Compare Circle Y & High Horse Saddles For Every Cowboy & Cowgirl

Circle Y and High Horse by Circle Y are top-notch saddle brands from Yoakum, Texas. They mix old-school craftsmanship with the latest tech to make some of the best Western saddles out there. Whether you're competing, hitting the trails, or working with horses in specific sports, Circle Y has got a saddle for you.

Since starting up in 1960, Circle Y has been all about making top-quality saddles that riders really love. They've kept up this tradition with every saddle they make, including those in their High Horse line. High Horse saddles are a bit easier on the wallet but still come with the Circle Y promise of quality and durability.

No matter what kind of riding you're into, Circle Y and High Horse by Circle Y have saddles that will fit your needs perfectly. They're not just about making saddles; they're about helping you and your horse do your best.

Today, still proudly made in the USA, Circle Y and High Horse continue to uphold this vision, exceeding rider expectations with every saddle produced.

Circle Y Topeka Trail Saddle Flex2 1651

Check out the Circle Y Topeka Trail Saddle Flex2 1651, a saddle that hits the sweet spot for trail riders who want a mix of good looks and all-day comfort. It's the kind of saddle that feels at home on a long trail ride, but also wouldn't look out of place in a show ring. Here’s why it’s a favorite:

Why You'll Love This Saddle

• Classic Look: It’s got a cool shell border design, shiny silver conchos, and stainless steel bits that make it stand out.

• Super Comfy: Thanks to the Flex2 technology, it’s built for comfort on those long rides, distributing weight evenly so you and your horse stay happy.

• Tough and Tidy: Made from Herman Oak leather, it’s not just tough; it also looks great.

• Fits Just Right: With its clever 3-way rigging system, you can adjust the fit easily, making sure it’s just right for your horse.

• Back-Friendly: The smart skirt design means no pressure on your horse’s back, making for a smoother ride.

• Weather-Resistant: The DURAhide coating on the tree means it can stand up to all kinds of weather.

• Moves with Your Horse: The saddle’s designed to let your horse move naturally, thanks to the flexible tree that adjusts to their movement.

Whether you’re out for a leisurely ride or competing, the Circle Y Topeka Trail Saddle Flex2 1651 has got you covered with its blend of style, comfort, and practical features. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a saddle that does it all.

Circle Y Cheyenne All Around Saddle 2164

Key Features You'll Love

• Looks Awesome: It's got a fancy pattern on the sides and light-colored leather where your legs go, making it stand out.

• Super Grippy: The special leather gives you a good hold, which is great whether you're working on a ranch or going through a tricky course.

• Keeps You Connected: The seat is designed to help you feel closer to your horse, making it easier to communicate with just small movements.

• Comfy for Your Horse Too: Underneath, it's got a soft lining that keeps your horse comfortable, especially when it's hot out.

• Strong and Sturdy: The way it's put together makes it really strong, especially around the area where you tighten the saddle, so it lasts longer.

• Easy to Break In: People who've used this saddle say it quickly feels like an old favorite, so you won't have to deal with that stiff, new saddle feel.

Whether you're competing, helping out on the ranch, or just riding for fun, the Circle Y Cheyenne All Around Saddle 2164 has got your back with its style, durability, and comfort. It's a top pick for riders who want a saddle that does it all.

Circle Y Sunflower Flex2 Trail Saddle 1682

The Circle Y 1682 Sunflower Flex2 Trail Saddle is a top pick for trail riders who want a mix of top-notch craftsmanship, comfort, and standout style. Here's a quick look at what makes this saddle a great choice:

Key Features You'll Love

• Stunning Design: Features beautiful sunflower tooling with a classic border and matching conchos for an elegant look.

• Comfy Seat: Comes with a distressed apache leather seat that's not only comfortable but also adds a unique style.

• Horse-Friendly Fit: The short, round skirt is perfect for shorter-backed horses, ensuring a good fit without compromising comfort.

• Built for the Trails: With the Flex2 tree technology, it offers great stability and weight distribution, ideal for those long rides.

• Lightweight Feel: Despite its sturdy build, it's lightweight enough for easy handling, weighing just 23 lbs.

• Versatile Fit Options: Available in chocolate or vintage colors and both regular and wide tree options to suit a variety of horse builds.

Trail riders rave about the Circle Y Sunflower Flex2 Trail Saddle 1682 not just for its beauty but for its exceptional fit and comfort, making it a snug choice for both riders and horses of different sizes and builds. It's designed to enhance your trail riding experience, ensuring you and your horse enjoy every journey to the fullest.

High Horse by Circle Y El Campo Cordura Gaited Trail Saddle 6970

If you're on the hunt for a saddle that's perfect for your gaited horse, you've got to check out the High Horse by Circle Y El Campo Cordura Gaited Trail Saddle 6970. It's packed with features that make it a trail rider's dream, especially if you're spending hours in the saddle.

