Wintec Saddles - Opinions?

H

hanna1983

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 August 2009
Messages
63
Visit site
Hi everyone,

thinking about buying a Wintec VSD with Cair, or a Wintec GP 2000 with Cair. Does anybody have either saddle and would you recommend it? I am doing general riding, hacking and maybe starting a little dressage as well.

Honest opinions please
wink.gif
 
I have a wintec VSD with cair (i think) that doesnt fit my mare as she has a high withers....still trying to sell the poor thing (honestly not trying very hard!) much like my wintec isabell that is brand new
frown.gif


Love the saddles tho especially the isabell but she is for dressage....
 
Mine went back after 3 weeks. Very nice, very pretty, fitted well. But the stirrup bars were too far forward, throwing my position all over the place, which meant when pony had a tantrum my seat was insecure and off I'd come. Was replaced with saddle which put me in the right position and I stuck on alot better
smirk.gif

That's just me tho. Maybe trial it or ride in a friends before buying?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Mine went back after 3 weeks. Very nice, very pretty, fitted well. But the stirrup bars were too far forward, throwing my position all over the place, which meant when pony had a tantrum my seat was insecure and off I'd come. Was replaced with saddle which put me in the right position and I stuck on alot better
smirk.gif

That's just me tho. Maybe trial it or ride in a friends before buying?

[/ QUOTE ]

chaps do you mean you bought another wintec or a different brand?
 
I have the VSD with Cair and rate it highly as a budget, throw-it-about in the back of the car saddle. Horses like it, I'm comfortable, and my position is as good as in any non-dressage saddle.
 
I have had the Wintec 2000 on a cob gelding of mine and loved it. My knees felt really secure and my bum didn't slip. I've not tried the VSD but if you are doing a bit more dressage than jump, perhaps this is a good option.
You could try Equestrian Clearance as I buy loads of things from them and haven't had any issues. Wintec VSD
 
[ QUOTE ]
Mine went back after 3 weeks. Very nice, very pretty, fitted well. But the stirrup bars were too far forward, throwing my position all over the place, which meant when pony had a tantrum my seat was insecure and off I'd come. Was replaced with saddle which put me in the right position and I stuck on alot better
smirk.gif

That's just me tho. Maybe trial it or ride in a friends before buying?

[/ QUOTE ]

Funny you should say that. When i had a wintec my riding intructor was constantly on at me about my leg position, yet since I've had a new saddle she's never said anything. I thought she'd just given up on my leg position as a bad job - but maybe it was the saddle??
 
[ QUOTE ]

Funny you should say that. When i had a wintec my riding intructor was constantly on at me about my leg position, yet since I've had a new saddle she's never said anything. I thought she'd just given up on my leg position as a bad job - but maybe it was the saddle??

[/ QUOTE ]

CazD was it the Wintec GP 2000 or the Wintect VSD that caused your leg position problems?

Thanks!
 
I had a Wintec GP saddle for 2yrs to use on my (high withered!) TBxConnie. Never really had an issue except it squeaking occasionally with my leather boots!
tongue.gif
Was easy to clean, weatherproof, pretty strong and sturdy and cheap enough!
Plus, you can usually get them on ebay dirt cheap... haha

Now I've got 2 bates saddles as really I prefer leather, but couldn't fault the wintec! (also had a wintec Pro Dressage for a while, that was awesome too!)
 
I had a Wintec 2000 and loved it. Unfortunately Ron changed shape and so it had to be sold (to a forum member
laugh.gif
). I found it a nice secure saddle to ride in, my leg position was a letter better in that than my new Albion, and it was soooo easy to look after. I didn't really appreciate that aspect at the time, until I had a new leather saddle to care for, constantly

The ridden pics in my sig are in the Wintec.

smirk.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Funny you should say that. When i had a wintec my riding intructor was constantly on at me about my leg position, yet since I've had a new saddle she's never said anything. I thought she'd just given up on my leg position as a bad job - but maybe it was the saddle??

[/ QUOTE ]

CazD was it the Wintec GP 2000 or the Wintect VSD that caused your leg position problems?

Thanks!

[/ QUOTE ]

I had a wintec GP 2000 but the new saddle was an Ideal H&C
 
Thank you everyone, this really helped.
I think I will start with the wintec for now and see how it goes. I will go for the VSD as I am planning to do a bit of dressage as well. The saddle fitter will bring the saddle along with all the other bits so hopefully with him there, we will find one that fits both my horse and me :-)
 
I have the close contact wintec and really like it for my everyday use saddle and dosent matter if i scratch it, gets dirty etc.
Then i have my jeffries for competitions.
 
I would recommend a flock saddle rather than cair. I find the cair to be hard and unyeilding and it takes ages to mould to the horse's shape.

I use my wintec as my wet weather saddle. It isnt the most comfy of saddles, but it is practical and hardwearing.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I would recommend a flock saddle rather than cair. I find the cair to be hard and unyeilding and it takes ages to mould to the horse's shape.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've found this, too.

I've a Wintec 2000 and a Wintec Stock Saddle. Both with CAIR. Neither seem very secure and are prone to move.
 
What type of horse do you have?

Wintecs were designed for the Australian TB and rarely fit anything more 'native-y'. The tree becomes too curved at the wider settings and the panels at the back are too cambred, meaning the outside edge digs in. Only horses I've ever seen who's wintecs fit are TB's. Just because the width can be changed doesn't mean the rest of the saddle fits!

Having said that, they seems to have redesgined them a little recently, though I haven't yet seen one.

Cair's rubbish unless the saddle shape fits 100%. Unlike flocking it never 'beds' and springs back into shape everytimes pressure is released (i.e standing up in your stirrups) - that's not great if the panels aren't a perfect match.

Personally I'd look at the thorowgood saddles instead - they have various tree shapes to suit different backs, have adjustable gullets (like wintecs) and a range of panels to suit. And the newer range look idential to leather.
 
I'm not keen on Cair and prefer flock. My Arab x Welsh B has a Wintec and it fits her nicely, is comfy and hard wearing.
Lots of people really do expect them to fit anything which they don't.
 
I have a Wintec VSD and have used it on an RID mare previously and now on an ISH mare. Fits them both and like others have said you can sling it in the back of the car and not worry too much as it will just wipe over. I do use a Heather Moffat seat saver on it though as I find it much comfier to ride in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top