Wintec Saddles, Anyone like theirs?

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lelly

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I have read a lot of negative comments about wintec saddles and I was wondering does anyone actually like theirs? I was looking for a thorowgood but can't find what I want. So after looking for about six weeks I have ordered a wintec vsd.
 
I got a wintec 2000 about 12yrs ago! I hated the look of it when I ordered it but was the only thing I could get to fit my high withered mare with big shoulders! and one I got it I fell in love with it! I don't like the look of the newer model! but I love mine!

have a bates for my gelding and also love that!
 
I had a Wintec for my WB about 7 years ago and it wasnt a very good fit. Bought a Thorowgood and have stuck with them since - they fit him great. Depends on the horse though - Wintec suit some Thorowgood others - most Wintec owners I know own cobby types - most Thorowgood users own TB/WB types
 
i had a wintec 2000 for several years, after i bought a wintec isabell werth.
In France it is considered like one of the best technical dressage saddle compared to the others (at the same price i mean).
And i still use this one for one of my horses.
 
I have the new style wintec 2000 GP, it's so comfy and has great knee blocks/ pads to keep you in place when jumping :) Unfortunately it never seems to fit on the back panels! Fits perfectly when the girth isn't done up, but as soon as it is, its pinches the front and lifts up at the back! so despite having it checked and fitted numerous times, i'm fed up with it and will be buying another one.
 
I loved my wintec 2000. Got it to tide me over when I got a new horse and still had it when he died 8 years later, are brilliant with cord breeches as works like velcro. Did have a few adjustments made by a saddler to the samestirrup bars though as they are set quite far forward. But most comfy saddle have ever sat in. Gutted they don't fit my new pony. However my horse didn't get on with the Isabella Werth one though even though I really liked it, although that may have been because I could actually use my legs properly and he was a lazy sod ! They do absorb water like a sponge though when it rains !
 
Yep, I must admit I wasn't sure of the look of it when I got it, but it is very comfy and fits well ( checked every 6 months), everyone who has sat on it remarks how comfortable it is. It's an AP pro so one of the newer models.
 
HATED mine, i had it as a stop gap, it was the jump one and my knees came over the knee roll i was only 5ft7 in a 17"5, it gathered dirt and always looked filthy, really really hard especially for hunting or PC rallies, i never felt secure.

i do believe that wintec/bates dressage saddles are better than their jumping saddles as im led to believe that is their main area of expertise

though saying that i really like the dressage isabel werth saddle(im thinking of buying myself one), i ride in a few at work and the faux suede makes me feel secure and there isnt any of the fake leather that holds the dirt, so id say the VSD is more like this and would be alright, also never buy the wintec saddle cleaner it doesnt work youre better of using carpet cleaner
 
Not my saddle but until recently when the horse died, I used to ride a horse who's saddle was a wintec. Couldn't tell you what model it is. I hated that saddle, horrible hard uncomfy thing it was.
 
I really like mine, I've had it for 11 years and it's still going strong, the only thing is I have to have a sheepskin seatsaver on it to make it more comfortable. I don't know why everyone is so negative about them.
 
Love ours, we have two vsd gp and a isabell worth dressage saddle.
It's fits my welsh, tb and appy fine but we get ours fitted by a cair fitter, I fine that makes all the difference.
 
Love my dressage one. It's 10 years old now; held up really well, is comfortable and most importantly, fits my IDXTB like a glove. Had it re-flocked once, changed gullet plates 2 or 3 times and best of all (apart from the price) it doesn't turn into a piece of chipboard when I've ridden in the rain ...
 
I got the new VSD last year as it was the only thing that fitted my horse well and I have to say I love it and so does she!
 
I bought a 2nd hand close contact wintec, and it's the best buy ever!! Love it! has interchangable gullets, and is so comfy! easy to clean, and so many people are shocked it is synthetic.
It's lovely and light, and I always feel safe, secure and comfortable
 
Had my old wintec 2000 for 14 years use it everyday, yes the saddle flaps are wearing away now but would love to have a saddle made exactly the same but in leather
 
lelly said:
I have read a lot of negative comments about wintec saddles and I was wondering does anyone actually like theirs? I was looking for a thorowgood but can't find what I want. So after looking for about six weeks I have ordered a wintec vsd.
Click to expand...

I have 2! A wintec 2000 and a dressage pro~ love the both.
Light, comfy and fits perfectly, plus the changeable gullets is great.
 
Nope, hated the Wintec and wouldn't touch another. Had mine professionally fit - and refitted - and it still proved a factor in my girl's subsequent back problems. Didn't get on with the Thorowgood either. Had that fitted to a (different) mare; it lasted 6 months, she changed shape slightly(!) and the wretched thing wouldn't adjust well enough to fit her again. By contrast, I've had a couple of non-changeable gullet leather saddles that have adjusted brilliantly when required and a couple of treeless (HM) that have been fine too.
 
I have loved every wintec I've had, but sadly due to the shape of the tree they don't fit my current riding horses. That said, neither have any of the thorowgoods, personally I hate them to ride ride in and much prefer the wintecs but being a flatwork person have always gone VSD or dressage cut so perhaps this is the difference? I avoid the cair ones though, having seen a few nasty things about the cair system.
 
If it fits its good if it doesn't its a waste of money.

I have a new 2000 for my very flat, round WB its nice to ride in and was an affordable option which fits her.
 
I love my wintec and have had them for 8 years. Really comfortable for me and my horse, but I guess that's as they fit him! And I do a bit of everything in them, although nothing to a particularly high standard, i.e. the 3'3" local unaffiliated showjumping is about the most "impressive" thing we do. We prefer to plod round the countryside, with the odd blast along a nice flat long stretch!
 
Thanks for your replies everyone. It sounds a bit like you love them or you hate them there's no in between. Time will tell with me I suppose. I will let you know how I get on.
 
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