Circle Y
Flexlite Flagstaff
Trail Saddles
Manufacturer: Circle Y
Model: Flexlite Flagstaff
Category: Trail Saddles
Purchase: I paid $1450 for this saddle from a local tack shop that let me try it out for a week first. I had always wanted a nice new saddle so I finally bought one! It was expensive, but worth it. My other saddle left dry spots on my horse.
Likes: This saddle is so comfortable. I like the deep seat that has sort of conformed to my butt over time (I've ridden in this saddle A LOT over the last year and half). The soft leather on the fenders is great...I've NEVER had knee pain with this saddle (it was a regular problem with my old saddle, even though it was well broken in and the stirrups were turned out fine). I love the look of this saddle with the rounded skirt and rich walnut color. The underside has nice thick fleece with a bit of a soft cushion under the fleece. Many people think that the flexlite tree is supposed to make this saddle magically fit more horses better, but that is not true. No saddle (unless it has no tree) can "flex" that much. The slight "flex" in this saddle's tree is designed to allow the saddle to conform better to the horse's back as it moves, rather than be a rigid shape riding on top of a flexing swaying back. It still has to be the right approximate size for the horse. That said, I have the regular tree (15" seat) and this saddle fits my mutton-withered short backed(but narrow) mustang, my mustang with higher withers and a hollow behind her shoulders, and my quarter horse (not the bulldog type, but she's not all that narrow either). I feel very secure riding rugged trails in this saddle, and it is balanced enough to do flatwork with. For as hard as I am on this saddle (riding through brush, leading my horse through vegetation too thick to ride through, basically not taking any special precautions to keep it looking brand new), it has held up well, and really does still look quite new. I hope it lasts another 20 years.
Dislikes: The only thing that I don't like, is that the finish on the leather has worn off a bit under where my upper thigh rests (and rubs). It doesn't have that shiny new leather finish in that area anymore...it is duller with a kind of tacky feeling...but I would expect to see some wear, and it very well might be something I did when I was cleaning it.
Quality: The quality seems pretty good...there are a lot of synthetic parts on these saddles now, but I think that is part of what makes them so comfortable and what allows the leather to be so soft, yet strong.
Summary: I love this saddle and I am very glad for my purchase.
Rating: 5
Author: Kara G.
Date: 0000-00-00
Usefulness Rating: 2.78788 out of 5.
33 reader(s) voted.
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