[sonomacounty]

Oh, how cool, a western forum. Thank you COTH ! Even though I'm truly h/j & racing - I want to try out western a little.

Now, I'm not going to put a zillion pound saddle on my horse, nor do I want to carry one, no way. So, how are the Wintec westerns? I had a Wintec dressage and loved it.

Oh, and does the western girth have any elastic to make the horse more comfortable, you know - like the ends of the english girth?

Tx.

[clint]

I tried a Wintec western saddle a few years ago, and unless there have been serious modifications recently, it is the most uncomfortable saddle I have ever sat in. The good news is it sat on the horse's back pretty well, but the bad news is I couldn't stand sitting in it for more than a few minutes. You might be able to make it work by adding some sort of seat saver, but without that, it is like sitting on a board.

No, no elastic in western girths, but I like string girths for English too, and I have yet to have girth galls from string in either discipline.

[EquineImagined]

We have a Circle Y ..well I call it semi synthetic. There's leather leather on it, but the skirt and fenders are synthetic. It doesn't weight a lot. And you can find them for the same price as a Wintec and at least for my tushy it is a lot more comfortable.

[7HL]

I use a Abetta Cordura Stealth Trail Saddle. I use a center fire rigging on it.

http://www.buytack.com/products-saddles/act/20557.htm

I have seen it called by a couple of different names by dealers.

I bought mine from a local Abetta dealer...

[sublimequine]

Wintec makes good english synthetic saddles... their western has pretty much nothing but bad reviews.

I'd suggest an Abetta, or if you want to go "hybrid", the Lady Fabtron is half leather, half synthetic.

I bought an older Abetta for $100, and it's a great, comfy saddle that fits my mare and doesn't give me a hernia to put it on her back.

[sonomacounty]

You might be able to make it work by adding some sort of seat saver

Thanks Clint. Actually, I do use a seat saver on all my saddles because I despise cantle dings (you know those little nicks you can get on your cantle).

OK, I'll have to get the weight on the other saddles. Thanks for the suggestions. I think the Wintec western is 20 lbs, which is great. Hopefully, the others are about the same.

7HL - what is a center fire rigging? Thanks.

No, no elastic in western girths

Now, I'm not OK with this. My concern is not girth galls or how easy it is to pull up. It's for more comfort for the horse. Some might dispute that it does much, but that is where I am at with that.

Someone, please invent an elastic insert western cinch. I think it would go over well. Maybe I should and call it a Sonoma cinch! Kinda catchy, eh? (Ca-ching?)

[sublimequine]

You might be able to make it work by adding some sort of seat saver

Thanks Clint. Actually, I do use a seat saver on all my saddles because I despise cantle dings (you know those little nicks you can get on your cantle).

OK, I'll have to get the weight on the other saddles. Thanks for the suggestions. I think the Wintec western is 20 lbs, which is great. Hopefully, the others are about the same.

7HL - what is a center fire rigging? Thanks.

No, no elastic in western girths

Now, I'm not OK with this. My concern is not girth galls or how easy it is to pull up. It's for more comfort for the horse. Some might dispute that it does much, but that is where I am at with that.

Someone, please invent an elastic insert western cinch. I think it would go over well. Maybe I should and call it a Sonoma cinch! Kinda catchy, eh? (Ca-ching?)

They do make off-straps with elastic:

http://www.adamshorsesupplies.com/Ca...ther-P908.aspx

And I HAVE seen cinches with elastic before... not sure what brand though!

[carp]

My experience with Wintecs is that the fenders never really break in. Consequently, they put more torque on your knees than properly broken in leather fenders and certainly more than English stirrup leathers.

[sublimequine]

Found an elastic cinch!

http://www.nationalbridle.com/product-p/1-6968.htm



Or if you prefer double elastic..

http://www.nationalbridle.com/product-p/1-6916.htm

[sonomacounty]

Carp: So that would make you go toe out?