Key Features You'll Love

• Gaited Horse Friendly: It's specially designed to give your gaited horse the freedom to move naturally and comfortably.

• Light as a Feather: With Cordura® skirts and fenders, this saddle won't weigh you or your horse down.

• Choose Your Comfort: Pick between a suede or grainout double padded seat for those long rides. Either way, you're in for a comfy seat.

• Steady and Secure: A 4" cantle height provides a nice, stable feeling without feeling boxed in.

• Built to Last: Quality leather touches where it counts, plus Ralide stirrups and stainless steel hardware mean this saddle is ready for the long haul.

• Easy Care: With a fleece-lined skirt and nylon tie straps, keeping your saddle in tip-top shape is a breeze.

• Not a Burden: Weighing around 21 lbs., it's the perfect companion for those who love hitting the trails.

Riders have been raving about how well it fits their gaited horses, the top-notch comfort for both the rider and the horse, and the hassle-free process if you're looking to upgrade.

High Horse by Circle Y Big Springs Trail Saddle 6862

The High Horse by Circle Y Big Springs Trail Saddle 6862 is a dream come true for trail riders who value their horse's comfort and a perfect fit. This saddle is a true gem, offering unmatched comfort and style that makes every ride a pleasure. Here's a closer look at what makes this saddle a must-have:

Key Features You'll Love:

• Ultimate Comfort: Feels like sitting in a high-end leather recliner, providing immediate comfort for long rides.

• Perfect Fit: Designed to fit like a glove, it's loved by riders and horses alike for its slightly larger skirt, offering extra coverage without sacrificing mobility.

• Easy Maintenance: The brass finish may transfer to the leather, creating temporary yellow spots, but it's an easy fix and not a deal-breaker.

• High Demand: Its popularity is undeniable, with many riders seeking out this specific model after seeing it in action.

• Enhanced Performance: When paired with the right accessories, like the Tucker Toklat saddle pad, it delivers unbeatable performance, thanks in part to its center fire rigging.

• Ready to Ride: Comes with pre-turned stirrups and soft leather that feels broken in from the start, ensuring a snug fit and seamless freedom of movement.

• Deep Seat and Quality Leather: Offers a deep seat made from quality leather for a secure and comfortable ride, making it ideal for trail adventures.

Whether you're hitting the trails or simply enjoy quality craftsmanship, the High Horse Big Springs Trail Saddle 6862 is an excellent choice, offering both rider and horse the comfort and functionality needed for long, enjoyable rides.

Circle Y Medina Breakaway Saddle 1256

The Circle Y Medina Breakaway Saddle 1256 is designed with the competitive breakaway roper in mind, blending high performance with distinctive style. It's engineered to support ropers in every aspect, from the secure seating to the unique breakaway horn that maximizes control and safety.

Key Features You'll Love:

• Specialized Design: Tailored for breakaway roping, this saddle ensures a secure seat, durability, and a breakaway horn for enhanced safety and control.

• Striking Appearance: Comes in a beautiful walnut color with a domestic pink seat featuring white quilting, making it as stylish as it is functional.

• Elegant Tooling: The 1/4 sparkling diamond hand tooling adds elegance without compromising functionality, keeping the rider's needs in focus.

• Durable Construction: Built on a precision LTM Calf Roper tree reinforced with Kevlar, it's designed to withstand the rigors of roping activities.

• Stable and Comfortable: Equipped with a 7/8 double dee rigging for stability, and a design that balances the saddle perfectly for comfort and performance.

• Perfect Dimensions: With a 13" swell width, 3.25" cantle height, and a skirt measuring 15"D x 27"L, it weighs approximately 40 lbs, making it well-balanced for the sport.

The Circle Y Medina Breakaway Saddle 1256 is more than just equipment; it's a competitive edge in the arena, designed specifically to meet the demands of breakaway ropers. Offering a perfect blend of style, comfort, and innovation, this saddle helps you focus on winning, ensuring you and your horse can perform at your best.

Circle Y Cody Crow Versatility Saddle 1381

The Circle Y Cody Crow Versatility Saddle 1381 stands out as a collaborative creation with Cody Crow, renowned for his expertise in Reined Cow Horse, Ranch Horse Versatility, and Ranch Riding. This saddle is tailored to the competitive edge and nuanced needs of these disciplines, ensuring high performance and effective communication between horse and rider.

Key Features You'll Love

• Precision Design: Engineered for top-tier performance in Reined Cow Horse, Ranch Horse Versatility, and Ranch Riding, featuring close contact skirts for accurate cues.

• Timeless Style: Offers a classic walnut color and a durable hardseat for rider stability during intense competition.

• Distinctive Hardware: Custom copper hardware not only enhances the saddle's look but also its longevity.

