I saw the sun yesterday afternoon from my office window. I finished up, hoping that it would stay long enough for me to get in a ride. Lily looked pretty good when I got to the barn, so I took her out to groom and try the Sensation on.
I’m not used to using Skito pads. The foam was really stiff from being in the tackroom, so I put the saddle on first, then went to do boots, comb her mane and brush her head. By the time I was done, it had warmed up somewhat, so that I could adjust the girth.
For consist testing of saddles, I’m developing a list of things to check. It’s mostly so that I don’t forget something and then wonder about it after I’ve shipped the saddle on.
General
Quality
Weight
Places to attach gear
Adjustability
Design features
Rider
Mounting from the ground
Stirrup placement and swing
Seat twist
Seat comfort
Horse
Wither clearance
Sweat pattern
Back condition after riding (sensitive, hair ruffled, rubbed, flat?)
Underside of pad
Demeanor/attitude
Is there anything else that you would add? Please let me know in the comments.
Here’s how the Sensation rated after a short ride. We mostly walked on local roads, no real hills and only a bit of trot and canter that Lily offered. I was just glad that she was feeling good!
General
Quality – Excellent
Weight – I didn’t weigh it, but it’s light enough!
Places to attach gear – I didn’t notice a lot, but there are rings on the back and front, no saddle strings.
Adjustability – Good. It came with a bolster in the seat cantle, as the demo is a large seat size, equivalent to 17″ western. I removed it right after I got on and was comfortable without. There is no adjustability for the horse, but it’s all soft, so not really needed.
Design features – I like the adjustable nature of the seat!
Rider
Mounting from the ground – It slipped big time, both mounting and dismounting. I didn’t have the girth very tight though. While riding it felt secure, not slipping at all. I mounted from a tailgate.
Stirrup placement and swing – I might move the stirrup hanger back a bit for my next ride. And I’m not sure that I like having the stirrup leather attached to the bottom of the saddle flap. The stirrups also pulled my toes in some. That might make my knees hurt with a longer ride.
Seat twist – I will try a small bolster of my own making next ride. I would like more twist.
Seat comfort – Very nice!
Horse
Wither clearance – Fine.
Sweat pattern – Not enough riding to tell.
Back condition after riding – The hair was smooth and I didn’t find any sensitivity.
Underside of pad – Not enough riding to tell.
Demeanor/attitude – Great!
I am going to try the saddle on a longer ride with Vinnie this weekend, so the jury is out at this point.
Here are a few more photos. The rest are on Flickr here.
I love the pear trees in the background. Not planned, at least by me! Rachel took the photo.
I would like to be able to bring my feet back under me more, if I wanted to.
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I saw the sun yesterday afternoon from my office window. I finished up, hoping that it would stay long enough for me to get in a ride. Lily looked pretty good when I got to the barn, so I took her out to groom and try the Sensation on. 
Nice review! This helps me out a lot being in the saddle market as well
I really like the looks of this one. Does it come with a horn? How did you end up liking the Skito Pad?
It doesn’t come with a horn. I could get used to the Skito. I know that people love them and I think that you can get them made with different sorts of foam. I’m not too crazy about the foams that are temperature sensitive. I think that I have to ride longer to really evaluate this setup though.
That looks like a familiar looking demo. Did you get it from Melissa at Freedom Treeless? (I demoed that too, and loved it, and bought my own.)
I’ve got a pommel bolster for the front, moved my stirrups back a tad, and use a breastcollar. I liked how the saddle put me into a nice position, as opposed to my Barefoot Cheyenne which felt like I could never get my leg on my pony.
Still waiting for my Skito pad. I had it on order, but the company’s a bit backlogged.
Yes, it’s the same one.
Melissa is sending me a twist bolster and I am also thinking of trying regular stirrup leathers, so that they can be free swinging. I will at least put the current hanger slightly back. Did you find that the bottom connection still felt okay with the hanger moved back? I’ll be trying it again tomorrow. I didn’t get a chance today.
Your horse is really pretty….can you tell me what breed she is?
Kathleen
ok…now i want to know how your like the red boots she is wearing ( as i trim my own horse), and also WHAT are you using to ride her in…in the pictures? Is it just a biothane halter??
THANKS!!
Kathleen
Hi Kathleen,
Thanks! All my horses are and have been Spanish Mustangs. I’ve got a page on why. http://www.akalranch.com/why-spanish-mustangs/
Lily’s bridle is a Zilco trail headstall with a Columbian jaquima for a noseband. I like them a lot. You have more control than a sidepull (though you can use them that way of the side rings) and more release as well. If you google “paso fino tack jaquima” your bound to get some hits. I also like that you can choose from many different nosebands and curbs.
Her boots are Renegades and I like then well enough. It took me some time to figure out sizing and fit. We haven’t really ridden in them enough yet to know more.
Thanks for commenting.
Thank you for doing a review and for the time and expense to demo and review saddles. The one in the picture is the kind I am waiting my turn to demo in a few weeks. Your review and some of your feedback makes me even more eager to try it. I have a Skito pad and truly like it. My horse has Renegade boots and they work very well for him. So all I need now is a western type treeless saddle my horse and I can love.
Happy to oblige, Pat!