wintec saddles - are they any good?

[ilvpippa]

im hoping to get a horse and dont want to pay lots of money for a saddle and ii quite like the wintec ones i was just wondereing what anyone thought of these. Thanks x

 

[KatB]

For the money, they are good. However get one professionally fitted, as contrary to popular belief they dont fit everything!!

 

[Super_Kat]

God awful! The seats are really wide and uncomfortable and they just look nasty but I've only sat in one type of saddle but the others that Wintec do might be a bit better.

 

[tanflislibs]

always found they are really stiif plastic like, cant do up girth or wind stirrups up with gloves on but are easy to clean and use, heavy though! personally i love leather saddles

 

[RachelB]

I love both mine. As someone above said though, DO get them properly fitted like any other saddle! My saddle fitter has said that my 2000 GP fits my horse better than anything he's seen, and even I could tell it fitted fairly well when I first sat it on her. Some people seem to think they will fit anything just because they have a changeable gullet, but tbh if you want a 'fit all' saddle, get a wow! But for the amount of money, I think the Wintecs are fab.

 

[ilvpippa]

thank you i also like the 2000 one

 

[ladylisa]

I have a wintec and love it!
I find it very comfy as i have the one with cair.
And yes they are so easy to look after, ive never had a problem with mine, but i dont like the wintec stirrup leathers, so i got some leather ones!

 

[amzy]

I have the Wintec Wide and find it O.K but I do have a good seat saver which makes it really comfy. I would say if you're on a budget then start off with one and perhaps buy a leather one later on.

 

[pottamus]

I have had both Wintec and Thorowgood saddles and love them both! My preference is towards the Thorowgood because the seat texture gives good grip. But I have ridden 100's of endurance miles in mine and it is so comfy! Make sure you get the cair system one and have it professionally fitted too.

 

[Gentle_Warrior]

I was against them until I got bought one. Are really confy and brilliant fit - get professional - i use leather stirrup leathers, although they say not to as they rub the materia, but hate sythentic leathers as they really awkward. Try one. I vowed on leather, which I do still like as smarter, but wintec is much easier to clean !!!!

x

 

[ilvpippa]

thanks so much for all comments

 

[vickers22]

i have a wintec 2000 for zak-again really easy to look after-especially if you get some synthetic saddle cleaner, it comes up like new every time!You have to wear them in for about 2 months before they get comfy though, as the plastic is fairly hard-i used to get BAD blisters but now it is really comfy

Agree about the leathers, the ones that you can get with it are SO hard to change-vvv stiff!

 

[fizz-tally]

i love mine

 

[Coffee_Bean]

i have one and its fine, comfortable and very practical, i would chose a leather one if money was not an option though!!

 

[bellaM]

I have one, I find it comfy, mine was fitted by a qualified fitter, its a VSD. At the end of the day a good fitting synthetic is better than a badly fitting leather saddle.

 

[charlie900]

I had a wintec 500 for my pony and a 2000 for my horse the 200 is far more comfy and looks much nicer, and like the others say get it fitted as the gullet gauge isnt as accurate as a proper fitting from a qualified saddler.

 

[Chex]

I perfer Thorowgoods, don't like Wintec girth straps (how picky lol). Had my thorowgood griffin for years - love it!

 

[Blizzard]

I have a wintec 500 all purpose and a wintec 500 dressage, both fit horse fine and are comfy!

 

[sylvapak]

i hate them! find them v uncomfortable and stiff!

 

[MagicMelon]

I have the Cob one and its brilliant. Ive always had proper leather ones and hated the thought of a synthetic, but had to buy the cob version when it was the only one to fit my boy! Its really really comfy, weighs nothing and seems comfy for my horse (with Cair etc.), plus I can change the gullet whenever I need to. I was impressed for the price!

 

[TiaPony]

mines good as horsey still growing and keeps changing shape so gullets are constantly being changed and reflocking done =] not the most comfortable thing and the girth leathers are a b*tch to do up if yoo have mane and tail conditioner on yoor hands but ill recommend =]
xx

 

[hairycob]

Not heavy at all. I keep my tack at home & take to yard uphill in a wheelbarrow. I have really noticed the difference since Ollie's bum outgrew his wintec & we got him a leather saddle. No way I would push 2 leather saddles up that lane!

 

[SummerStorm]

I had a wintec 500 - worst saddle I've ever ridden in

Despite being professionally fitted, it used to slip side to side around corners regardless of who rode in it, it slipped back when my pony took off to jump and literally ended up halfway up his neck when we landed. At it was professionally fitted too...

Mine was one with cair which appeared in the end to be nothing but a waste of money, plus the seat was really, really hard and uncomfortable.

Ooohhh dear... is it obvious I'm not a wintec fan?

 

[mcavity]

i love mine a close contact one had it a few years now so not stiff, easy to clean, go for one with cair more comfy for you and horse

 

[Kelly1982]

I have a Wintec close contact saddle, i really didn't want a wintec at first but i couldn't afford a brand new leather saddle so needs must.

I didn't really like the 2000 as i found it pushed me forwards and my legs back as did one of the others but the close contact was great!!!

I also got a saddle fitter out to fit mine (as i am para about things like that) and he too told me that not all Wintecs fit every horse and thats why i didn't like the first two that i tried on as they didn't fit my horse properly. Luckily the close contact fitted her perfectly and i was going to change it this year but i think i might keep it now as i really like it.

 

[Kezza]

they're ok for narrower types.