Second hand leather saddle vs new wintec?

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flippa_t

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Hi All

I'm buying a new horse to event and my old horse is going to a lovely hacking home (with his saddle).

I really need to buy a jump and a dressage saddle but definately can't afford to buy a new one of each, therefore would appreciate your thoughts on the pros and cons of a 2nd hand leather saddle vs synthetic saddles.

I was looking at the Wintec Isabell Werth saddles as there are new ones for sale (2010 model) for about £550-£600, and then buying a new jump saddle. What do you think of this saddle and would you recommend it over buying a 2nd hand leather one?

Also if I buy one new saddle do you think there are any benefits to it being the dressage or the jump saddle?

Final question - does anyone have any experience with leather changeable gullet saddles (e.g. Bates). The horse I'm buying has just turned 6 so will still change shape. Would you recommend them and are there any other makes I should consider?

Thanks
 
I'm really happy with my Isabell Werth Wintecs - I've got 2, a flocked one with an extra wide gullet in for my Arab and a Cair one with a wide gullet in for my part-bred Arab - she put on weight in the cold weather (well, I just had to feed ad lib hay when it was so bitter!), and I'll need to change the gullet to medium wide in a week or so if she continues to slim down. Last year she actually worked enough to get down to the medium gullet! Imagine all those changes in saddler's charges! I hack out my Arab in a wide fitting Wintec Pro (old, so without a changable gullet - I've had it for more than 20 years, and it's still as good as new), because that's more forward cut, and I'm saving up to buy my mare a new Wintec for hacking out so that I can change the gullet as she changes shape - I'm thinking either a 2000 or a Pro so that I can jump in it. I'll definitely get the Cair one again - I think they are much better. Incidentally, I've still got one of the first Wintecs that came out - I think it was called a Wintec 100 - cloth covered medium fit (but it seems to fit everything) which is so light that it's ideal for breaking and lungeing. I think they are really good value.
 
I'd rather have two good quality, second hand leather saddles. You can get good 2nd hand branded saddles for £400 upwards, depending on its age/condition.

Phone a good saddler & explain your situation and budget.
 
Really depends if the shape of the Wintec tree fits your horse. Just because you can make it wider and narrower doesn't mean it will fit as it may be totally the wrong shape for your horses back profile. I'd get a saddler out and explain you have a budget of roughly £x and want both a dressage and a jumping saddle and are considering a new saddle plus a synthetic or possibly 2nd hand leather saddles or any combination of those. You can then ride in new, 2nd hand and synthetic and see what your horse goes best in and then make up your mind.
 
I have the Bates Caprilli dressage saddle with the interchangable gullet system. My gelding is rising 4 so I'm anticipating a big change in body shape!

Haven't started using it yet because he's not been brought in to work yet this year but I must say I personally much prefer the bates dressage saddle to the wintec Isabella Werth one! It's a lovely saddle, really soft good leather and looks very smart too!
 
OK thanks - just trying to get ahead of myself as dont want to have the new horse too long without being able to ride it.
 
I was thinking this last night as am thinking of getting something to jump in instead of my vsd. I am favouring leather, I bought my Albion from new and a couple of years on it is still gorgeous and nicely worn. I would buy it again as it is now, I also had the tree adjusted on this. I think it cost around £300 to do as my horse changed shape so it could be a brand to consider.
 
I personally love leather. But I think synthetics have come a long way since the hideous plastic slabs I rode on as a child!!! Have seen some gorgeous ones advertised that I didn't even realise weren't leather.

Just ask the saddler to bring some 2nd hand leather and some new synthetics out (presuming he has a good range of both). At the end of the day I think the most important thing is how it fits your horse and how you feel riding in it :)
 
i started off with a wintec close contact and it did the job but didnt have much grip in the rain as it had no suede type bits on it - not so handy on a spooky TB.

I then upgraded to a bates momentum 17.5 which is lovely but its a bit too roomy for me as i'm quite short so im on the look out for the same saddle with a smaller seat, however i got the momentum on ebay 2nd hand for £600! as they retail new at over £1200 i thought it was a great buy! so would have a look at second hand ones as there are bargains out there.

I do much prefer leather but the modern synthetics do look good and seem to last.
 
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