• Adjustable Rigging: The 7/8 In-Skirt C rigging with a rear Dee allows for a secure, customizable fit for various horse types.

• Functional Horn: A 4” neck and 2-1/4” cap horn design cater to the needs of ranch riding disciplines.

• Exquisite Tooling: Features hand-tooled 1/2 TB Flower pattern with a Full Double line border, showcasing Circle Y's dedication to craftsmanship.

• Optimal Fit and Performance: Built on a Precision BW Ranch Cutter tree, available in regular and wide, to ensure the best fit and agility for competitive events.

• Balanced Dimensions: The skirt measures 14.5” D x 27.5” L, with a swell width of 13” and a cantle height of 3”, weighing approximately 35 lbs for the perfect balance of lightweight agility and stability.

The Circle Y Cody Crow Versatility Saddle 1381 is more than a saddle; it's a competitive advantage designed to elevate performance in the arena. With its blend of versatility, precision, and style, it's the ideal choice for riders aiming for the top in their respective disciplines.

Circle Y Bonham Ranch Cutter Saddle 4824

Boost your cutting performance with the Circle Y Bonham Ranch Cutter Saddle 4824, designed not only for peak performance but also for unparalleled comfort and style. This saddle is the cutting enthusiast's dream, blending precision, agility, and a tight bond with your horse into one sleek package.

Key Features You'll Love

• Designed for Precision: Tailored specifically for cutting, ensuring you and your horse can make quick, sharp turns with ease.

• Stunning Aesthetics: Features a heavy oil/chocolate finish with 1/2 Arizona Flower & Box Stamp and Herringbone tooling, balancing beauty with function.

• Durability: Built on a BW Ranch Cutter Kevlar® Reinforced tree, available in regular and wide, ready to take on the demands of cutting competitions.

• Secure Fit: Comes with a 7/8 Double Dee rigging for a snug, adjustable fit, letting you position the saddle perfectly on your horse.

• Supportive Seat: Offers a swell width of 13" and a cantle height of 3-1/2", providing a supportive seat for balance during fast moves.

• Functional Horn: A horn designed for ease of grip, with a 3-1/4" neck and a 2" cap, ideal for cutting maneuvers.

• Optimal Balance: Weighs approximately 36 lbs with a 15"D x 27"L skirt size, ensuring a balanced, close contact feel for effective communication.

The Circle Y Bonham Ranch Cutter Saddle 4824 is more than equipment; it's a competitive advantage in the cutting pen. It's crafted to elevate your performance, offering the ideal mix of style, comfort, and advanced functionality. Perfect for both seasoned competitors and those looking to hone their cutting skills, this saddle supports your cutting journey every step of the way.

Circle Y Great Oak Barrel Saddle 2234

Enter the arena with both confidence and flair with the Circle Y Great Oak Barrel Saddle 2234, crafted for the adrenaline-pumping sport of barrel racing. This saddle combines top-notch craftsmanship with cutting-edge features, offering barrel racers the agility and security essential for navigating the course's tight turns at high speeds. Its lightweight build and stunning design ensure you're competition-ready without any extra burden.

Key Features You'll Love

• Engineered for Speed: Designed to meet the demands of barrel racing, providing the agility and security needed for tight turns and fast runs.

• Lightweight Build: Its construction allows for speed without weighing you down, crucial for beating the clock.

• Striking Design: Features Great Oak tooling and Silver Thunderbird hardware, adding elegance and a unique flair to your racing gear.

• Versatile Fit: Available in seat sizes from 13.5" to 16", with the Cobra Barrel tree in both regular and wide, ensuring a comfortable fit for various rider and horse builds.

• Secure Seating: A 7/8 In-Skirt C rigging, a swell width of 15", and a cantle height of 5" provide a secure seat for optimal control and posture during runs.

• Optimal Maneuverability: The saddle's dimensions and a horn designed for quick grabs enhance security and maneuverability, essential for competitive barrel racing.

• Perfect Balance: Weighing approximately 23 lbs and sized at 12.5"D x 22"L, it offers the ideal balance between coverage and compactness, ensuring comfort without sacrificing performance.

The Circle Y Great Oak Barrel Saddle 2234 not only elevates your performance with its superior features and design but also ensures you stand out with its striking aesthetics. It's the ultimate tool for barrel racers looking to make their mark in competitions, blending functionality, style, and speed into a single, indispensable saddle.

Circle Y Empress Custom Show Saddle 1952

Circle Y makes a grand return to the show saddle scene with the Circle Y Empress Custom Show Saddle 1952, a saddle that's as stunning in appearance as it is effective in performance. This showpiece is designed to enhance your show performance through balanced equitation positioning and breathtaking aesthetics.

Key Features You'll Love

• Equitation-Ready Design: Engineered for optimal posture with its Precision Equitation style DURAhide coated tree, offering both durability and a perfect fit.

