Wintec Saddle

K

KS1

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 January 2009
Messages
323
Visit site
I want to buy a new saddle for my 14.2hh Hackney, I want a wintec but don't want to buy one to find its not right.

I am looking at three various ones all with the Cair system.

The AP/GP 2000
The old style VSD
The VSD 500

I am looking at these ones as I want a saddle that is slightly cut back at the shoulders but not a full dressage saddle as I already have one of those.

I had contacted a saddler that was recommended but then had my doubts as the best she could do was fit a standard Wintec GP saying any wintec saddle could be used for fit nd then when I bought the one I wanted it could be looked at then. What a load of rubbish..

I told her that as well, I mean I know very little about fitting saddles but I do know one saddle does not determine the fit of all saddles.

She did agree and then told me she had very little knowledge of fitting Wintec saddles, her advice was then to buy all the saddles I was looking at then she 'd come and look at them all and then I could send the two back that I did not need.. EH!! is she for real... like i can just doll out all that money for saddles on the hope I could return two.

So if anyone knows of a saddler that can supply and fit a wintec saddle as mentioned earlier in my post I'd much appreciate it. Oh and I am based in Northampton.

This is my boy who I want the saddle for

Spike2.jpg


and another

Spike.jpg


Cheers
 
Last edited:
Hi,
Do you definatly want a Wintec Saddle? Although they are good as you can change the width of them, I hated mine, I bought two brand new for my two 13.2 ponies and they are horrible! The synthetic leather ones are so hard to clean even with the proper Wintec products, grains of dirt get trapped in the grain of the saddle and it then looks very dull after about a week of usage which I found I never got back! Also me buying mine brand new, they depreciated so much! When I went to sell them on I didn't get half as much as I wanted for them! Don't let me put you off though if thats what you want! Personally after having a wintec I would definatly go for something leather second hand or new if I could stretch to it :) ! Our local saddle fitter will bring round about 8 saddles and try them all on the horse, lets us keep the one we like for a week to decide if we like them! So don't splash the cash just keep looking for someone who can bring out to you a few saddles :)

Good luck xx
 
Personally, I would get a Thorowgood.
They do come in a synthetic version, and I have always found them to fit far better than a wintec!
 
I will say I love my Wintec AP 500 and more importantly, my horse does too.

I know around here, any decent saddle shop will let you take a saddle on trial. Our local Wintec dealer has a saddle fitter on premise who will come to you or you can bring your horse to her. She was also able to give me a very good short course in what to look for when fitting.

Very odd response from the saddler! I'd certainly keep looking to see if you can find a dealer who will let you take a saddle on trial.
 
Definitely do not want leather and I already have a Wintec Pro Dressage saddle that not only fits my other pony (13.2hh Welsh x Dales) perfectly but is also so comfy for me as well. I have had it about 7-8 years and it has been used in the sea a few times only now is it starting to look a little worn but not much.

When I first went to see about a synthetic saddle Thorowgood at the time did do any in the size I needed (16.5in) but I am looking towards a 17in this time.

So back to square one,, it is the three saddles mentioned that I would really like to look at but will look at the thorowgood website and see what they have.
 
it's hard to tell from the pics, as his head's down eating (gorgeous horse by the way) but it looks like he might have quite a straight back. wintecs are notorious for having banana shaped trees, and therefore can rock about on horses without banana shaped spines.

personally, i wouldn't limit yourself by saying 'i want a wintec' when they may not fit. get a saddle-fitter recommendation from some friends, and when you book the appointment, be specific about your budget. many fitters carry a stock of second hand saddles (myself included!). and there are other options, other than Wintecs. (this isn't a slating of wintecs, as i do think they can fit some horses, they are just marketed in such a way that people think they'd fit EVERY horse. and they really don't)

good luck in your search! feel free to PM me if you have any questions. xxx
 
clipcloppop said:
it's hard to tell from the pics, as his head's down eating (gorgeous horse by the way) but it looks like he might have quite a straight back. wintecs are notorious for having banana shaped trees, and therefore can rock about on horses without banana shaped spines.

personally, i wouldn't limit yourself by saying 'i want a wintec' when they may not fit. get a saddle-fitter recommendation from some friends, and when you book the appointment, be specific about your budget. many fitters carry a stock of second hand saddles (myself included!). and there are other options, other than Wintecs. (this isn't a slating of wintecs, as i do think they can fit some horses, they are just marketed in such a way that people think they'd fit EVERY horse. and they really don't)

good luck in your search! feel free to PM me if you have any questions. xxx
Click to expand...

Thanks for that,my lad is quite flat backed at the mo due to putting 75kg in weight on lately however I have rode him in the saddle I have now and he does go forward freely in it. He is the type of horse that will let you know if he is uncomfortable with something.

