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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
   
Location: North Dakota | I have a Circle Y barrel saddle that we bought from Smith Brothers on 2-13-05. (Good thing my mom saves everything!) It's been a great saddle and I've used it on a lot of horses.
The last few weeks, my 3-year-old gelding has been acting a little "cinchy" which is not typical for him. I thought I had really better check the saddle out good to make sure something isn't "sticking" him or anything like that.
.......And I see that my tree is cracking!!!
With the saddle upside down, I pressed on it and I can see the crack flexing. I saddled my horse because I wanted to see what it did under the pressure of being cinched, and with the weight of a rider.
I sat in the saddle and captured this picture:
So it quite obviously opens up a bit with pressure.
I'm going to contact Circle Y because my saddle came with a 10-year tree warranty.
But what the heck?? I can't even so much as remember dropping my saddle, much less anything else that would cause a tree to CRACK. It stays in my horse trailer and I've really taken great care of the leather.
The only thing I can think of is that I might have had this saddle on a filly in the summer of 2006, who tripped while loping a circle and rolled all the way over (and over me). My mom and I were discussing. She thinks I was using another saddle at that time. I feel like I was using this one. I know we examined the saddle top to bottom after that incident to ensure it was okay.
But I can't imagine that would have done anything in 2006, that would not have showed up until this year??? It's likely the crack has been there for a little while and I just haven't noticed it .... but not 8 years.
I'm just baffled. I've never seen anything like this.
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | If you saved everything in regards to paperwork and there is indeed a 10 year warranty on the saddle....contact circle Y with the pictures. |
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Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | Yup, that is what I will be doing. My mom lives 100 miles away but they just happen to be in town today. So I will contact them once I get the papers from her today.
Everyone make sure you SAVE your RECEIPTS!
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Please let us know how circle y customer service is |
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 Thick and Wavy
Posts: 6102
Location: Nebraska | I had a double J Lynn Mckenzie that cracked for no reason this summer. I had it for 2 years and nothing had ever happened to it. Mine was out of warranty, though and would have cost close to $950 (including shipping) to fix and have it look the same.
Hope you have good luck with Circle Y! |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | I'm also very curious about their customer service |
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  Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
Location: Displaced Iowegian | More than likely it is a "stress fracture" that DOES happen in fiberglass trees....not often but it does happen......They should replace the tree for you free of charge. That being said, you will likely have to pay shipping.
edited to add: I would NOT tell them that you think a colt "may" have rolled in it....that would void your warranty.
Edited by NJJ 2014-11-03 12:36 PM
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Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | NJJ - 2014-11-03 12:34 PM More than likely it is a "stress fracture" that DOES happen in fiberglass trees....not often but it does happen......They should replace the tree for you free of charge. That being said, you will likely have to pay shipping.
edited to add: I would NOT tell them that you think a colt "may" have rolled in it....that would void your warranty.
Oh absolutely. There will be no mention of a filly rolling on it!!! Of course, I'm actually not sure it is WAS indeed this saddle or not. I just can't quite remember it was so long ago. I might have not even been using this one on her.
I haven't called them yet but I am suspecting I'll have to pay shipping (although I'm going to fight it if I can).
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | r_beau - 2014-11-03 1:43 PM NJJ - 2014-11-03 12:34 PM More than likely it is a "stress fracture" that DOES happen in fiberglass trees....not often but it does happen......They should replace the tree for you free of charge. That being said, you will likely have to pay shipping.
edited to add: I would NOT tell them that you think a colt "may" have rolled in it....that would void your warranty.
Oh absolutely. There will be no mention of a filly rolling on it!!! Of course, I'm actually not sure it is WAS indeed this saddle or not. I just can't quite remember it was so long ago. I might have not even been using this one on her.
I haven't called them yet but I am suspecting I'll have to pay shipping (although I'm going to fight it if I can).