• Sleek Rigging: Features a 7/8 in-skirt J-rigging, reducing bulk for a sleek look and closer contact with your horse.

• Unique Aesthetics: Boasts a butterfly cutout skirt for enhanced visual appeal and precise cueing, and a Paisley Metallic Suede Seat for a luxurious and distinctive touch.

• Secure Seating: The suede seat provides extra grip, keeping riders secure, while silver-accented stirrups and shaped fenders add to its functional elegance.

• Exquisite Tooling: Swirling floral tooling with Empress Sterling Silver Plated accents showcases unparalleled craftsmanship.

• Statement Piece: More than just a saddle, it's a statement of elegance and performance, designed to spotlight you and your horse in the show ring.

The Circle Y Empress Custom Show Saddle 1952 is set to be the choice of champions, blending impeccable design with top-notch construction and eye-catching details for those who aim to stand out in competition.

Circle Y vs High Horse Saddles

Circle Y and High Horse saddles, both crafted with pride in Yoakum, Texas, showcase a blend of quality and innovation suited to different rider needs. Here's a refined comparison to illuminate their distinct characteristics.

Tree Design & Cost

High Horse saddles are built around the lightweight, durable Ralide tree, emphasizing affordability and straightforward design. This focus on cost-effectiveness makes sure riders access to durable saddles without the premium price tag.

Circle Y elevates customization and discipline-specific performance with a variety of tree options, including the adaptive Flex2 tree for enhanced trail riding comfort.

Circle Y's diverse tree offerings, encompassing wood and Ralide construction, cater to a wide range of disciplines and horse anatomies. This flexibility ensures a tailored fit for every horse and rider, with options like regular, wide, and gaited fits enhancing the compatibility across horse breeds and riding styles.

Range of Options

High Horse targets essential Western disciplines—barrels, trails, and show—providing quality, budget-conscious selections. Circle Y, however, spans a broader spectrum of Western riding disciplines, showcasing their extensive saddle-making expertise and catering to a wider array of rider preferences.

Materials

For riders prioritizing ease and functionality, High Horse introduces Cordura in skirts and fenders, offering a lighter alternative without sacrificing durability. Their use of vegetable-tanned leather marries affordability with aesthetic appeal, showcasing natural textures and durability.

Circle Y's material palette ranges from classic leather to innovative synthetic and hybrid materials, demonstrating versatility across their lineup. Models like the El Campo Gaited and Willow Springs exemplify their commitment to diverse riding demands, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern materials for optimal performance and comfort.

Target Audience

High Horse resonates with riders seeking dependable craftsmanship at an accessible price, focusing on essential performance without the frills. Circle Y, with its expansive selection and tailored trees, appeals to a broader audience—from competitive enthusiasts to serious recreational riders—offering premium features, customization, and a commitment to excellence in saddle making.

In essence, whether your equestrian journey leans towards competitive arenas or serene trails, both Circle Y and High Horse deliver exceptional craftsmanship. High Horse serves as the gateway to quality with budget-friendly options, while Circle Y offers an enriched riding experience through customization and innovation, ensuring every rider finds their perfect saddle companion.

Final Thoughts

Circle Y and High Horse by Circle Y offer exceptional saddles that cater to a wide array of equestrian needs, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern innovations. Whether you're competing in high-stakes environments, enjoying the tranquility of trail rides, or engaging in the precision of reined cow horse and ranch versatility disciplines, these brands stand ready to enhance your riding experience.

Circle Y, with its long-standing reputation for excellence, offers saddles that are as durable as they are beautiful, designed for riders who demand the best in performance and style. Their commitment to quality and innovation is evident in every saddle they produce, from the versatile Topeka Trail Saddle Flex2 1651 to the elegant Empress Custom Show Saddle 1952, ensuring that every rider finds their perfect match.

High Horse saddles, on the other hand, present a more accessible entry point into the world of quality equestrian gear without sacrificing performance. Designed for practicality and comfort, these saddles provide a budget-friendly option for riders across disciplines, from barrel racing to trail and show riding, all without compromising on the quality Circle Y is known for.

Ultimately, whether you choose a Circle Y or High Horse saddle, you're investing in more than just a piece of equipment; you're selecting a partner in your equestrian pursuits. Both brands embody the spirit of Western riding, offering saddles that meet the rigorous demands of various disciplines while ensuring the comfort and well-being of both horse and rider. As you step into the arena or hit the trails, do so with confidence knowing you're riding with the best in the business.

Richard Sutherland

RichardSutherland@bitsnspurs.org

Richard is a western lifestyle author for Bits N' Spurs, the weekly newsletter that keeps pace with today's rodeo. His articles are featured on dozens of rodeo and Western related websites and provide a window to the world of cowboy culture.