I just couldn't take it any more...

[Risk-Averse Rider]

Ordered myself an early birthday present: http://www.adamshorsesupply.com/browse.cfm/4,274.html

In brown.

I have the full set of gullets from my old Wintec Pro Dressage saddle (which I liked a lot until it got a little bedraggled).

And if it's a total bust, I'm out the return shipping cost.

So We Shall See.

I figure it's a start, and if it works out, Mr. RAR will be Very Happy (you should have seen him turn green when I told him I was saddle shopping and casually, dropped in the price of the Black Country Quantums)

I know it's not a high-end saddle. But I'm old - how long does it have to last, really?? :lol:

Wish me luck, ladies!

[Daatje]

Great price for that saddle! I really love the Wintec Pro Jump, hope you do too! :) Good luck. :D

[HenryisBlaisin']

FWIW...I have a Wintec AP saddle that is in the 10YO range and still going strong-looks GREAT, all parts and pieces show very little wear. The flaps are a little shiny from boots/leathers, but certainly not anything that I would consider excessive wear. I have shown in it, trail ridden in it, jumped in it ridden dressage tests in it. It may not be high-end or fancy, but it's durable and comfortable. My friend, who is a beginner, loves it because of the extra "stickiness" it offers. I got it at a STEAL for like $198 new, even for 10 years ago, and it has been worth every penny. I originally bought it because I was a trail guide at a hack stable and didn't want to ride in their Western saddles or my nice CC. It got a LOT of hard riding over the years that I worked there, but it held up and then some.

[buck22]

good luck! wintecs last for ever!

[Barnfairy]

Nice buy, and good luck!

I have a bunch of Wintecs, one with Cair, two without. One of them is over ten years old now. Even with gullet changeability there are still some horses they don't fit...but they've worked with all the horses I've ridden.

I ride the pi$$ out of them and they've held up great.

[Risk-Averse Rider]

My Wintec Pro Dressage has some definite signs of wear.

The Equisuede has bubbled on the seat & on one of the flaps.

And the welting along the front of one of the flaps is either split or pulled loose - I think it split.

Not sure how long I've had it. > 5 years, for sure, because I already had it when Mr. Blondie took me on as staff.

Maybe it's the heat...

[Hampton Bay]

Did you buy it new? I really doubt the Equisuede should bubble on the seat, regardless of where you live. Have you tried to contact Wintec? If the saddle is defective, they might replace it.

[Risk-Averse Rider]

Did you buy it new? I really doubt the Equisuede should bubble on the seat, regardless of where you live. Have you tried to contact Wintec? If the saddle is defective, they might replace it.I bought it new, but that was probably 6-7ish years ago.

It turns out the bubbling is only evident when the saddle is soaking wet (like when I hose it off to remove the 2+ years of dust that have accumulated on it ;-)

I looked at it just now - it's dry - and I can't see the bubbling any more. Or feel it.

So I guess as long as I don't pee while riding, or get caught in a torrential downpour, I'm good :D

Seriously - if this were a new saddle and if I had taken good care of it, I'd be contacting Wintec. Given the circumstances, though, I would be ashamed to go to them and say, "So, like, I totally abused this saddle for, like, forever, and now it's like bubbling when I get it soaking wet, so you totally need to replace it."

[mellsmom]

I have it and it has yet to fit anything I have put it on. Typically I just ride XC in it and pad the crap out of it and hope for the best. I love the fit for me but not so for the horses.

[JSwan]

Wish me luck, ladies!


I was wondering if you had finally cracked. The saddle fit thread was fantastic but I detected a wee hint that you might have been at the end of your tether. :lol::winkgrin: We all share your pain - and a hope that the new saddle fits!

(no doubt Mr. RAR is hoping the same thing.):D

[arabhorse2]

I adore my Wintec 2000 AP with Equisuede. :yes:

It's at least 5 y/o, and still looks brand new.

Someone at the barn was hosing off a horse and got it wet. They almost had a stroke until I told them it was synthetic, and to clean it I hosed it off and let it dry.

Funny thing is, I really like the synthetic saddles and stirrup leathers, but I'll ONLY use real leather bridles. :confused:

Good luck with your new saddle. It should last you a very long time. I had an older model Wintec (brown fabric) that I sold when it was 15 y/o to a training stable, and it's still going strong.

[Risk-Averse Rider]

I have it and it has yet to fit anything I have put it on. Typically I just ride XC in it and pad the crap out of it and hope for the best. I love the fit for me but not so for the horses.
Well, if it doesn't fit Mr. Blondie, it's going back. And then Mr. RAR will have a sad.

[Risk-Averse Rider]

I was wondering if you had finally cracked. The saddle fit thread was fantastic but I detected a wee hint that you might have been at the end of your tether. :lol::winkgrin: We all share your pain - and a hope that the new saddle fits!

(no doubt Mr. RAR is hoping the same thing.):DIt was a quick & easy toe-dip into the waters of saddle-trying. If it works out, great! If not, I'll have learned something. I take encouragement from the fact that my old Wintec Pro Dressage fit him at one point. (Of course, his current jumping saddle fit him at one point, too! :lol:)

[ShayDarra]

was at Tractor Supply Co. It's a Wintec 500 Dressage which usually sells for around $500. Mr. SD and I were just killing some time in TSC before an appointment. I noticed the saddle and asked if the price was correct. Salesperson said it was and they weren't going to carry them any more. So I bought it for $84! Didn't need it as I have 2 nice leather dressage saddles, but just couldn't leave it in the store for that price! I've used it riding on the beach and didn't worry a bit about the salt water getting on it. I also have a Wintec close contact which I like although I don't use it much.

Hope you enjoy yours.

SD

[middy]

I ahve a wintec CC and love it though I wish it had the equisuede. I have had it for about 5 years now and completely abused it and it still looks good. It has one nick in it when from when my WB tried to impale me on a tree and I jumpeed off but besides that you can't really see much ware on it at all.

[Risk-Averse Rider]

$84!?!?!? :eek: :eek: :eek:

I wouldn't have left it in the store for that price, either. Even if I never rode dressage! (Although if you'd seen my last couple dressage lessons, you might say that I don't :lol:)

My Wintec Pro dressage saddle is Equisuede, and it's okay, but as I mentioned above, there's a split in the welting along the front panel on one side. I also used to have to take one of the sweater de-piller shavers to it. Perhaps because I ride in synthetic full seats?

I rode in the dressage saddle this morning, with the wide gullet. Too wide, even with a SaddleRight pad (but I wasn't about to stop & try to switch out gullets at 5:30 am!) No so wide with the SR that I felt uncomfortable riding him in it for a 1/2 hour hack around the neighborhood, but I'm definitely going to try the MW instead. I actually think the MW with the SR might be about right.

I will say that I felt my lower leg was much more stable in the Wintec than it has been in my Ovation (that would be the one that *might* be making him grumpy).

Wintec Pro Jump is due in on Wednesday, according to UPS.

[Risk-Averse Rider]

Well, today we rode in the Wintec Pro Dressage again, this time with the MW gullet and the SR pad.

And I felt like my feet kept slipping forward.

So much for THAT theory!

I guess next time, I'll try it w/o the SR pad.

But he did have nice even sweat marks when we were done prancing in circles in Lisa W-B's arena and doing a Pas de D'oh with her new horse.