Circle Brands Western Trail Saddles: Which One is Right for You?
Posted by Mary's Tack and Feed on 18th Oct 2025
Buying a good western saddle for trail riding is a big commitment. They are known for their durability, and can last you years. Historically, they were used for driving cattle and other livestock for hours at a time, withstanding harsh elements while still remaining relatively comfortable for both the rider and the horse. Circle Brands saddles such as High Horse, Tucker Trail, Circle Y, and Reinsman have continued to use traditional methods to hand craft high quality, comfortable western saddles. These brands make more than trail saddles as well. In fact, there are multiple types of western saddles that can provide similar features to an ideal trail saddle.
Depending on what you want out of your western pleasure saddle, it’s important to know which types deliver the most suitable performance for you and your horse’s needs. A good trail saddle is typically lightweight, has a narrower swell, and has good seat cushioning. Some riders prefer saddles with deep seats and high cantles to provide low back support, while others prefer smaller cantles for more mobility in hilly terrain. Mary’s Tack and Feed has plenty of saddles to suit your trail riding needs, including comfortable western trail saddles, endurance saddles, and even barrel saddles. Let’s dive into what makes these saddles strong trail saddle contenders.
Barrel Saddles
Don’t let the name deter you. Barrel racing saddles may be intended for racing, however their design also makes them great lightweight trail saddles. They have a deep seat to ensure the rider is secure in the saddle, which also means comfort on the trail. They’re built for speed, making them a lighter load on your horse’s back. Keep in mind that these saddles typically do not have D-Rings or saddle strings, which are desirable for tying on any saddle bags necessary for a long trail. For shorter trails, however, these saddles are a great option! Not to mention, barrel saddles come with a slew of colors and detailing that show off some fun personal flare. Here are some trail-friendly Circle Brands barrel saddles.
High Horse Lindale 6228 Barrel Saddle
High Horse by Circle Y is a newer western saddle brand that delivers excellent craftsmanship at a more affordable price. One excellent example is The High Horse Lindale Saddle. This a tall cantle western saddle that provides good low back support with a secure, deep seat. The saddle skirts are cut to reduce saddle bulk and provide more comfort for your horse. This saddle comes with lightweight aluminum stirrups that take a little less load off your horse’s back. This saddle features some fun barrel racing flare with copper and turquoise conchos, and turquoise stitching along the seat.
Circle Y Windsor Barrel Saddle
This is another deep seated saddle featuring the all-new Cobra tree design that ensures a close-contact feel in the seat. The horn has a slight forward tilt as well, allowing some room to lean forward on an incline. With a trimmed, rounded skirt, this saddle is an easy 23 lbs.
In true barrel saddle fashion, the Windsor stands out with ultra-lite roughout that showcases a Diamond Waffle border tooling and custom Thunderbird Gem conchos. Roughout is a great material for those looking for an extra-durable western saddle. This leather has a similar “fuzzy” texture to suede, but is tougher and more resistant to the elements.
Circle Y KK Swift Barrel Saddle
This barrel saddle is the result of collaboration between Circle Y and NFR World Champion Kelly Kaminski. Kelly insisted on a lightweight saddle with superior comfort for the horse and the rider. This is a nice cushioned trail saddle as well, featuring a deep secure Impact Foam seat and SRS seat material. This provides additional seat cushioning as well as a grippy, textured surface that delivers extra security. The EBS Ergo Balance Stirrups also provide joint support by reducing knee and ankle fatigue.
Your horse will thank you as well! Weighing just 21 pounds, this is one of the lighter saddles Mary’s has to offer. This saddle’s skirt and fenders are reduced to utilize fewer materials, making it lighter and more streamlined. The Flex 2 features give your horse more freedom of movement and absorb shock, giving more cushioning to both of you.
