Wintec Western Saddle

[No_Angel]

Anyone had experience of these?

[western-saddler]

They do not fit many horses at all. The bars are too straight and do not allow enough space for shoulder freedom.

[jroz]

Big Horn western saddles are better, IMO.

[No_Angel]

do the western saddles have the same problem as the english saddles?

[Cochise]

Asking for experience of them... all I can say is, ouch. Didn't find it terribly comfortable and felt perched on the horse and very high above him. Fit wise, couldn't tell you, I'm not the best judge of fitting western saddles to horses. Cheeky went ok in it, but I wasn't terribly impressed.

[Keket]

They don't ride right compared to leather. And they don't last, they break down quickly. I'd advise against them.

[Shadowlark]

ahhh yess... simple answer here...

hunk of crap :) I am LOATH to say this.. but the Big Horn ones are better..but not by much!

[SmartyJones]

The Wintec Australian Stock saddle? I first had a western saddle and felt like I was on a platform. Love the Aussie saddle. I was told many of the endurance riders use them- so you know they must be comfy and they really are in my experience. Also that horn is a bit sketchy for my taste- heard too many stories of being tossed and getting bras hooked on the horn when on the downfall:eek:

Like the idea of being made by Wintec for either as they only way 9 lbs rather than the 35 lbs of a genuine western saddle.

[No_Angel]

Thanks everyone I may g9ive the wintec a miss then.:)

No worries about bras being stuck on horns as the saddle is for a man,lol.

[western-saddler]

Like the idea of being made by Wintec for either as they only way 9 lbs rather than the 35 lbs of a genuine western saddle.

The weight issue is not a problem IF the saddle fits really well. I have many lightweight saddles not distribute the weight at all well. The weightbearing area is also usually much smaller thereby concentrating all the riders weight into a far smaller area. The difference I show customers is press your finger into the palm of your hand, then press the whole of your palm onto your other palm - which is most comfortable? It is not the same but gives an idea of what I am trying to say. :)

[Kis Vihar]

Wow, am I the only person who likes their Wintec Western...!?:eek:

It fits my cob very well (and apart from bareback), it's the only way I can ride her as I have a hip problem and I'm secure enough in the Western saddle to ride 'as normal' (canter, gallop, 'hoolie about' etc).

I have found that it is NOT a good fit on any horse with any hint of a 'high wither' or dipped back. I just like it on my cob as it gives me the freedom to carry on enjoying her! I can't ride her in a GP saddle anymore. I got hold of a Wintec Stock Saddle too....sadly FAR too narrow for my mare, so regretfully I sold it! But that was BLISS to ride in!

I like the Wintec Western too as I can't lift a heavy leather Western saddle onto my mare (yeah, knackered right shoulder and back prob too!!!) and I don't want to have to rely on someone to help me tack/untack every time I want to ride.

Each to their own, and out of choice, if I was physically OK, I would prefer a leather Western saddle, but the Wintec does me and my cob just fine. :)

BTW, yes, I've got 'dangled' a few times when dismounting...T-shirts caught on the horn mostly....!!! :eek::D

K

[western-saddler]

The lightweight saddles and the treeless saddles come into there own when the rider has a physical problem and cannot lift a 28lb leather saddle. I am glad the Wintec fits your horse and as you say they only fit straight backed horses with a medium wither and a medium width. I have never seen one fit a wide horse though. They fit very few horses sadly - but they do fit a few. :)

[EnduranceAli]

I will avoid the Wintec then - but can you recommend a lightweight saddle that would fit a wide 12.2hh Exxie with no withers? She has an 'English' treeless at the moment, which is comfy for her - but with my arthritis I am struggling with her width generally, and people are suggesting trying out a Western saddle. I have tried a leather saddle in the past, which fitted her, but I could not cope with weight.

Ali xx

[western-saddler]

You could try a Heather Moffett hip saver - they give the saddle a narrower twist. There are the western treeless saddles too - Barefoot do two different models now. I sell the Barefoot ones, but there are other makes around too. :)

[Shadowlark]

Take a look at the Sensation line as well, I have a disaster of a hip and find mine very comfortable to ride for hours

[UKCowboy29]

I have a Wintec Western Saddle on my 15.1 Arab and fits him better than English saddles

[LeftBrainer]

Eek, I'm seriously wanting to go over to western. Me and the boy like to do long hacks, as may hours as we can. The only fitter in the area who fits western will only fit wintec ones. I wasn't worried till I read some of the comments here. The boy is an ID/warmblood. I've ridden for years and saddle fitting still seems like rocket science to me. The idea of getting a saddle that hasn't been fitted properly makes me very uneasy.:(:confused:

[western-saddler]

Just thought I would say that I may be coming to your area in the near future (well July/August) time. I am due to have a baby any time now, but will be back at work soonish after - if I can be of any help? :)

[mibz]

hmm my horse has 'high wither' issue and my english saddle is a wintec for this reson with the interchangeable gullet, why would the western saddle be any diffrent?

just curious?