wintec saddles

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Sandstone1

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I've a youngster who I'm hoping to back this summer. I'm thinking of getting a wintec adjustable saddle as he's going to change shape a lot over next few years.
I will get any saddle fitted by a saddle fitter but don't really want to spend hundreds on a saddle that will only last a few months.
Any thoughts /experience of wintec for a sec d?
I have had a throwgood before and didn't find it very comfortable.
 
I have one, but I must admit I don't really like it. I have a wintec GP with cair.

I bought it prior to getting my new mare, for two reasons: I wanted to try and a void the cost of the horse plus a saddle all at the same time, and I wanted something that would be adjustable as I would likely get a youngster that would change shape etc.

I had the saddler out to adjust it and check the fit. He was fairly happy with it- he did have an ideal VSD that fit her perfectly, but the cost was £500, and it was a saddle that I would have wanted to replace anyway (especially as it was a VSD) so I didn't see the point.

In a few months in thinking about getting an Equipe Expression mono flap.
 
I loved my wintec, rode in it for 10+ years with my older mare she loved it too (I have an english endurance). I used to adjust it regularly as her shape would change depending on how much riding we got in. I was very sad that it wouldn't work for my Arab, but she's the shape of a barrel. I think for most horses in the big part of the bell curve between "narrow" and "extra wide" backed they are generally very good. But the only part that is actually adjustable is the gullet, so if the bars don't fit there's nothing else you can do. Again though, that's good enough for most horses.

I'll comment that I still have my wintec (two of them actually) and despite it's age and hard use it's still in great condition so they hold up really well. I figure I'll be able to use it again so I definitely got my money's worth out of it.
 
I like them better than thorowgood, far less bulky and you feel like you're sitting on a horse not a chair lol! I have one for my youngster and will prob keep that until he's stopped filling out :)
 
I got an old one free with the horse no extra gullet or anything, just as it was. Comfort wise it's ok and it's good enough for what I do t the moment. My boys changed shape a lot so the saddlers been able to change the gullets really easily. I am getting leather girth straps on though, the synthetic ones are awful and cracking. Cheap at £8 each though.

I'd say if your horse is changing shape they're good, but I haven't tried any other brands with adjustable bits as the saddle came with him.

I'm planning on getting a leather saddle later in the year when he's in proper working condition and has developed his topline.
 
I have both wintecs and thorowgoods. my horses are sec D x. the saddles were bought for backing and initial schooling. they have adjustable heads. I am so delighted with that I wont be going back to leather wit heavy wooden trees. :-)
 
thorowgoods and wintecs are completely different tree shapes. as a welshie I think it unlikely a wintec won't have too curvy a tree.
 
You can adjust them all over if you are trained to in the cair. You can have front and back risers in or just one end with different thickness.

Normal saddlers aren't trainer in the cair so they don't know about the other bits you can do.
 
Thanks, the saddler I'm thinking of using does deal in wintec so hope she should know how to adjust?
Throwgood which I had on my old horse fitted her ok, but I didn't like it.
Just don't want to spend a huge amount on a saddle that will have to be changed quickly. Obviously want it to fit well though.
 
I had a wintec on my welsh D and hated it. Felt like I was perched on his back and really didn't like the seat. Replaced it with a Thorowgood T4 which I love, feel much closer to him.
 
I back all my youngsters in Wintec GP saddles and usually then progress to the Wintec Isabell. I like them as they fit the type of horse I breed (warmbloods) and are much lighter compared to a traditional leather saddle. I did have to use the Wintec Wide on one of mine who was particularly broad and flat backed.
 
I like them to ride in much more than the Thorowgoods, but I've seen so many horses have problems with them, that I just wouldn't want to use one again on my own horse.
There is much more to saddle fit than changing a gullet, I'd rather have a decent quality saddle proffesionally fitted/adjusted.
Not saying they don't have their place if you have a horse to suit the Wintec, but a lot of horses don't suit them.
 
See I have five horses from a ex racer, warmblood and a massive barrel shaped elephant to name a few and the wintecs fit all of them fine, I have a wintec Cair fitter for mine.

They are all fitted without a pad on under and I have not had any problems
 
I have a high wither thorowgood T6 General purpose which has an adjustable gullet and fish system. It is the leather look one too, so no suede in sight, it is a nice looking saddle tbf! I like it, but horse doesn't seem to. I purposely bought it as she is high withered, needs to muscle up again and to give more clearance, but it just doesn't sit right behind her shoulder- a wider gullet would mean it then came down on her withers, a smaller one would be far too tight.

Just be aware that as with any saddle, whilst you can adjust the width of the gullet, that is not the only thing for consideration and your horse may still require something a bit different.
 
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I had mine for 12 yrs. Loved it. Literally sold it 2 weeks ago as mares been retired for 2 yrs

Would recommend but be careful buying 2nd hand. I've known a couple with broken trees. I had my checked by wintec reps before I sold it.
 
I fit mostly natives and other wide horses and ponies and it would be about the last thing I'd recommend for most Section Ds. Australian designed saddles are more TB and curvy back focused but one of the biggest issues can be the rails/bars - they are upright where the stirrup bars are whereas most natives are wide there and need rails that are flat from side to side. This causes pivot on many and even if there is no movement there can be issues with pinching. Many of the continental "forward" balance saddles fit like this and even the flatter treed models that appear to be stable on flat backs aren't good on wide backs because of this issue.
 
What would you suggest for a sec d out of interest. I'm not saying I will get a wintec, just don't want to spend a huge amount on something he will grow out of quickly.
Obviously, it has to fit and will be fitted by a saddle fitter.
Bearing in mind the low resale price of second hand saddles don't really want to buy new and lose out after a few months of use.
 
sbloom said:
I fit mostly natives and other wide horses and ponies and it would be about the last thing I'd recommend for most Section Ds. Australian designed saddles are more TB and curvy back focused but one of the biggest issues can be the rails/bars - they are upright where the stirrup bars are whereas most natives are wide there and need rails that are flat from side to side. This causes pivot on many and even if there is no movement there can be issues with pinching. Many of the continental "forward" balance saddles fit like this and even the flatter treed models that appear to be stable on flat backs aren't good on wide backs because of this issue.
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This is why I couldn't use one on my Arab. The Cair panels don't change the bars and on an extra-wide/flat backed horse they won't fit. I contacted Wintec about this when I was trying so hard to fit her. But, she's on the extreme end of the bell curve for back shapes. I've been able to use my old Wintec on many different horses just fine, including my mom's half -Arab who is very curvy-backed but does not have the wide flat back. My Morgan/QH mare was using a wide to x-wide gullet all her life and had high withers too.
 
sbloom said:
I fit mostly natives and other wide horses and ponies and it would be about the last thing I'd recommend for most Section Ds. Australian designed saddles are more TB and curvy back focused but one of the biggest issues can be the rails/bars - they are upright where the stirrup bars are whereas most natives are wide there and need rails that are flat from side to side. This causes pivot on many and even if there is no movement there can be issues with pinching. Many of the continental "forward" balance saddles fit like this and even the flatter treed models that appear to be stable on flat backs aren't good on wide backs because of this issue.
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My section d came with a wintec, I do think it pinched, since she sent me into orbit a couple of times in it. I'm treeless now and peace has been restored. Personally I also found that her ever changing shape always had me thinking about gullet and which one I should have in, I'm happy now that I dont have to worry.
 
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