I have had no problems riding either of my two in the wintec and comfort, fit and condition have always got good feedback for me, but that is not to say all wintec saddles are good, maybe I was lucky with this one.. I dunno.

I don't want a second hand saddle nor a leather one coz I am too lazy to clean em lol, and cost is not something I am too concerned about.

I'll have a look and see if I have a photo with his head up but with not being able to see the horses much in 5 weeks I don't have many recent ones.
 
No other photo's but I am gonna try and see the lads tomorrow and if so will get some more taken.
 
Why do you specifically want a Wintec? As mentioned above, they are notorious for their banana shaped tree, which do not fit far more horses than they do fit. It may be that they would suit your horse, but please do not limit your search to wintec, there are many far far better saddles out there.
 
Donkeymad said:
Why do you specifically want a Wintec? As mentioned above, they are notorious for their banana shaped tree, which do not fit far more horses than they do fit. It may be that they would suit your horse, but please do not limit your search to wintec, there are many far far better saddles out there.
Click to expand...

I have already explained why I want a Wintec, mine is not banana shaped and I have never had a problem with it.

I didn't post asking for recommendations of saddles just of if anyone knew of a saddle fitter in my area that covered the saddles I mentioned.

Incidently I have looked on the Thorowgood website and their saddles are either forward cut GP, Dressage or low withered for cobs, none of which I am looking for. :(
 
You said you like the Wintec you have, but not actually explained why you won't consider others. I don't think I mentioned any particular make.:eek:
 
Wouldn't be fitting a wintec to that horse for sure!

I know plenty of saddlers who will make a witec 'fit'. That's just the problem really - there's are plenty of saddlers who will 'make the saddle fit'. Except you can't. The only part of a wintec you can change is the width at the front - there is nothing you can do about the tree shape or panel shape. And those, due to their stupid design, don't suit many horses.

A wintec won't suit him for two reasons: a) he's flat front to back. Although he's not particularly wide, at anything over a medium the tree has a pronounced curve in it - unless the saddle's fitted so the gullets too narrow, to lift and 'balance' the front (which is how many saddlers get a wintec to 'fit') then the back is going to rock up. and b) he looks fairly flat side to side across the loins. Wintecs have notoriously cambred panels at the back, and the outside edge digs in - I've seen so many horses with dents just in front of the loins.

The reason the saddler you spoke to said to get any fitted then buy the style you wanted is all cheaper wintecs are the same. Different materials and different flaps for the rider, but same panels and tree for the horse (which is why they fit so few horses!). Execpt the jumping saddle - for some reason it is much better designed with flat tree and panels. The cob saddle is totally different and I don't think it would suit your horse.

Sadly there are plenty of saddler out there who will 'make a wintec fit' so you won't have to look far.
 
I would take horse to RB Equestrian in MK and have a saddle fitted there. Lots of choice, nice school to ride in and Ted (I think thats the guys name) is very very good.
 
would steer clear of wintecs tbh- much prefer a second hand leather, which is what i got instead of my wintec which left pressure marks on my horses back and left her rather sore. From reviews they don't seem to fit many horses! never buy wintec stirrup 'leathers', they just crack and are impossible to adjust, wintec girths are non-stretchy, stiff and sweaty, wintec girthstraps just crack... i would never get another!
 
I'd add one coment to the Wintec debate - and that is the word "don't"!!! Whilst I appreciate they may fit some horses, I've had two wintec saddles and the first one gave my horse a really nasty sore and the second one was fitted by the livery yard my current horse was at (who should have known better) and he went from being a happy horse who loved being ridden to a very unhappy horse who started cowkicking and putting his ears back when anyone approached him with a saddle!

I had a saddler out and she suggests that with these synthetic saddles (especially ones with CAIR), two things maybe happening: the first is that some horses may be getting electric/static shocks from the plastic friction of the saddle on the back (just like you do when you're static and touch something - ouch!); the other thing maybe happening is the CAIR panels which are expanding when they get hot - basic science tells you that if air gets hot it expands, and this may be causing some synthetic saddles with CAIR to fit OK when the horse's back is cold but causing a problem with the horse & rider both get hot.

The wintec saddle I had also gave me a hip problem which I didn't have before, and this was in a saddle that was supposed to be "properly" fitted.

I'd exercise extreme caution with a synthetic full stop, and a wintec in particular: there are many other saddles on the market and for the sake of a bit of convenience as regards cleaning, I'd personally go for a good quality second hand leather saddle (properly fitted by a qualified professional) every time.

Also I'd consider (am doing so at the mo') perhaps one of the treeless saddles if your horse is difficult to fit and/or changes shape regularly, but again these need to be fitted as thoroughly as a treed saddle, if not more so, and the correct pad underneath is important too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top