Sensation Saddle Frequently Asked Questions
This page is a work in progress- if your question isn't answered here, you can contact Melissa at freedomtreeless@yahoo.com to get an answer!
Will this saddle fit my horse?
Maybe. Maybe not! Like any saddle, a Sensation saddle is not going to work for every horse, or every rider. Generally, horses with tall, narrow withers, and A-frame conformation, and/or a very prominent spine will be less suitable for a treeless saddle than a horse with more average conformation. However, there are exceptions, and especially in the case of a horse with muscle atrophy causing the conformation issue, it may be possible to pad to correct the issue while the horse rebuilds muscle. The best way to find out if a Sensation will work for your horse, is to try one!
Will these saddles work for my gaited breed horse? What about my short-backed or pony-sized mount?
More than half my clients are gaited riders- Icelandics, TWH's, MFT's, Rocky Mountain Horses, Spotted Saddle Horses, and any other breed of gaited horse, can do well in a Sensation. The flexible design of the Sensation saddle allows for unrestricted shoulder movement, often resulting in improved gait quality. I personally own and ride two TWH's of very different type and build, and my Sensation works well on both! I have a lot of clients who own and ride Icelandics.
Short-backed horses or ponies are typically not a problem, either- the weight-bearing surface of a Sensation is at most 19", short enough for almost any size horse or pony.
I've heard that treeless saddles can be bad for a horse's back. Is that true?
Any saddle, treed or treeless, is going to be bad for a horse's back if it doesn't fit well!! A properly fitted treeless saddle is not going to harm your horse in any way, and in fact can be very beneficial. When a Sensation saddle is properly fitted and padded appropriately for the rider's weight, it allows your horse to be comfortable and move freely when ridden, which promotes soundness and proper muscle use. We frequently get feedback from clients that their horse's topline has filled in and the quality of the horse's movement has improved after riding in one of our saddles for a time.
My personal experience- I have ridden well over 5,000 miles on a single horse in a single Sensation English Trail saddle. I have ridden in judged NATRC Competitive Trail Rides under professional Vet Judges and Horsemanship Judges, in all types of terrain and weather, and not once have I had a saddle fit or back soreness issue. I rode my TWH to Region 5 Novice Champion as well as National High Point TWH in 2009, all in my English Trail. At the end of the 2009 competitive season, I had an equine chiropractor examine my horse because he was there and I thought it would be good preventive care- he found absolutely nothing amiss with my horse. My success speaks for itself! If the saddle was bad for my horse, we would never have been so successful!
I have broke and trained 2 young horses from the ground up, using my Sensation saddle. And I now ride 3 very differently shaped horses, all in the same saddle! An old-type TWH (short, stocky, sturdy, and smooth), a modern-type TWH (think show-ring type TWH, tall, big, and flashy!), and a decrepit old arab mare who has a bad sway back from age and quite high withers.
Do the saddles have a warranty?
Yes. Sensation saddles are warranted for a period of 12 months from purchase against defects in materials or workmanship. Warranty is provided by the manufacturer-Click Here for Warranty information.
What's up with that 200 lb weight limit?
Sensation saddles have not been designed for or tested by riders over 200 lbs. This is because the heavier the rider, the more difficult it becomes to get proper weight distribution, and problems with pressure points or other fit issues are usually significant for riders over 200 lbs. We do not recommend our saddles for riders over 200 lbs for this reason. A rider over 200 lbs also voids the warranty on the saddle, because the materials the saddle is made from have not been tested for riders over 200 lbs and we cannot guarantee that they will not suffer damage or excessive wear.
How long does it take to get a Demo saddle?
It depends on the demand- a demo may be available immediately, or you may have to get on a waiting list. Contact Melissa at freedomtreeless@yahoo.com to get an estimate of how long you may need to wait to get the demo you're interested in.
How long does it take to get a custom saddle made?
