It’s the saddle I’m looking at to get for show. I wan’t to get other peoples opinions on this saddle.
Good and Bad opinions welcome.
I used a Wintec 500 (dressage model) for about 5 years. Still own the saddle, in fact, but was able to purchase a lovely Kieffer Wien DL for dirt cheap (and it fit me and the horse and was only 2 years old). So I no longer use it but it’s great for when I’m working with my youngster - because of the gullet system. Mine doesn’t have the Cair panels though (then again, not sure if the 500s come with that option).
My only fault with the Wintec 500 (okay, two faults) is (1) My half chaps wore out the side of the saddle, like typical wear marks, but there’s nothing to do for them and (2) when you clean it (with soap and water, which is great!) it will squeak for a few rides. So, don’t clean it before a show, or if you do, clean it a good week or two prior and make sure you RIDE.
Otherwise, I absolutely love my Wintec and won’t ever be selling it. Especially since there’s little resale value in the 500 models, I’d be losing money. Then again, the saddle is 8 years old and still in excellent condition, except for the few, aforementioned, wear marks on the flaps.
I had one of these with the CAIR and Easy change gullet system. It was an ok saddle to ride in, I wound up buying the larger thigh blocks for more support, but I never felt it was as good as a conventional dressage saddle.
Just my personal opinion. I had been riding in a JRD and now have a Passier GG. They are pretty reasonably priced. I know some people really like them. I wish they would do away with the long “girth cover” strap. I cut mine off and I think most people do this anyways.
I find the stirrup bars to be too forward and the twist is funny for me. (not sure if it’s too wide or what? Just not comfy for me)
If the tree is right for the horse, and the seat is right for you… then it’s a good saddle for you! I like the Isabelle better (when it fits the horse) for me, but it’s almost double the price and people seem to either love it or hate it as far as the seat.
I love wintecs for excellent longeveity/wear, and when they are the right shape tree for the horse/right shape for the rider, they are just a really great choice. Many of my students have them for XC and Jumping. I don’t really find the 500 or Pro to be the ideal dressage saddle, but they are certainly far better than similarly priced leather saddles (except, of course, well used big name types). For just a little bit more, I have been (very surprizingly) pleased with the HDR dressage saddles.
Bought one when my Neidersuess didn’t fit the new horse with no topline.
Worked well.
Horse developed more topline, Neidersuess now fits.
Still have the Wintec–nice in bad weather (no indoor), handy “spare”, and will likely need it this spring, as winter has not been good for my riding time.
I like the Pro better.
If the 500 is the only saddle you can afford, it’s much better than the ultra-cheapie Indian leather saddles.
However, you mentioned it was for showing. I’d rather see a competitor in a well-cared for but used older saddle than a new wintec 500 if that is a possibility. JMHO
I love mine. I have had it about 6 years and the only issue I have had is lack of support in some upper level work and the billet straps are wearing out (the rubber is coming off basically)
But I love the gullet system and have used it in many of large shows.I earned by first two 10’s at reconized shows in that saddle so would never part with it!
I had one and did end up selling it over the twist. Just too wide/uncomfortable to suit me.
I’ve got one on trial right now. It has the flocked panels, which are much softer than the Cair. I agree that the twist is pretty wide. I need to decide soon if I can live with it. My pony is hard to fit and he seems really happy with it, so I’ll probably keep it. In general, I really like the Wintecs. And I prefer the equileather over the suede.
I have the pro, I like it a lot. Light, comfortable, not restrictive…good for many horses but may not be the best for wide horses. I have the wool flocked panels not the CAIR. I’ve had it for about 6 years. It puts me in a great position.
I HATE the isabell…it hasn’t worked for anyone I know.
every person I’ve ever seen ride in the Wintec 500 dressage saddle has a pronounced chair seat. I don’t know if it’s because of the saddle, or if it’s because beginners tend to like this saddle, but I’m not crazy about it. I prefer the Isabell, which (to me) is my magic saddle - effortless for me to assume the correct position, and I’m even riding about two holes longer in it that I ever have in any dressage saddle before.
You can usually find them cheap on Ebay if you look hard enough, but I’d get the Isabell before either the Pro or the 500. Just my two cents.
I have the pro, with cair. I think it is a lovely saddle, i have had a lot of expensive leather saddles, but the wintec pro is the best till now. It has a flat seat, you can change the gullet size, and the cair is nice for the horse. The equisuede gives a very safe feeling, not slippery.
The equisuede gives the saddle a more luxery look than the 500.
I have one that I don’t use anymore because while I liked it, the horse didn’t. Good saddle for the money.