Sublime: Thanks and Oooo, those are nice ! I think all western saddles should have those (nicer for the horse).

So, there goes my idea of the Sonoma cinch and I guess I won't be a millionairess now. Sigh.

[7HL]

7HL - what is a center fire rigging? Thanks.

http://www.western-saddle-guide.com/...-positions.jpg

http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/saddle-rigging.html

http://tuckersaddlery.com/EnduroBalancedSingleTie.shtml

http://tuckersaddlery.com/rigging.shtml


I however have been using a SUPRA CINCH with my Abetta. It all weighs under 20#.
http://www.crestridgesaddlery.com/buytack.html

http://www.crestridgesaddlery.com/supracinch.html

[sonomacounty]

Thanks 7HL. I like the center rigging better than the two girths for sure.

Further looked up Abettas - 17-18 lbs. Awesome.

Thanks.

[newhorsemommy]

I have the Trail Lady Fabtron and LOVE it. It's comfy, and I think they make higher quality saddles than Wintec or Abetta. They appear to have a much wider variety of sizes (for horses) as well.

You can get a standard tree or flex-tree. This is the saddle I have:

http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/fabtr...il-saddle.html

ETA: I did replace the plastic stirrups with real ones, and I use a Weaver Smart Cinch on it.

[sonomacounty]

Thanks so much, NHM! Beautiful.

[BellaLuna]

A little late to the party, but I wanted to give you my opinion of Wintec Western Saddles.

We bought one for DH for the less than 4 times every two years that he decides he wants to play cowboy. It is, without a doubt, the most uncomfortable and hard saddle that I have ever sat in.

He doesn't seem to mind it, is proud that **he** has his own saddle and I don't mind that it sits in our tack room, gathering dust. Wasn't too expensive and can be washed off. But, I would never buy one again unless they made some serious modifications to seat comfort.

[sonomacounty]

So sad to hear that Bella Luna. As I said I had a Wintec dressage that I loved. You all should e-mail Wintec and tell them they need to fix their Western saddle up & how.

I liked the Albetta that NewHorseMommy posted, but I'd still want it to be a little lighter.

---

Also, I'd need that cinch with lots of elastic as Sublime posted above.

[BellaLuna]

That's good to know about the dressage saddle. I have ridden in a Wintec All Purpose and I think that they are actually quite comfortable and would have considered one for my draft/x, but, they do not fit him well. I was curious about the dressage one, so now I know. Thanks!!

[HenryisBlaisin']

My experience with Wintecs is that the fenders never really break in. Consequently, they put more torque on your knees than properly broken in leather fenders and certainly more than English stirrup leathers.

I didn't find that at all...I use a Wintec on the (rare) occasions that I ride Western and after a couple of days with a broom handle through the stirrups, it is fine...in fact I find it more comfortable than most Western saddles...I always liked the old-style hard seat ones anyway, so maybe I don't notice that it's not cushy, but I can ride in it much longer than any other Western saddle without my butt or knees hurting. But then, there are English saddles that other say are super-comfy that I cant ride in either. I guess it's a matter of what fits the rider.

[AnEnglishRider]

I ride the two draft horses a friend owns in a western wintec... I actually really like it. Easier to haul up on those big guys and I think it's pretty comfy.

Of course, my english saddle is an ancient crosby and it's about the least comfortable thing ever, so maybe it's just that it's more comfy than the very uncomfy english saddle.

[sonomacounty]

Bella: I had a Wintec dressage 500 (that model as I didn't want the equisuede, too sticky). I do put a seat saver over every saddle, though, as I have a phobia about cantle dings. It was wonderfully balanced, wonderfully light to carry & for the horse. The only reason I sold it is because I stopped dressaging.

They make a Wintec wide now - not sure if you know. Wide plus it has the adjustable gullets.

http://www.wintec.net.au/products/al...se500Wide.html

Thanks all, for the input on the Wintec western.