... The saddle that I have now for my young horse is a synthetic, Wintec saddle. The saddle actually came with the horse. I have a leather saddle for my other horse and I have always prefered leather, but am perfectly happy with the Wintec synthetic, at least for now.
~ ~ ~ ~ ... Read review
solution that ensures your wintec (or any other brand synthetic saddle) will continue to look like new. Dirt, mud, sweat&even stubborn stains are effortlessly removed from the synthetic leather and material surfaces without risk to saddle.
Wintec VSD Saddle
A comfortable all round saddle featuring a straighter cut flap, allowing more freedom for ... more
the horse's shoulder. For those riders who prefer the traditional appearance of leather but don't want to waste hours of their time caring for their saddle.
A review by spottydog2 on Wintec Saddle September 28th, 2006
Author's product rating:
Quality
Good
Style
Good
Durability
Excellent
Fit
Good
Value for Money
Excellent
Advantages:
Much cheaper than leather .
Disadvantages:
Only available in black .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
As you already know I have horses and to ride a horse, a saddle is an essential item. I know it is possible to ride without and I sometimes do to improve my balance, but really it is an important piece of kit. The saddle needs to fit the horse and horses can change shape. It also needs to suit the rider. Saddles are traditionally leather. The saddle that I have now for my young horse is a synthetic, Wintec saddle. The saddle actually came with the horse. I have a leather saddle for my other horse and I have always prefered leather, but am perfectly happy with the Wintec synthetic, at least for now.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I will quickly explain why I am happy with the synthetic saddle. I have quite a history with saddles and they can make you spend a lot of money. Even though you sell the old saddle when you get a new one, you still lose money. The saddle fitter costs about £30 a time with mileage on top of that, even if you end up not buying a saddle. When I bought my first horse, she was 5. Five is still young, she had not been ridden much and at that age they are still changing shape as they are still growing and they change shape the more they are ridden. To cut a long story short, from the time when my mare was 5 to around 7, I needed 6 different saddles. I was getting quite frustrated, each time I spent money on the saddle fitter and lost money selling the old one. I had alway bought second hand as you get a better quality second hand leather saddle often, but you still need to be prepared to spend £400. The last saddle I bought for her was £700 and a brand new leather one, I knew this one would last once she had stopped changing shape and has been alright for a number of years. By the way, they don`t all need that many saddles, I was unlucky, but you can almost guarentee that when buying a young horse, you will need to change your saddle.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
My new horse is only 4 so I know she will change shape considerably. I was able to negotioate when I bought her, for the saddle to be included in the price. It is a Wintec synthetic saddle. At first I was not that keen as I prefer leather. However it meant I had a saddle and did not have to spend money straight away (she was advertised without a saddle). I know she will change shape and I will probably need to change it at some point. There is nothing more disheartening than finding the perfect saddle and then 6 months later having to get a different one. I knew even if the saddle didn`t fit for long, they are not too expensive so it did`t feel such a waste.
The Wintec synthetic saddle is made form equi-leather. It looks quite like leather (unlike the earlier versions in other makes). It is easier to clean than leather as you just wipe it off. It does not require saddle soap, it does not need to be suppled up. It is just a case of get on, ride, get off, wipe of if necessary. No time consuming leather treatment.
The Wintec synthetic saddle is availale with an easy change gullet system making it easy to change the width without having to buy a new saddle.
It is available with CAIR which mine doesn`t have. The saddle is usually stuffed with flocking. The CAIR system has air instead of flocking, moulding more easily to the horse. This is an option when buying the saddle which I won`t go into.
The saddle has strong, non stretch, girth straps.
The saddle is comfortable for the rider, helping to place them in the correct position and improve rider performance.
The Wintec saddle has a lifetime guarentee on the tree of the saddle, which is the inner frame.
The Wintec Synthetic Saddle does not become slippery when wet!
My first real test of the saddle was after a week when I went on a picnic ride which was in a large group and lasted afew hours. I was pleased because I found it comfortable and I also found it good for security. The equileather offers a lot of grip. We were on the moor going up and down steep hills, through rivers so a good test. Not only that it didn`t slip. I was more impressed than I thought I would be.
Value for money. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Wintec synthetic saddle is exceptionally good value for money, they are £219 new without CAIR, £299 with CAIR. In comparison to a new leather saddle, you are talking £700 or more.
Fit for horse. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Wintec synthetic saddle fits my horse quite well. The easy change gullet system is a good idea. It does not mean that it will be a perfect fit for any horse, but it certainly has more of a chance than if not adjustable. It does fit my horse and doesn`t slip. I find some synthetic saddles can slip when you get on, but htis one doesn`t, at least not on my horse.
My Verdict ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I have to say I am more than satisfied with the WIntec synthetic saddle. If my horse changes shape and I am able to adjust the gullet to fit her, it will be even better.
I do prefer leather, but since having this saddle, the Wintec synthetic saddles have gone up in my opinion. Riding in the rain does not matter, there is no need to worry about the saddle as you do with leather.
It looks pretty smart, not too unlike leather, but leather still has the slight edge.
It has to be said that the price is amazing in comparison with leather and it is just as funtional. The Wintec synthetic saddles are available in different styles. You could have a separate one for dressage and jumping, they are so reasonably priced.
Advantages: Light weight, easy care, comfortable seat, easy change gullets, looks good Disadvantages: A bit slippy on my low-withered pony, hard to fit to her shape
Wintec saddles are made by Bates Australia, founded in 1934. They originally produced synthetic saddles for racing, but over the years this has evolved into a wide range of saddles for all sorts of disciplines.
The saddle I bought was a Wintec 2000 All Purpose back when I was breaking in my new forest pony. It is made with 'Equisuede', a convincing synthetic suede material that does not get slippery when wet and helps to keep the rider in position ... ...by wet weather.
