle Y Gillette saddle is made with close contact, short skirt, which is perfect fit for the foundation build.

Two more benefits of the close contact short skirt is that it helps with cueing your horse, and it cuts down on weight. Our tree is made of wood with a reinforcement of fiberglass. DURAhide is used to coat the saddle in order to keep moisture away.

Fiberglass and DURAhide add another layer of staying power to keep your saddle in better shape over time. But that’s not it. There’s more to this nifty saddle…

Keep Your Horse Cool and Its Spine Free From Pressure

Here’s kicker: the Circle Y Gillette saddle is designed with what’s called a TunnelSkirt. Keeping your horse cool during your ride is important. More importantly, the TunnelSkirt stops spinal pressure. When your horse is comfortable, you’re apt to get more cooperation from your friend.

Circle Y Gillette Saddle Guarantees No More Sore Butt…

And if you’re not able to ride every day on a ranch or training, don’t worry. Our saddle has the extra benefits of pre-shaped fenders with metal stirrups and an ImpactFoam seat for your comfort. What does that mean for you?

It means no more sore butt.

Easy Mounting and Dismounting with Circle Y Gillette Saddle

Don’t you hate a saddle that’s hard to dismount? So do we. A lower cantle makes it easier to swing your leg over when mounting or dismounting. Wouldn’t that be super helpful when you’re out on a trail and you need a break from the saddle?

Even on the most forgiving terrain, it’s sometimes hard to lift yourself in and out of the saddle from the ground.

Spreads Like Butter Over Your Horse’s Back

You should take note, though. When you put this saddle on your horse, it may not sit flat. However once you’re in the saddle, it spreads like butter over your horse’s back. Remember, our saddle fits the short back, wide shoulder horse like a glove.

A word of caution: Be sure to rig the same on each side of the saddle.

My Circle Y Gillette Wrap Up

In conclusion, the Circle Y Gillette Saddle is guaranteed to provide comfort to you and your horse. You’ll be so thankful if you have a hard-to-fit horse too. You’ll also have the added benefit that this saddle won’t break the bank, and it has just enough bells and whistles to make both horse and rider feel confident.

Did you find this post helpful? Post your comments below. I love hearing from my readers. If you’re looking for some more trail saddle reviews, read my post, “Martha Josey Ultimate Cash Barrel Saddle MJ79 Review”.

Comments

10 responses to “Circle Y Gillette Saddle Review – A Great Saddle for Amateur Riders on a Budget”

martha s ford

Thanks for your review. I have a foundation 5 year old QH. This saddle fit him very nicely, however, as a 5’3″ size woman, this saddle is very uncomfortable for me. I feel that it is better suited for a taller rider. It was virtually impossible to get leg contact with the saddle. And yes, i did order the correct seat size. It is a well made saddle and Circle Y makes 2 other saddles on the exact same tree. They are the Green Valley and the Buffalo Gap. If the Gillette fits your horse, the other 2 should as well. Unfortunately, I had to send that saddle back, and my search continues.

Reply
1. Shalisha Alston
  
  Hi Martha. I’m sorry this saddle didn’t fit well for you as a 5’3, petite woman. When you say you couldn’t get leg contact with the saddle, what do you mean? Do you mean you had difficulty communicating with the horse through leg contact? You probably need a more specialized, custom-made saddle. I work closely with The Horse Saddle Shop. They can help you with your issue. They can also help you solve other problems you may have with respect to horse saddle seat size, trees, etc. Here is their contact information: You can email them at support@horsesaddleshop.com or call them at (800) 448-1602.
  
  Reply
Jovea Divine Health Transformations

Shalisha hi and thank you for so much insight. I absolutely love horses and would one day maybe become a rider. As a girl I had a pony and just loved riding him back in the day. I had no idea there was so much to know about saddles when you buy and ride. You certainly show your knowledge in this niche and one could learn a lot from you. I was told to stay away from having horses because they are a lot of work and very expensive. But the beauty that exists in a horse is amazing. As I scrolled you site and saw the numerous saddles that are good for the different kinds of horses I was in awww. I was looking at property in Ocala, Florida which I learned is horse capital of the US so maybe there was something more calling me there. Again, the knowledge is amazing and I certainly could use this information if I ever take the leap to horse ownership. Thanks

Reply
1. Shalisha Alston
  
  Hi Jovea. Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m so glad you got a lot out of my post and my site overall. If you buy property in Ocala, please be sure to return to my site. We’ve got tons of saddles for trail riding. Thanks again.
  
  Reply
James Croft

Hello Shalisha!

Thank you for this article, it is very informative.

I was wondering about the quality and mostly the durability of this saddle. Would one expect to expect this saddle to be durable for frequent and long term usage? I would be interested in buying one for training people so a durable long lasting saddle would be ideal.

Reply
1. Shalisha Alston
  
  Hi James. Thanks for your question. Yes. This is the perfect saddle if you’re looking for durability and frequent use. It all starts with the tree. The tree is fiberglass reinforced. Fiberglass is incredibly strong. The impact foam seat offers you unmatched comfort in the saddle. Engineered to offer maximum cushion without wearing down quickly. This seat is everything you’ve been looking for to get you through the trail. Of course, you have to take care of your saddle if you want it to last. But this particular saddle is made with the finest materials to help your saddle last a long time. I hope my answer is helpful. Please stop by again.
  
  Reply
LineCowley

If you are a weekend rider and an amateur, your requirements for a saddle will be different from those that ride every day, or do showjumping. Anybody looking for a saddle that is suitable for use during weekends, will find this review on the Circle Y Gillette saddle very helpful.

It is great to see that the Circle Y Gillette saddle is particularly suited for a horse with a short back and broad shoulders, and it will spread evenly over the horse’s back when you sit on it. As a saddle with a lower price tag, it looks awesome.

Reply
1. Shalisha Alston
  
  Hi there! Thank you for your thoughtful comment. Yes, the Circle Y Gillette Saddle is affordable, and perfect the beginner rider who likes to go riding on the weekend. It’s so important to know what kind of saddle you need and for which type of riding and that’s what my site’s goal is – to help people pick the right saddle for the right kind of riding. Please stop by again.
  
  Reply
Ashley

Thank you so much for your review of the Circle Y Gillette Saddle for foundation horses. This sounds like it would fit my horse perfectly, as he has a short back and wide shoulder. He’s built like a tank! (Nice description :)) Also, the tunnel skirt is such a great feature. I am from Arizona so keeping horses cool is the humane thing to do and the added bonus that it keeps pressure off the spine is fantastic! I thnk my favorite feature of this saddle is the ImpactFoam, as I am someone who ends up with a sore butt. Thanks again for all the information.

Reply
1. Shalisha Alston
  
  Hi Ashley. Thanks for your comment and thanks for stopping by. Wow, Arizona! Definitely hot over there. Yes, this saddle would be perfect for your short back, wide-shoulder horse. If there’s anything else I can assist you with, please let me know. Thanks.
  
  Reply