Wintec saddle problems ??

[racebuddy]

Long story short bought a wintec changeable gullet for my just turned 6 connie , I’ve always had leather saddles never had any issues with the saddle fitters I use now with previous horses , fast forward a few months saddle started to slip taken back , he had grown changed so therefore I thought just have needed a bigger gullet , only to be told the saddle doesn’t even fit him , so they did another wintec saddle can go up and down if need to but said shouldn’t have any issues , I’ve not even had the saddle a week and already nearly swinging off him ?? so now I am
Loosing my trust in them as
Saddle fitters , and do I bite the bullet and the pay more for a leather one and just deal with maybe having to change in a year or so if changes or grows again , horse is so honest and really hasn’t batted an eyelid but it’s not the point I could really hurt him and me ?? sorrt for the rant ??

 

[JBM]

I would get another saddle fitter wouldn’t blame it on being synthetic

 

[holeymoley]

Change the saddle fitter? You don’t have to go all out for leather, there are other adjustable saddles available. If you do buy a leather saddle, they do generally keep their value if they’re a good make.

 

[sassandbells]

I’d get another saddle fitter and see what they suggest.

I had the same issue with Thorowgoods, saddle fitter checked it multiple times over years and stated it fit (we only hacked every now and again) Always had my suspicions so got another fitter out who explained why it didn’t fit, this was backed up by another separate fitter. Later transpired that original lady “fitted” and sold Thorowgoods to almost all of her clients and the TG was never suitable for my horses conformation at all. It’s probably not the fact it’s yours is synthetic, but more that the shape of the saddle just doesn’t suit your horse.

 

[k1994]

I’ve had my secondhand wintec synthetic 5 years still going strong I love it is indestructible for hacking in all weather! Well the saddle is, the synthetic wintec girth straps are awful! I got thorowgood leather ones since they looked like the same easy change system, and they’re much nicer and have lasted well and were quite inexpensive.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Tbh Ive never liked wintec saddles. I’ve never sat in one that I trusted to fit.

I would get another saddle fitter, also ask if they do part excahange but get a rough price of what your saddle will sell for if you do it privately so you don’t get ripped off. Facebook wintec pages are good, also you might get interest in you saddle as well.

I have my eye on a Kent and Masters flat back for Faran as his grown up saddle (he’s currently in a T6 cob) but I’ve been advised a Cavaletti VSD would be a great fit for him with the open head plate as he’s very wide already for a four year old ( he’s in the yellow gullet so second widest) and he’s not fully muscled yet and no wither. So don’t have your eye on one thing but know what you like and dislike and don’t be bullied into something you don’t like or want.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Wintec is a hit or a miss, you have other options. If your horse is flatter backed you have a thorowgood t4 cob, if its rounder or more scooped there is t4. You will find something to fit but doesnt sound like your saddle fits at all.
i would definitely get a second opinion ?

 

[sbloom]

I would work with a fitter that will look at yours, and the horse's, role in the saddle slipping, as well as "fixing" the saddle. Fixing horse and rider is always the best place to start but you may also find a better fitting saddle, and I'm much more a fan of traditional wooden trees, not changeable headplate saddles (specialist saddle fitter).

 

[Antw23uk]

I'd all but given up on a correctly fitted saddle and the couple of times recently i had a master saddler out she tried to squeeze my horse into a medium/ wide Albion and then tell me my horse was very broken and hence why he shuffled around bronking when i tried to ride him in this 'perfectly fitted saddle'. Got the vet out and confirmed nothing wrong with my horse. Never called her again!

I ended up buying a second hand wintec and the new(?) extra wide range in the mauve/ purples? with the fitting guide thingy and put the first one in (extra wide) with a nice thick wool lined saddle pad underneath and what a difference. He needs a little shim at the front whilst he recovers his muscle wastage but his way of going is great, he's happy and its been such a relief and has been the most inexpensive saddle and fitting I've ever done.

Have you tried measuring him yourself with their gauge, rather than depending on an 'expert' to tell you? What of the tree girth straps are you using? the first one should help to stop the saddle slipping up. I use the 2nd and third.

 

[Lamehorses]

Wintecs are not designed for a native shape (generally)
Assuming it's not a horse/ rider issue then a 2nd hand leather saddle may be far better

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Wintecs are not designed for a native shape (generally)
Assuming it's not a horse/ rider issue then a 2nd hand leather saddle may be far better

Have to agree with this they have quite a curvy tree so not good for flat backed natives.