Broken tree - "make do" saddle help!

[budley95]

I've had my Wintec saddle about 8 years now, I've never upgraded it as it always fitted him beautifully. It's never been dropped etc as far as I'm aware, but I think the tree's broken as it randomly started squeaking Saturday when I was riding in it. Bud threw some pretty awesome shapes broncing around the school with me too, which is very unlike him. It also seems to have "dropped" at the front so doesn't give as much wither clearance as it usually does. I have no idea how this has happened, but I suppose they can just get old and break?

Thing is I now need a new saddle, annoyingly pretty desperately as he's supposed to be doing lots of RC teams in the next couple of weeks. Just after he cost me a few hundred in vet's bills a couple of weeks ago and my car's brakes and sub bushes decided they needed replacing! Money's obviously tight - especially as I need to replace it before payday, and I don't own a credit card so can't put it on that either! Any lesser known makes people would suggest I look at as a make do saddle for a few months until I've managed to save up for something lovely like a 2nd hand Pessoa, Stubben or Albion? I doubt I'm going to find a second hand leather jumping saddle in good nick for under £200 (as will need a saddler too!), so a synthetic gp is fine for a few months! It's for a medium/medium wide IDx with a 17.5 inch seat. I'm completely stuck for ideas! Help?

 

[ElleSkywalker]

Have you looked on ebay for the same model? Might be worth a punt and then get saddler to check it?

 

[Red-1]

Sounds silly, but have you checked that the changeable gullet is screwed well in? I knew of one where the screw started to unscrew and stood proud (rubbing the horse) and another where it came out, and the gullet plate was unstable.

 

[budley95]

First thing I did was check the gullet :-(

The model I have seems to not exist on ebay. It was 2nd hand when I got it in 2007. It was the first changeable gullet, but not the 2000 if that makes sense? As in it only has velcro knee rolls, there's no where to attach thigh rolls to?

Are the maxim saddles ok? I've seen a few of them fairly cheap, and it really is for a make do saddle!

 

[conniegirl]

Are you after a gp or dressage saddle? I have a synthetic dressage saddle for sale that may fit your lad and be well within your budget

 

[Nicnac]

Have pm'd you

 

[misskk88]

Check what the newer named version of your saddle is, and search for that on ebay instead? I got a high wither, adjustable GP thorowgood on there for £200 and it was like new. Flocking has been slightly adjusted by saddler and fits fine. Can't comment on maxim as I have never owned or ridden in one, but isn't it just another type of thorowgood?

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Thorowgood Maxams and Griffins are good. Many are old and don't have changeable gullets but still good saddles, some have Thorowgoods Fish adjustment and some don't. Definitely would try one for a make do saddle, they have normal flocking that any saddler can adjust although many saddlers simply won't touch synthetics choosing only to work with leather. Stubbens are cheap on ebay but rarely come up in your size most are 27 or 28 (Stubbens width fitting) 27 is the narrowest Stubben make. Have you thought of trying a decent brand but in an old style with no knee rolls? Those go very cheaply because of the old fashioned design but if the tree isn't twisted are still good saddles, I have had Barnsby, Eldonian and Triumph all very good quality saddles and comfortable to ride in, just an old fashioned design. Last time I enquirede about a total reflock for a lumpy saddle about ten years ago I was quoted 100 without fitting it to the horse, but not all old saddles will be unuseably lumpy. It is worth travelling some distance to collect, petrol is not that expensive compared to a decent saddle and there are great bargains to be had. I got a Passier in perfect condition from Yorkshire (I'm south UK) for £36. Even with petrol it was worth it.

 

[FfionWinnie]

There's a a wintec 2000 adjustable gullet on horsebay for 150

 

[wingedhorse]

There is a known issue with wintec plastic trees breaking.

It was the case (when I had one repaired three years ago) that if your saddle was under 10 years old (can tell from the reference code on the saddle), broken trees and points are repaired free of charge by wintec. I just paid a handling charge to the saddler than collected it and returned it.

I assume the fault was fixed, and dont know the window of saddle to which the free repair applies. I think all wintec saddles have a ten year guarantee. So even if you bought it second hand, if the serial number ages it as under ten years they will fix it.

I would buy or borrow an identical make of wintec in short term, and longer term try and get yours fixed. Can then sell on the spare to cover costs.

Older wintec saddles that are a little beaten up but sound can be picked up very cheaply. But always have hte points and tree checked before using, not to risk a second broken one!

If you are near Surrey, I could put you in touch wiht the saddler that organised wintec fixing my wintec saddle. Though was a few years back!

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Beware beware beware of buying used Wintecs with the CAIR on e-bay.

I bought one, and the CAIR pads were as flat as a cowpat; a saddler said that it would cost approximately what I'd given for the (used) saddle to fix it. Replacing with flock would have been expensive too.

So total waste of money

Be careful!

 

[PonyclubmumZ]

Dare I suggest this.....have you tried local facebook groups, the legendary Kent Equestrian Grapevine has loads of saddles for sale on it.

 

[budley95]

Kent Equestrian Grapevine has just come up with a corker in his size - so I'm awaiting a reply. And I've found a fair few on Preloved now.

I'm not touching anything with CAIR on Ebay.

Annoyingly I need to grab a saddle by Sunday and get it fitted this week now as we've just been called upon to do a 95cm as someone else's horse has gone lame. Argh! I hate feeling disorganised!

 

[wingedhorse]

Beware beware beware of buying used Wintecs with the CAIR on e-bay.

I bought one, and the CAIR pads were as flat as a cowpat; a saddler said that it would cost approximately what I'd given for the (used) saddle to fix it. Replacing with flock would have been expensive too.

So total waste of money

Be careful!

CAIR pannels are filled with air and can burst, and the original model are recommended to be replaced every 5-10 years or so. I think the new ones are more robust.

But replacing the air pannels was a lot cheaper than new saddles. Replacing with flock is about £70-100. Not sure how much you paid for your saddles?!

I've got Bates Innova dressage saddles with CAIR pannels, and having the pannels replaced was a worthwhile investment.