Wintec Wides

MotherOfChickens

MotherOfChickens

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Are these as flat as a thorowgood cob does anyone know? thorowgood square cantle is bridging on my pony and am currently riding him in a treeless. would prefer a treed for certain things though so looking for ideas for when saddle fitter comes-he's an XXW, not completely flat backed or witherless, big shoulder.
 
The new Wintec wides are different to the original ones and quite expensive at around £580. I bought one for a highland who is croup high and has a slight wither and big shoulders on the advice of a saddle fitter who sold wintec/bates saddles - its now for sale and has been replaced by a fylde ray following fitting from number 3 saddle fitter - all charging upwards of £50 a time! It seems that thorowgood cob, wintec wide and kent & masters have major differences in the type of tree used. I think the wintec wide fits a completely flat backed type better than one with a wither. Mine just rolled round - when I questioned the fitter on a visit to another yard they suggested it was slipping because I hadn't inserted shims.
 
I have a Wintec Wide for Blitz, and he certainly has a wither! I've never had a problem with it rolling, and I don't have any fancy equipment to keep it in place.

It's an OK saddle to ride in, not as comfortable as my old Wintec 2000, but certainly a lot more comfortable than some saddles I've sat in :)
 
Neither of these trees are especially flat, if you are getting bridging it's from the width, or the flatness and length of the panel, in most cases. I fit very flat trees and rarely see bridging from them, they give good stability. NOT a fan of the Wintec Wide at all, I replace them all the time when they're tipping the rider, or unstable. They probably do fit some, but bear in mind horses this wide usually could do with a hoop tree, and the TG and Wintec Wides are far from hoop trees, and have semi dropped panels, deep panels etc which can cause issues on wide shapes.
 
I find the Wintec Wide fits much better than the cheaper Thorowgoods. They are very flat, we have them on haflingers, a pony cross, a pure conny and a friend was using one on her Icelandic. I also have the dressage version. Not had any issues with slipping, but mine do all fit correctly with no bridging.
 
sbloom said:
Neither of these trees are especially flat, if you are getting bridging it's from the width, or the flatness and length of the panel, in most cases. I fit very flat trees and rarely see bridging from them, they give good stability. NOT a fan of the Wintec Wide at all, I replace them all the time when they're tipping the rider, or unstable. They probably do fit some, but bear in mind horses this wide usually could do with a hoop tree, and the TG and Wintec Wides are far from hoop trees, and have semi dropped panels, deep panels etc which can cause issues on wide shapes.
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Just had one fitted to a dippy backed, croup high, 2xwide cob with medium withers, fitter inserted at least 12 shims to back and middle which I thought didn’t sound good, horse reacted a bit, swished his tail and stepped away when fitter tightened the girth whilst I was mounted, and then wasn’t keen to canter. I pushed it, and he consequently tripped and fell in canter. Needless to say I didn’t buy the saddle, but be interested in your thoughts on this set up for this type of horse?
 
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A long way from how I would fit it - if XXW may need hoop tree, I would fit a flat tree and shorter upswept panel, getting the saddle down especially at the back, semi close contact panel.
 
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