Synthetic saddles

[bellatrix]

What do you think of: Wintec, Thorowgood, Saddle Company and Kent & Masters synthetic saddles?


Opinions/experiences of these saddles? Bad/good?

Thanks

 

[Magnetic Sparrow]

Like Wintec, dislike Thorowgood. However, that's probably because I have Wintec-shaped horses. Wintecs don't suit every horse, for sure.

 

[missyme10]

Like thorowgood, they are a great fit for the round cob types. Hate wintec as I feel perched on top, no experience of others.
The two thorowgoods I've had were hard wearing, easy to clean and I felt decent enough saddles if on a restricted budget.

 

[nicknack]

I have my first synthetic (Wintec VSD 500) - selected because it was a good fit for that horse (Arab). It's ok. I do prefer leather, but I'm a bit of a traditionalist.

It's a great fit for this horse, easy to clean and very comfortable and lightweight.

I don't like the girth straps - I don't feel the holes line up and unlike leather, they don't seem to soften up.

 

[babymare]

do you know im a snob lol in fact yes im a saddle snob some damn fine synthetic saddles out there but i wouldnt buy one - please please nothing wrong with them but im a saddle snob and it must be leather - sorry cant help and i know damn fine synthetic saddles around but mmmmm I NEED LEATHER MMMMMMMM xxx

 

[chestnut cob]

I've had Wintec in the past, wasn't keen on either of those I had (long story as to how I ended up with a second!). Didn't feel there was any support in either and didn't feel particularly secure to jump in.

I've just bought a T4 (second hand), first ride in it tonight. So far I can say the seat is quite hard and it's a bit of a bucket/chair seat, though maybe it just feels like that because I've got used to my DR saddle. There also seems to be a lot of the saddle, which might sound odd... it's a 17in but the flaps seem to be really big and there's a lot of material in front that sticks out a long way past where the knee roll ends. So... am not yet sure what I think of the Thorowgood. Am going to give it a couple of weeks, get saddler to check it and if I'm still undecided, will stick it on Ebay and buy an Ideal Event instead.

 

[mashnut]

My butt likes Wintecs. My horse's back likes Thorowgoods. So I got neither. My saddler (and others) hates Wintecs. Apparently they don't fit many horses, which includes mine, sadly.

 

[TheBayMonkey]

I hate leather saddles for everyday use, too much hasstle and work to clean them. I have a Wintec GP and I love it, its light so mum can carry it, its easy to clean and change the gullets and I don't have to worry too much about scratches and going through mud as it doesn't show very easily. Mine has the Cair system, so no flocking means my boy can happily dunk himself (and most of me) in the river and I'm not worrying about damaging the saddle. We still get is checked by the saddler once a year to make sure it fits. Maybe one day if I have enough I'll buy a nice leather show saddle for my boy to go to parties in, but I'll always use my Wintec for everyday

 

[cassie summers]

i have a wintec and i hate it i feel tipped forward on it i am going to get a thorowgood T8 which is half leather and i also have a shire x who is wide with not much with and also bum high which doesnt help

 

[Lotty]

Have had a Thorowgood and just couldn't get on with it, felt as if I was sitting on top of it. I have a GP Wintec and find it ok, alot better than the thorowgood. My other saddle is an Albion dressage saddle and I love that.

 

[dorito]

Love my Wintec 2000 - suede-y seat so you stick on great, light to carry (for me and horsey), easy to clean, no worries if it gets rained on, cheap to buy new. Leather's the opposite in all those respects.
Synthetics (in my limited experience) also tend to be so much more comfy than hard leather saddles too.

Interesting that so many people comment that Wintecs don't fit a lot of horses well. I personally would always use a prolite pad or similar under almost any saddle - I have long given up expecting a saddle on its own to be a perfect fit, despite the conventional wisdom that says a correctly fitting saddle should need nothing under it.