I feel the customer should pay for shipping but the company should have a reduced rate deal with a shipping company and should give you the reduced rate. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Nevertooold - 2014-11-03 1:55 PM r_beau - 2014-11-03 1:43 PM NJJ - 2014-11-03 12:34 PM More than likely it is a "stress fracture" that DOES happen in fiberglass trees....not often but it does happen......They should replace the tree for you free of charge. That being said, you will likely have to pay shipping.
edited to add: I would NOT tell them that you think a colt "may" have rolled in it....that would void your warranty.
Oh absolutely. There will be no mention of a filly rolling on it!!! Of course, I'm actually not sure it is WAS indeed this saddle or not. I just can't quite remember it was so long ago. I might have not even been using this one on her.
I haven't called them yet but I am suspecting I'll have to pay shipping (although I'm going to fight it if I can).
If my saddle had a bad tree I would be happy to pay for shipping if they replace the tree for me.  |
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | Southtxponygirl - 2014-11-03 4:33 PM Nevertooold - 2014-11-03 1:55 PM r_beau - 2014-11-03 1:43 PM NJJ - 2014-11-03 12:34 PM More than likely it is a "stress fracture" that DOES happen in fiberglass trees....not often but it does happen......They should replace the tree for you free of charge. That being said, you will likely have to pay shipping.
edited to add: I would NOT tell them that you think a colt "may" have rolled in it....that would void your warranty.
Oh absolutely. There will be no mention of a filly rolling on it!!! Of course, I'm actually not sure it is WAS indeed this saddle or not. I just can't quite remember it was so long ago. I might have not even been using this one on her.
I haven't called them yet but I am suspecting I'll have to pay shipping (although I'm going to fight it if I can).
I actually totally agree! |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 543
Location: where the corn grows tall | circle y currently has a saddle of mine for a tree replacement.. same issue but different spot. customer services was EXCELLENT!!!  I did pay to have my saddle shipped there, under $50 Im trying to be patient and wait for it but im dying to ride in that saddle again  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 550
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We had one with a cracked tree many years ago. We took it to the local saddle shop, and the rep picked it up. They fixed it for free, bought it back to the saddle shop & had cleaned & oiled it. It looked brand new.
GREAT customer service then, glad to hear it hasn't changed. |
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Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | Southtxponygirl - 2014-11-03 4:33 PM
If my saddle had a bad tree I would be happy to pay for shipping if they replace the tree for me.
I can understand that point of view, yet at the same time I got a bad tree. Why should I have to pay money out of my own pocket for something that was defective in the first place?
Anyway..... so far so good. I called Circle Y this morning and they basically told me they will take care of it, parts and labor.
When they receive my saddle, they will look at it and give me a time estimate. So I'll have to wait and see what they say when they call. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| r_beau - 2014-11-04 9:05 AM
Southtxponygirl - 2014-11-03 4:33 PM
If my saddle had a bad tree I would be happy to pay for shipping if they replace the tree for me.
I can understand that point of view, yet at the same time I got a bad tree. Why should I have to pay money out of my own pocket for something that was defective in the first place?
Anyway..... so far so good. I called Circle Y this morning and they basically told me they will take care of it, parts and labor.
When they receive my saddle, they will look at it and give me a time estimate. So I'll have to wait and see what they say when they call.
Good to hear :) |
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Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
Location: Displaced Iowegian | r_beau - 2014-11-04 9:05 AM Southtxponygirl - 2014-11-03 4:33 PM
If my saddle had a bad tree I would be happy to pay for shipping if they replace the tree for me.
Anyway..... so far so good. I called Circle Y this morning and they basically told me they will take care of it, parts and labor.
When they receive my saddle, they will look at it and give me a time estimate. So I'll have to wait and see what they say when they call.
I just want to put this post in perspective from the saddlemaker's point of view. My husband is a saddlemaker.....saddle trees now run in the $200-$300 range and labor would range about the same.......MUCH more than when your saddle was purchased over NINE years ago. You have gotten 9 years of use out of the saddle. Additionally, Circle Y did not make their own trees so they are standing behind another company's warranty which they probably won't even try to collect or get a new tree from them......paying the shipping would be a small price to pay for a brand new replacement. Kudos to them for standing behind the warranty! |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | NJJ - 2014-11-04 10:00 AM r_beau - 2014-11-04 9:05 AM Southtxponygirl - 2014-11-03 4:33 PM
If my saddle had a bad tree I would be happy to pay for shipping if they replace the tree for me.