You can expect delivery of your new saddle to take anywhere from 5 to 8 weeks on average, depending on the demand for new saddles at the time you order.
Are the saddles returnable?
Due to the custom nature of Sensation Saddles,
we make every attempt to insure that you are happy with your saddle order before
you place it! We strongly encourage
demoing a saddle before making a purchase- this is the only way to be sure you
will be happy! Any return or
exchange made will be less all exchange fees, shipping costs, etc.
Only the retail price paid for the merchandise is subject to refund or
exchange.
Returns
will be considered on a case-by-case
basis and must be made within 30 days of receipt of the saddle.
Some saddles may not be returnable due to significant custom
modifications- these may include changes to the flap length or other
modifications that significantly alter the saddle from the base model such as
custom colors. If a return is
authorized, there will be a restocking fee of 15% - 20% on any saddle in brand
new, unused condition. Restocking
fee is up to 10% charged by Nickers Saddlery and 10% charged by Freedom Treeless
Saddles. If the saddle is deemed by
Nickers, or any authorized Nickers representative, to show signs of wear, the
saddle may be deemed non-returnable or may be subject to a higher restocking fee
at the discretion of Nickers Saddlery.
All shipping costs on returns or exchanges of ANY merchandise are the
buyer’s responsibility; this includes return shipping from Nickers or your
dealer on saddles deemed not returnable upon inspection, or on exchanged
merchandise.
Exchanges- in-stock saddles returned in brand new, unused condition, can be exchanged for a credit towards a custom saddle of your choice. If a return with no exchange is desired, in-stock saddles will be subject to the same return policies as custom ordered saddles, given above. Custom saddle exchanges will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
What is a "hard use stirrup"?
The Hard Use stirrup is a stirrup system designed to distribute rider weight throughout the saddle. It uses a special stirrup leather, which comes standard on all Sensation models. The leather attaches to the stirrup bar under the seat on one end, and the other end attaches to the bottom of the flap, creating a loop for the stirrup to hang on. When a rider puts weight into the stirrup, the weight is spread between the stirrup bars, and the saddle's internal weight distributing system.
Can I use normal stirrup leathers?
Yes!!! I recommend Wintec Webbers because they minimize bulk under your leg.
What's the difference between "G3" and "G4" ?
The primary difference
is in the way the hard-use stirrup is set up. On a G3 saddle, there is
a buckle hanging from the bottom of the flap, that the bottom of the
hard-use stirrup attaches to. The G3 saddle also has 2 billets, for
the girth. Stirrup position adjustment is made only at the top of the
stirrup, at the stirrup bars.
G4 saddles have 3 billets at the bottom of the flap. You select one billet for use as the bottom attachment point of the hard-use stirrup, and the remaining 2 billets are used for the girth. The buckle is on the end of the hard-use stirrup strap, instead of on the flap. This allows you more flexibility in stirrup position, as well as in girth placement.
For pictures of the hard-use setup, click HERE
You may also see the two types of English seat styles referred to as "G3" and "G4". CLICK HERE to see examples of the 2 different seat styles. Basically, the G4 seat is a bit more traditional-looking. G3 saddles can be upgraded to a G4 style seat upon request.
What's included in the base price?
The base saddle price includes your choice of seat foam, leather textures and colors, brass or stainless steel hardware, hard-use leathers in S, M, or L length to suit your height, and some custom options such as making the pommel and/or cantle bigger or smaller. You can get a complete, functional, custom saddle in your choice of leather colors for the base price. Visit the "Saddles" page and click the picture of the saddle you're interested in to learn more. Shipping, exchange fees, etc, cost extra. The largest seat size available also costs extra, because the pattern has to be completely hand-cut.
Where are Sensation Saddles made?
Sensation saddles are made in Canada from 100% top-quality North American leathers. The leathers are hand-selected for quality and durability. To my knowledge, Sensation is the only brand of treeless saddle manufactured in the US or Canada, from exclusively US or Canadian leathers!