The Wintec 2000 also has adjustable knee blocks to help provide more support, real leather girth straps, two brass dee rings for attaching saddle bags etc, and the 'Easy Change Gullet System', so you can change the width of your saddle if your horse changes shape. The manufacturers say it is 'great for riders who enjoy participating in many disciplines including jumping, hunting, pleasure riding, some dressage and flatwork'.
In ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: no saddle soap needed to clean Disadvantages: none
Having owned 2 wintec saddles, I can't emphasise enough the greatest factor of all - not having to use saddle soap!!! With any style or model of wintec all you have to do to clean them is to just wash them over with the hose pipe!!! The first model wintec that I had was made of a gel type substance that in fact had no tree in it, so was impossible to break!! and because of being made of gel was less likely to cause any pressure points, as I am now ... ...As with any wintec saddle you are able to change the gullet at the front of the saddle, should your horse change shape. I have never had to change the gullet yet so cannot comment on how easy/hard this may be!! Being so much lighter than conventional saddles is another reason I chose a wintec. If you use them with the wintec stirrup leathers you don't have to clean these either!!! ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Easy to care for Disadvantages: Did not find any
...value.
I bought a Wintec saddle some years ago to use for breaking in youngsters.
Horses and ponies change shape according to the time of year, diet and the work that they are in. However, their greatest period of change is when they go through the starting process, when they combine physical maturing and development of first working muscle.
I bought the Wintec to use on New Forest ponies, which can be barell shaped and hard to fit at the best ... ...matures, the equileather used by Wintec just keeps looking new.
Wintecs come with an interchangeable gullet system so that you can change saddle width as necessary. This means you can ensure that you keep the saddle fitting well and make sure that your horse never becomes uncomfortable.
Comfort is important for all horses (how can they perform for you if they hurt?) but especially so for youngsters, as a bad experience at breaking can leave long ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
...to treat him to a Wintec 500 saddle. Being 31, Pegasus has quite high withers but as hes a quite chunky horse, narrow saddles get in the way of his shoulders and sit too high on his back. (A very hard thing to find is a saddle thats built for chunky horses with high withers!) Obviously there arent many horses who are this shape so no one makes saddles to fit them! Unless i scrimped and saved for about 20 years to have him a saddle made which I know ... ...oped for a wintec as I had ridden in my friends and found them very comfy and simple to alter.
When it came it had a medium gullet in which i thought would be too wide for him as he had lost a bit of weight due to an accident a few weeks earlier. I went out and bought a narrow gullet for the saddle (£15 which I thought was quite expensive!) and it fitted him fine. Not being able to ride him for a month or so (due to his accident) he put on quite ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Easy to clean and look after Disadvantages: Found it hard to fit my pony
I bought a Wintec saddle for my 13.2HH pony. Her old saddle was looking rather worse for wear and I felt I change was needed. I was a bit sceptical about buying a synthetic saddle as I have always had leather saddles in the past.
Obviously the synthetic saddle are not 'made to measure'. I thought this would not be a problem as much of the advertising says with the easy gullet system, the saddle should fit any shape. However, I did not find this ... ...the saddle was too small and often slipped to the side ( I was unable to mount off the floor without the saddle slipping!) I was very disappointed as I had spent money on buying a gullet gauge to see which size my pony needed. The gauge showed that the size I picked should have fit, however this was not to be the case!
I do, hoever, have a few friends who do own a saddle like the one I purchased and who have had no problems. I must admit, the saddle ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Cheap, easy to clean. Disadvantages: Black only.
...just need wiping off. They don`t need breaking in when new either or oiling like leather saddles do.
Wintec 2000.
* * * * * * * * * *
The Wintec 2000 is only available in black which could be a disadvantage for those with a brown bridle. It is constructed from man made materials, the seat and the knee rolls being equisuede. This offers more grip which is always good. The only disadvantage from this is that, it gets wet. It is apparently quick drying, but it still does take a little bit longer than leather, or certainly the rest of the saddle, to dry. It is breathable though, which does speed up the drying process. It is comfortable though and also has seat foams, increasing the rider comfort. Still, the saddle is lightweight and durable and helps the rider to sit in the correct position. The saddle has wide weight bearing...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Design, ease of care Disadvantages: None found
...and other disciplines. I have jumped very small fences in a dressage saddle but would not recommend them for larger ones or cross country.
Comfort
--------------
This is a comfortable saddle. You feel secure and upright in it and the panels and blocks guide your legs.
The Cair panels are supposed to be more comfortable for the horse as they distribute weight more evenly over the horse's back than traditional saddles. They certainly seem to be happy with them.
Flexibility
----------------
The great benefit of any Wintec is the changeable gullet system which allows you to alter your saddle width according to changes in your horse's shape. This is really useful if you have youngsters or horses that change shape a lot over the year. Old hunt stables used to have a winter and a summer saddle for each horse, so this is a really useful...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: good fit for both pony and the child Disadvantages: a little bit long on the girth straps
...In my opinion I found this saddle great for starting my little girl in her riding career.
I found it reasonably hard wearing. My little girl likes to help put in on and take it off her pony, needless to say she managed to drop it a few times whilst putting it away. In my opinion I found it quite light to carry and handle. Little girl liked it because of the safety handle in the front so if she felt unbalanced at any time, there was something there for her to hold on to. Pony has a tendancy to do a little buck (massive according to my little girl) when in the school learning to be a first ridden instead of lead rein. Found the fit to be quite good for the pony, 11h section A.
wouldn't hesitate to recommend...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Westerns - Director: Marlon Brando - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Gary Cooper, Errol Flynn, John Wayne, Marlon Brando, Clark Gable
This product has not yet been reviewed. 
17.06.2007
17.05.2007