Anyway..... so far so good. I called Circle Y this morning and they basically told me they will take care of it, parts and labor.
When they receive my saddle, they will look at it and give me a time estimate. So I'll have to wait and see what they say when they call. I just want to put this post in perspective from the saddlemaker's point of view. My husband is a saddlemaker.....saddle trees now run in the $200-$300 range and labor would range about the same.......MUCH more than when your saddle was purchased over NINE years ago. You have gotten 9 years of use out of the saddle. Additionally, Circle Y did not make their own trees so they are standing behind another company's warranty which they probably won't even try to collect or get a new tree from them......paying the shipping would be a small price to pay for a brand new replacement. Kudos to them for standing behind the warranty!
I bought a Cirlce Y saddle from a dealer a few years back, loved that saddle but the first time I rode in it it kept rolling to the side this went on for a few days OK I thought it was my horse put it on a different horse same thing what the heck this saddle is brand new, took it to dealer she called Circle Y shipped it back to them the tree was crooked the rawhide dryed wrong and drew it up on one side, they repace the tree and payed for shipping both ways, but my saddle was new so they were super good to me, hope that you get the service that I got, but since your saddle is 9 years old and not sure if it was your horse that rolled on it that did it or not sure it was the same saddle that got rolled on and it just happen out of the blue, like NJJ said the shipping would be a small fee to have to pay if they replace your tree for free. And I would call that good customer service. |
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 Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | r_beau - 2014-11-04 8:05 AM Southtxponygirl - 2014-11-03 4:33 PM
If my saddle had a bad tree I would be happy to pay for shipping if they replace the tree for me.
Anyway..... so far so good. I called Circle Y this morning and they basically told me they will take care of it, parts and labor.
When they receive my saddle, they will look at it and give me a time estimate. So I'll have to wait and see what they say when they call.
Obviously you won't be able to figure out if you where riding your filly in this saddle when she went down with you....but you didn't necessarily get a bad tree. If in fact this was the saddle you where using it very well could have been damaged then & just not noticed. And if that's the case it'd be like asking a car manufacturer to replace your car because you got in a wreck & it was damaged...... |
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Miss Not Exciting
Posts: 3279
Location: Ft Worth TX | Has anyone had a tree guarantee and had to pay for the labor? My husbands rope saddle had a cracked tree- it was an NRS saddle- and they chrged us around $350 for the labor- This was not expressed when we bought the $2400 saddle new in the store from one of their sales people. They told us all companies with a tree guarantee will require you to pay labor... wondering if this is true?
I will say we were happy with the saddle when we got it back the saddle maker had opted to put a heavier front end in the saddle instead of the same one- It was a Ranch cutter (built to rope out of) he put a "ranchy" type front end in it.... |
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Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
Location: Displaced Iowegian | Whoop Z Day Z - 2014-11-04 11:35 AM Has anyone had a tree guarantee and had to pay for the labor? My husbands rope saddle had a cracked tree- it was an NRS saddle- and they chrged us around $350 for the labor- This was not expressed when we bought the $2400 saddle new in the store from one of their sales people. They told us all companies with a tree guarantee will require you to pay labor... wondering if this is true? I will say we were happy with the saddle when we got it back the saddle maker had opted to put a heavier front end in the saddle instead of the same one- It was a Ranch cutter (built to rope out of) he put a "ranchy" type front end in it....
I would say that this depends....If the saddle was sent back to the original saddlemaker (a company such as Circle Y, Courts, Martin etc, etc) then NO you shouldn't have to pay for labor.....IF the saddle is sent to an independent saddlemaker for repair then YES, you would have to pay labor. My husband, as a saddlemaker, has replaced numerous trees that were under warranty by the saddle tree company. The individuals opted to NOT send the saddle(s) back to the saddle company. The tree was free but the labor was NOT. |
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