New Wintecs-would you be able to see from outside if tree had changed?

[Fifty Bales of Hay]

Just reading up on the posting about the "new" Wintec saddles and whether or not they had changed the tree and the panels. Would we not be able to see visibly from the outside whether the tree had changed in it's shape?

There are replies in which people have said they've had the "new" Wintec fitted to their flat backed horses/ponies where presumably the older one's wouldn't have fitted - why is this other than Wintec have improved them?

All seems a bit of a mystery and vague as to what exactly has been changed and now whether they are made to fit both flat backed wider versions or still the TB type for which they were generally known?

Confused - I am?

 

[aregona]

The wintec are actually not suitable for TB, neither are the bates as they were on the same tree.
I am having to sell all of my bates and wintecs due to the fact that even swoping them around on 5 different horses they dont fit any of them. they dont have enough panel underneath to lift them up off the withers and therefore you have to fit very tight plates in which means they are fitted very tight around the wither.
The new ones however have been made suitable for TB's. they have a really nice drop panel on them which now lifts them off the back withour the need for narrower gullets. The flatter seat in them means that you do not get the see-saw action on the back.
I hope this has helped and not confused you any more.

 

[Fifty Bales of Hay]

Thank you - no that's helped me. And with your description I wonder if they might now fit my native? He's not a TB obviously, but does have a wither, unlike most natives - although he's not a narrow fit, as he's got a wide back and wide where the points of the tree would be so would need a wider gullet to accomodate this.

I think it might be worth me trying one for fit now.

Do you know if each of the models for sale has the same tree fitted, so it doesn't matter whether I went for say the 500 model or the VSD or the dressage - they would all have the same tree, but one or other might fit differently due to where they sit behind the shoulder?

 

[Sci]

Ive just had the saddle fitter out this morning as I needed a saddle for my new horse. Ive ended up with a Wintec 500 VSD.
I tried a few different makes and this was by far the best. In some of them I felt like I eas being tipped forwads but the 500 VSD was relly comfy.
I know that doesnt answer your original question but thought you might be interested lol

 

[Fifty Bales of Hay]

Sci - what type is your new horsie? Did you try any of the different Wintecs too or just the VSD? Just wondered if the other models fitted the same? Thanks for your input.

 

[Kallibear]

They were designed for the australian TB type - fairly narrow, if not hollow, horses with sloping loins.

The old tree starts to curve the more you widen it. At a medium the tree is reasonably flat and fits some 'normal' horses ok (though not flat (as in 'straight') backed ones). Put a wide gullet in and the tree is usually far too curved for most horses, esp flat (even if not wide) natives.

The other problem was the sloping panels - if you look at the saddle from behind there is a distinct slope to the panels. Perfect for the sloping TB back but awful for the flatter backed british breed. I have seen SOOO many horses with dents where the outside of the panels at the back digs in.

You should be able to see if both the tree is less curved, and the panels less sloped, if you know what you're looking for. You'd need to see one in the flesh however.

Incidently, being 'fitted' by so called proffesionals can mean nothing - I had a wintec 500 'proffesionally fitted' to my flat wide cob a good ocuple of years ago, and told it was a great fit. After years of trouble, and finally enducation myself about saddle fit, it was obvious it was an appaling fit due to it's design. Sadly that's a very common problem and there's plenty of poor, unlucky native types around here with a wintec

AMP - if you're looking for a synthetic saddle, and a VSD one, try the Wintec WIDE saddle. They are the saddle wintec SHOULD have designed for the UK market. Like it's 500 counterpart, at wider widths the tree starts to curves, but set at the narrower widths (i.e wide and x-wide, which in wintecs is equivilent of medium-wide to wide for most other brands) the tree is suitable flat, with nice wide, flat panels and fits many horses well. It was a brilliant fit on my standardbred (wide and fairly flat but not tabletopped)