Wintec synthetic

[Magbag]

I am thinking about getting a wintec synthetic saddle with the changeable gullet for my daughters pony. has anyone got any experience with these saddles , and do you think they are suitable to buy second hand ,or am i better buying new?

[Silvia]

I have a Wintec Isabell and I love it. Very comfy, good quality (five years old now and still as good as new) and easy to keep clean. My mare is happy with it, too and seems to like the cair system.
As with every saddle, it has to fit the horse though. From what I have heard on this forum the shape does not suit many horses and even the changeable gullet won't help if the shape of the tree does not fit.
I don't see a problem with buying second hand, but get an expert in to advise you about the fit.

[mu0ljk]

As long as you know the saddle will fit then there's no prob buying 2nd hand in my opinion.

A friend had a saddle fitter out, found out what saddle fitted and then went home and found it cheaper online somewhere. :)

Can't comment on Wintec saddles though as they have never fitted my horses! :p

[skips and soda]

I have a Wintec GP with Cair system for my TB and it is really good and really comfortable. He has changed shape drastically since we bought him and it has been so easy to just change the gullet to a size wider and the Cair panels mean the shape fits him well. I love mine! Reduces time on cleaning as well and looks real leather but is much cheaper! I would definitely get another for a horse who is going to build-up/change shape.
One thing to be aware of is that some people feel that with the Air Cair panels they make it feel more bouncy and are less 'secure' so a lot of the people at the yard who have got them have gone for the flocking in theirs. To be honest I can't tell the difference and wanted the Cair panels specifically as I knew Skips would be building muscle up. Overall I can't fault them. They are brilliant value for money, but I would say that you are better off buying a new one rather than a second-hand one. :)

[Sammii]

Can I ask what breed/build your daughter's pony is?

There are alot of saddles that would be suitable if your daughter's pony is a cob-type.

If not, and is more "slimline", wintecs can be very useful, light and easy to manage :)

[ranee]

i have got one and i love it.takes awhile to wear in but its great and it waterproof aswell so easy to clean

[Pink's lady]

Wintec's (the 500 and 2000 versions) tend to be a terrible fit for anything other than a TB type back.

The tree is really really curved when set at anything wider than a Medium (and a wintec 'medium' is the equivelant of a normal saddles Narrow) and rocks on the horses backs. Get the width right and the front sits too low.

The panels are also very cambred and the outside edge of the panels at the back dig into the horses back.

If your pony is a wider native type with a fairly flat back (side to side, not nose to tail) the wintecs are very unlikely to fit. The only horse I've seen for whom the wintec is a very good fit is a TB I know - he's narrow and his back isn't flat.

Which is a real shame as they're nice looking saddles, comfy to ride in and dead easy to keep clean. But just have a search on here to see the problems people have had with them (the people who say they 'love them' tend to cite 'dead comfy to ride in' 'cheap' 'looks good' 'easy to keep clean' etc as their reason for loving the saddle and very little on how it fits the horse:()

If you still like the look for one have a look at the Wintec cobs. When set at an x-wide or wide (the narrowest these saddles go and about a 'medium' or 'wide' in normal leather saddles fittings) the tree is much more sensible. The panels are also a lot less curved. I've used one on a couple of fairly wide and flat backed horses (not cobs, just not TB's) and the fit has been really good.

[Silvia]

My mare is a Welsh X and has a rather flat back. My Wintec Isabell fits her very well. (confirmed by 2 different saddlers, equine specialist vet and back person)

[Magbag]

Thanks for the opinions folks

All my saddles are bates with cair, and are always fitted to the horses. I did not fancy spending £500 - £600 on a new bates when she only dots about on her pony she doesn't show or jump. 5 years isn't to bad , i wasn't sure how long they would last thats why i was a bit dubious about buying 2nd hand. You sound happy with yours ,so might see if i can borrow one first .

He is 13 .1 welshie sec c

[Fizz]

mine fits jay ok, sits a bit low at the front.

planning to save up for a saddle co saddle:)

[CurlyWurlyRach]

I have the 2000 for my TB and it seems to fit ok (saddler said it did). Its nice to ride in and very secure.