Endurance Saddles
For the riders that are packing their saddle bags and riding for hours–or even days at a time–endurance trail saddles are a great option! In these instances, comfort and stamina are a high priority. You will want your horse to carry as little saddle weight as possible, especially if you are loading up saddle bags and a bedroll. A good long distance trail saddle should offer extra D-rings and saddle strings for this purpose.They also have a narrower swell, giving the rider extra security and a more comfortable position for long rides.
Saddles from the Tucker Heritage Collection take the original western endurance saddle design and combine it with innovative technology to enhance both comfort and performance. The Heritage Endurance 359 is no different. This padded western saddle has plenty of cushioning for your seat, and a short cantle that is built on the lightweight Tucker Heritage tree. At only 21 pounds, this saddle is optimized to carry you and your gear over long distances–and short ones!
This is another saddle made with Cordura to lighten the load on your horse’s back. The leather seat, swell, and cantle are a striking black leather, while the fenders and skirts are a lightweight cordura. The seat is double padded to provide maximum comfort during a long ride. This saddle features trail stirrups, which are designed to provide more room to distribute pressure and give your joints a break over the course of a long ride.
Tucker Heritage River Plantation
This saddle is great for riders who prefer a narrow swell of 10 inches. With a high, 5 inch cantle, this saddle gives lower back support and security that will help keep you comfortable for long hours on trail. While any well-fitting saddle can work for any horse breed, the design of the Heritage River Plantation makes for a good gaited western saddle.
Trail Saddles
Trail Saddles and endurance saddles have a lot of similarities. They make for a lightweight western saddle with a light tree, trimmed skirts, as well as some D-rings to attach saddle bags. Trail saddles tend to have a more classic western saddle appearance and include a short horn that doesn’t interfere with the rider as much as high horn on a deeper saddle. Some also forgo leather fenders in favor of cordura–a durable material that is less dense than leather. Cordura trail saddles are a great option for those looking for a more affordable trail saddle.
High Horse Daisetta Cordura Trail
The Daisetta Cordura is a lightweight western saddle for trails that has cordura skirts and fenders rather than leather. This makes a difference for your horse, while still giving you the feel of a leather seat. It also features adjustable flat plate rigging so you can decide what positioning works best for your horse. As is common for High Horse brand saddles, it comes at a more affordable price point while still providing excellent performance.
Circle Y Julie Goodnight Cascade Crossover Trail Saddle
Cascade saddles are similar to endurance saddles because they don’t have a horn, but that is not the only unique feature of the Circle Y Julie Goodnight Trail Saddle. Designed by renowned trainer and clinician, Julie Goodnight, this saddle utilizes a Flex 2 tree that gives a modern twist to the classic leather trail saddle. The walnut leather with shell border completes the design with a classic western look.
There are multiple safety and comfort features for both the rider and the horse to enjoy. For example: a braided night latch, or hand hold, to provide extra security for the rider if their horse is green, or when the trail gets exciting. There is also an adjustable, double billet rigging to position your horse’s girth just right, and rather than heavy western fenders, the stirrups are attached with english stirrup leathers. There is even a handy pocket on the cantle with a tool that doubles as both a hoof pick and a screwdriver–great for adjusting any hardware on your tack, and taking care of any pesky rocks that get stuck in your horse’s hoof.
Circle Y Hadley Hybrid Flex 2 Trail Saddle
The Circle Y Hadley Hybrid Saddle is another trail saddle that features Flex 2 technology, extra-comfy EBS Trail Glide Stirrups, and a shock-absorbing seat. The “hybrid” aspect of this saddle comes from the combination of leather and reinforced suede that help keep weight down. And, just like the Julie Goodnight saddle, it has an emergency hoof pick pocket for your horse, just in case!
With so many saddles to choose from, it can be tricky to pick your favorite right away. Thankfully, Mary’s Tack and Feed has your back! We want to help remove the guesswork from picking out the right saddle, which is why we offer saddle trials. This gives you and your horse the opportunity to test the fit and unique features of your next western trail saddle. If you have questions or need advice for where to start, just give us a call! Our sales associates are a wealth of knowledge, and can help you find a saddle that suits both of your needs.
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