Circle Y Kelly Kaminski Swift Flex2 Barrel Racer Saddle 1522 w/Free Pad
Product Details
Kelly Kaminski Swift Flex2 Barrel Racer 1522

This Kelly Kaminski Flex2 belongs to the Big Dreams line of barrel saddles. Swift was built for speed by minimizing the skirt length and only leaving the essentials of only 21 pounds.
Built on Circle Y's Flex2 tree technology, the Swif offers freedom of movement for your horse and includes the Neo-Shock skirt for shock absorption and conformation to your horses back.
The Swift also offers the new SRS seating that has a unique textured surface-like a football giving you more of a "stick" in the seat. Very simple with classic floral and border tooling.
Key Features
- Flex2 tree gives your horse freedom of movement
- Roughout seat jockeys, fenders, and suede seat provide grip
- Impact Foam Seat absorbs shock and gives you added comfort
- Pre-set fenders reduce joint fatigue and promotes balanced riding
- Horn size and style allows you to lock your elbow into your hip around the barrels for consistent turns
- Seat: the groundseat and cantle design provide a secure, dished seat
Specifications
- Seat Size: 13", 13.5", 14", 14.5", 15", 16", 17"
- Color: Antique or Chocolate
- Tooling: Leaf with Border
- Tree: Flex2 Regular and Wide
- Silver: Iron Vine conchos
- Rigging: 7/8 In-Skirt C
- Swell Width: 12"
- Cantle Height: 5"
- Horn Size: 3" Neck, 2 1/4" Cap
- Skirt Size: 11" x 24"
- Weight: Approximately 21 lbs.
Special Features
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The Flex2 tree has a rigid ground seat with a dual bar system that provides both stability and flexibility where it's needed. This tree is available for riders of all sizes and has proven over time to fit a large variety of horses. |
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Tired of a sore butt after a days riding? 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. |
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The Neo-Shock skirt absorbs shock from rough terrain and uneven surfaces through the neoprene filler. This filler is designed to muffle any vibration for a smoother ride for both you and your horse. This skirt also conforms to the conformation of your horse. |
Reviews
WEIGHT & RIDER POSITION: I'm an english rider but have been researching my first saddle for western dressage and working equitation for a couple years. I wanted something lightweight by english rider standards and nimble that wouldn't force a chair position or feel like riding a wooden crate of potatoes. I read that other english riders liked barrel saddles. The Swift is ACTUALLY lightweight and allows me to ride in the position that Im used to, secure but unrestricted with my leg underneath me.
FENDERS: The swinging fenders allow leg freedom but they're almost too long for me at 54, even adjusted as short as I can get them and riding with a longer dressage leg. Anyone with <29 inseam might want to ask about custom shorter fenders. They were also not pre-set as described. Im doing the broom handle technique.
SEAT: The seat pocket is secure and deep. Because of the high cantle and high rise I actually had to order up a size. Im missing the benefit of the impact foam. The seat still feels very hard which is why Im giving it 4 stars. Id like more padding and will need a seat cushion for longer rides.
FIT: The wide tree fits my broad, 14-hand old-style Morgan mare well and the short, round skirt is perfect for her. I worried the saddle was bridging a tad at first but I think that's expected for flex trees. With weight in the saddle, the flex fills in where it should and she has nice even sweat marks on her back when I unsaddle her. Im using the Reinsman 226T round pad that came as a free gift with the saddle hank you!! and Im very happy with it.
RIGGING: The 7/8 seems to work for my mare. I thought the saddle was sliding forward while I was lunging her, but it was actually ok. It does flap on her back without a flank cinch though. I personally find western cinching to be a pain so I bought western-to-english long leather girth converters on Amazon and use them with a dressage girth. Problem solved and I much prefer this system.
OVERALL: Even though the Swift was designed for barrels, it allows a good position for western dressage, is easy to handle and, frankly, its beautiful! Other than the hard seat Im really happy with it and glad that it fits my horse and me.
Also, thank you to Horse Saddle Shop for being so accommodating, answering my many questions and making the exchange process a breeze. I originally ordered a medium tree per fitting templates and back tracings 14.5 seat. Wrong x2. It was like a Barbie saddle for us! The 16 wide is much better. Ill be back when Im ready to buy a trail saddle!