Synthetic saddles - opinions, help and advice please

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Hi there,

Can you guys help please? We've got a horse going on working livery at a university and she needs a saddle. We're strapped for cash (who isn't??) so we're looking at synthetic saddles.

My query is this... Wintec do the Cair / Easy change gullet saddles. How user friendly are these? I know the saddle should be fitted by a qualified person, but after the initial fitting can they be adjusted by the owner? I've been looking at the Saddle Clearance site and they've got the 500 series for under £260 with Cair and changeable gullet. Our saddler has some from £150 but if they didn't fit then he's got new from just under £300 so we could potentially save £40+.

The mare is 13 and isn't going to change shape drastically.


Look forward to reading your thoughts, thanks for reading
 
I wouldnt have a wintec if i was given one. I dont like the tree shape and just because you change the front doesnt mean that the rest of it will fit.

Any horse can change shape. Different workload, feed, etc can all affect a horses shape. Your horse wont be the same shape at the end of term as she is now!

If i were you i would look at the thorowgood t4 saddles. they are made in england and designed very well. They also have the changeable headplate, to help with changes in muscle and fat. But the panel and tree are much better than wintecs. they do a range for cobs, standard wither horses and TBs. they are synthetic and fit so much better than wintecs.

The wintecs may be slightly cheaper at the moment because they are on sale everywhere but you will easily spend the difference on livery/vet/physio if your horse is laid off because of a bad back!
 
(Very quiet whisper)
I have the Wintec VSD with Cair and love it! And so have 3 different horses now - though all with backs around the medium gullet spectrum. Change the gullet myself, takes 5 minutes and although stressful the first time, isn't bad really.
Am a bit paranoid about using a "cheap" saddle, and keep asking horse's back lady if there's any sign of the saddle causing problems, and she says that since she's been with me (therefore in this saddle), it's actually improved 100-fold. Probably not due to the saddle, but still.

However, I hate hate hate the 500GP.
 
I too have a Wintec (borrowed from a friend) for my extra wide mare.
Fits like a dream.
No faffing about with saddle soap etc, just wipe clean!
Its also easy to change the gullets too.
I do, however think the Cair system is better than the flocking though.
But I'm sure the Throwgoods are good too.
 
I don't like Cair either I am afraid!

I do use the Thoroughgood for my cob but I do think they lose shape and you do need to replace them every couple of years or so (mind you at that price it's not too bad!).
 
Thorowgood T6!
grin.gif
 
Ditto teddyt. Was at friends yard yesterday when saddle fitter came, Lady has a wintec and it was dreadful. Saddle fitter tried to make it fit, but couldn't. Several saddles on the yard were brought out, and the owner suddenly said, 'Oh I see, the wintec looks like a banana'

'nough said
 
I have a wintec wide, cair

I dont like cair, its very hard and unyielding.

The saddle has been regularly fitted to my horse and it is only just (after 2 years) starting to feel like it is moulding to my horse and me.

If you do have a wintec, go for flocking at least this can be adjusted as well. Cairs cannot be adjusted.

Wintecs are also prone to lifting at the back, tipping the rider forward.

Despite this, I do not mind wintecs, but I prefer my leather saddle.
 
Interesting thread.I am considering a Thorowgood atm. It's interesting to see that although there are good and bad things said about the Wintec's there are only good things said about the Thorowgoods in all the threads I've read
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Cair can be adjusted, the air in them can be shifted around by the right people which mine has been over the last 4 years.

[/ QUOTE ]

No it cant. Flair can be but cair is just a sponge in a bag with some air in it that is sealed. It cannot be adjusted at all. Flair panels have a valve to allow more air to be pumped in or taken out according to the horses shape.
 
You can "bolster" up Cair, not by altering the cair bags themselves but by replacing the seat foam they use on top of it which goes flat. I have done a few and this is the closest you can get to being adjusted, Oz
 
[ QUOTE ]
Interesting thread.I am considering a Thorowgood atm. It's interesting to see that although there are good and bad things said about the Wintec's there are only good things said about the Thorowgoods in all the threads I've read
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

That is a VERY good point you have Wanderingthroo, I have to agree with you. I have booked our saddler and he is bringing some saddles out, he stocks Thorowgood so we'll see what they're like this week. Thank you everyone for your input, it's interesting to read peoples experiences.
 
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