[Daffy Dilly]

I don't recommend riding on one in the rain. Unlike my leather saddle, the wintec does not absorb any water, and I got a very wet crotch. :o :rolleyes:

[Joyscarer]

As with any saddle, the fit is the most important thing. If it is going to suitable for you horse then still make sure you get the saddle fitter out.

My saddler also said that he prefers the flocked over the cair ones as they are easier to fit to the horse. I have a cair as they don't make the VSD in flocked. Also the cair ones tend to compress. This was certainly true of mine and my friends cair Wintec so beware of that.

So long as you remember that Wintecs should still be checked for fit on the horse by a saddle fitter and the stuffing altered to fit the horse as required then you will be minimising problems.

My saddle fitter pointed out that much of the bad name Wintecs have got for themselves regarding fit is due to the way they marketed them.

Many people simply alter the gullet due to seasonal fluctuations and think that's all that needs/can be done and cut the saddle fitter out of the equasion altogether. A saddle fitter still needs to MOT the saddle although not seasonally! I have to admit that I was guilty of thinking that a change of gullet would cure all ills but won't be making that mistake again. ;)

[eventerbabe]

We bought a wintec 500 GP with cair for my wee welsh cob. It was professionally fitted and bonnie actually went very well in it. Far better than her expensive leather one. I would certainly take a look at them. Mine was about £300 all in (inc. fitting and a new gullet), if you can find the one you want second hand you'd be looking at about half that cost.

[Nookster]

I have a wintec vsd with cair, wintec isabell with cair and recenlty bought a wintec wide for our cob x, it fitted him lovely. Only sadly selling it as he had left us.

[joey_olop]

Wintec's (the 500 and 2000 versions) tend to be a terrible fit for anything other than a TB type back.

The tree is really really curved when set at anything wider than a Medium (and a wintec 'medium' is the equivelant of a normal saddles Narrow) and rocks on the horses backs. Get the width right and the front sits too low.

The panels are also very cambred and the outside edge of the panels at the back dig into the horses back.

If your pony is a wider native type with a fairly flat back (side to side, not nose to tail) the wintecs are very unlikely to fit. The only horse I've seen for whom the wintec is a very good fit is a TB I know - he's narrow and his back isn't flat.

Which is a real shame as they're nice looking saddles, comfy to ride in and dead easy to keep clean. But just have a search on here to see the problems people have had with them (the people who say they 'love them' tend to cite 'dead comfy to ride in' 'cheap' 'looks good' 'easy to keep clean' etc as their reason for loving the saddle and very little on how it fits the horse:()

If you still like the look for one have a look at the Wintec cobs. When set at an x-wide or wide (the narrowest these saddles go and about a 'medium' or 'wide' in normal leather saddles fittings) the tree is much more sensible. The panels are also a lot less curved. I've used one on a couple of fairly wide and flat backed horses (not cobs, just not TB's) and the fit has been really good.

Echo that-we tried one on Flaire-Bear & I ended up on the floor beacuse it slipped as I went on a circle :o

If she is a cob-type pony I dont recommend them, the Thorowgood's are much better. You get Fish in the newer ones so can still change the shape of them. Fits my fat mare like a dream :D

[The Original Crazywoman]

mine fits jay ok, sits a bit low at the front.

planning to save up for a saddle co saddle:)

I've got a Saddle Co saddle for sale if you are interested - less than a year old, hardly used it as I mainly ride treeless, and a bargain price! :)

[kaliko99]

hi i have the wintec 500 GP saddle with interchangeable gullet. it fits my 14hh cob and my 16hh cob, both with the wide gullet. this has been confirmed by a saddler. it doesn't slip or roll and both work well in it. i ahve just changed to treeless, and am saving for a dressage saddle also. i am selling my wintec. where in scotland are you, if you are anywhere near ayrshire you could try it out?

[WooHoo2]

I've got one for my TBX, and it fits her ok, she's changed shape dramatically over the past year, and on Thursday, the saddle fitter is coming with some new saddles for us to try! :)

But the best buy/fit I've seen from a Wintec is for my friends Arab, she's had it 3 years, and it's still immaculate, saddle fitter comes every 6 months to look, and has a play with it ~ and she only paid £50 secondhand! :p