 

[blitznbobs]

What I don't like about them is their total lack of panel they seem to balance on the top of your horse rather than fit round it . Never found any I've got on with

 

[sbloom]

As a fitter of leather saddles only, although I love leather and would always choose it personally, I have more of an issue with synthetic trees, especially for fitting the very awkward to fit, and again, especially wide and flat. Some people report that they can also squish over time. However I totally agree with this:

http://saddlefitter.blogspot.com/2011/09/changeable-gullets-details.html

and from what I've seen, prefer the way Thorowgood fit, though there are stil a lot of horses they don't fit - the cob trees for example do not have a wide head to the tree (wide pommel) so cannot fit all very wide horses.

 

[wyrdsister]

Hate hate hate Wintec! Had one for my life partner girlie when she was just broken, as I was assured they were the most adaptable as the horse grew. Hopeless. The moment she changed shape, the saddle didn't fit, no amount of changing gullets etc helped. I got rid of that and got a leather one, but later (under advisement) had a Wintec Pro dressage for her. In spite of 3 different saddlers promising me it fit, the wretched thing damaged her back. Those experiences have put me off forever.

I don't *like* the Thorogood T4 I've got for my big girlie either, but for no better reason than I think it's ugly. That said, she's comfortable in it and going a million times better than she was in the two previous saddles that were used on her. If she's happy, I can get over my innate snobbishness and preference for leather saddles!

 

[NOISYGIRL]

I have my first synthetic (Wintec VSD 500) - selected because it was a good fit for that horse (Arab). It's ok. I do prefer leather, but I'm a bit of a traditionalist.

It's a great fit for this horse, easy to clean and very comfortable and lightweight.

I don't like the girth straps - I don't feel the holes line up and unlike leather, they don't seem to soften up.

I've been thinking of getting one for a while my cliff barnsby one got stolen by gypos and I can't afford to replace it. The girth straps is what puts me off but on another thread about synthetics someone said they had leather straps put on theirs, thougth it was a really good idea

 

[NOISYGIRL]

Love my Wintec 2000 - suede-y seat so you stick on great, light to carry (for me and horsey), easy to clean, no worries if it gets rained on, cheap to buy new. Leather's the opposite in all those respects.
Synthetics (in my limited experience) also tend to be so much more comfy than hard leather saddles too.

Interesting that so many people comment that Wintecs don't fit a lot of horses well. I personally would always use a prolite pad or similar under almost any saddle - I have long given up expecting a saddle on its own to be a perfect fit, despite the conventional wisdom that says a correctly fitting saddle should need nothing under it.

Hmm I've wondered about what happens with the suede seat when it rains, so its ok then?

 

[mashnut]

on another thread about synthetics someone said they had leather straps put on theirs, thougth it was a really good idea

Yup it can be done. Thorowgoods have leather straps anyway but a saddler can change Wintec ones.

 

[xena_wales]

Hmm I've wondered about what happens with the suede seat when it rains, so its ok then?

It soaks up the water like a sponge, unfortunately! Dries out fine tho

 

[team barney]

I have ridden in a few synthetic saddles but never actually owned one so can't comment on the brands you have mentioned, but just to throw another name out there Tekna make synthetic saddles too

 

[millitiger]

Look at the Tekna saddles- I have never found a synthetic saddle I liked until I tried the Tekna and it is really great!

 

[indiat]

Personally, I love Wintecs and my saddler stocks a wide range of synthetic and leather saddles so he is supportive of whatever choice, as long as it is right for the horse. I think like all brands some will love it, some will hate it and some will find their horses just don't get on with it no matter what they think!

 

[siennawilliam012]

Synthetic saddle is lighter than their leather counterparts. Synthetic saddles are less weight for the horse to carry. They are easy to clean and durable. Leather saddles have to clean with glycerin soap and oil them several times a year. Leather saddles have a longer lifespan. Synthetic saddles are less expensive. Leather saddles last longer, but the initial investment is more than synthetics.

riding saddle

 

[BSJAlove]

I love my saddle company saddle. Fits like a dream and is so comfy. After two months of searching for a saddle that fits, we tried it and it was perfect.

 

[zoon]

I have a tekna for sale - great synthetic saddle