I had one for a while and I liked how I rode in it & how it felt to ride in. One of the horses I was taking lessons on at the time liked it, and my horse liked it for a while. Eventually she started pitching fits under saddle though and after doing a little research it seemed that a number of people’s horses went fine it it for a few months or so with regular work, but then had “issues” with the CAIR pannels (not sure if things in there started shifting around or what). My horse has done fine with foam, wool & Flair panneled saddles, but I wouldn’t put anyother CAIR on her.
If they still sold the 500 dressage with wool and NOT just CAIR, then I’d say it was a good buy for a rider on a budget. .
On the plus side, there are SO many wintecs for sale used, that you can pick one up for next to nothing, to use until you find/save up for the “perfect” saddle, and can always turn around and sell the 500 for what you paid.
I’ve ridden in the 500 and own a Pro. The basic shape is the same, but the Pro has Equisuede. I prefer the look and comfort of the pro, but think the 500 is good value for your money. Friends of mine have the 500 and are happy with it.
I MUCH prefer both the 500 and the Pro over the Isabell. I just can’t get comfy in an Isabell. I think it is the set back stirrup bars.
I have the Pro, tried the 500 but liked the feel of the Pro better. I am new to dressage riding and this saddle will do until I can afford to upgrade to a leather dressage saddle.
The most comfortable saddle I have EVER rode in was a County though…gee, I was in lust…so soft, the twist was perfect and it was an eventing saddle sigh. I wonder if their dressage saddles feel as wonderful?
My backup saddle is a Swedish Reitmeister. I LOFF that saddle and it is going on 30 years old…I have flocked and reflocked that thing and it simply will. not. die. It’s an all purpose saddle though, for everyday hacking, it is a lovely saddle.
I like the Pro because you can just wipe it off, put it up and you are done. It fits a variety of horses and I have a wide ride paint and a narrow high withered Tb…it fits both fine with a gullet change.
That is the nice thing about the Wintecs…change the gullet and it will fit another horse (usually)!
But I do love leather and will be looking over the summer at leather saddles. Guess I am a leather snob at heart.
I have a 500 with CAIR and love it! Loved it so much I went out and also bought a 500 CC. They are great saddles for the money, ride very well for my horse and me and are low maintenance. I was a leather snob until I needed a dressage saddle and couldn’t afford to buy what I needed in leather and got a good deal on the 500 from a friend. I’m still on the look out for a good deal for something in leather, but I will always hold on to my Wintec. I think they are great.
I had one and I didn’t love the position it put me in, but it wasn’t terrible and it was inexpensive and I liked the interchangeable gullet.
It beat doing dressage in my jumping saddle, but I don’t think it helped my position as much as many dressage saddles have–it was a bit of a fight to stay out of the chair seat.
I like the 500 and frequently recommend it as a good saddle for the budget-challenged. The seat and blocking is supportive without being restrictive and the interchangeable gullets are a big plus.
[QUOTE=sidepasser;3015735]
I have the Pro, tried the 500 but liked the feel of the Pro better. I am new to dressage riding and this saddle will do until I can afford to upgrade to a leather dressage saddle.
The most comfortable saddle I have EVER rode in was a County though…gee, I was in lust…so soft, the twist was perfect and it was an eventing saddle sigh. I wonder if their dressage saddles feel as wonderful?
My backup saddle is a Swedish Reitmeister. I LOFF that saddle and it is going on 30 years old…I have flocked and reflocked that thing and it simply will. not. die. It’s an all purpose saddle though, for everyday hacking, it is a lovely saddle.
I like the Pro because you can just wipe it off, put it up and you are done. It fits a variety of horses and I have a wide ride paint and a narrow high withered Tb…it fits both fine with a gullet change.
That is the nice thing about the Wintecs…change the gullet and it will fit another horse (usually)!
But I do love leather and will be looking over the summer at leather saddles. Guess I am a leather snob at heart.[/QUOTE]
I’ll answer that – Yes the Countys dressage saddles are just as comfortable… I rode for a woman that owned an assortment of about nine County saddles and they were all dead comfortable for me.
I have a Wintec 500 for a dressage saddle. I have shown recognized dressage once and schooled it quite a bit. But quite a few of my dressage lessons were in someone else’s saddle (and usually an extremely nice one at that. :D). But it definitely got the job done for me, fit my horse fine, worked okay for me. I think I also considered the twist slightly wide… Don’t remember specifically - in all honesty, it couldn’t have been too bad as I have only ridden in one saddle that I considered terribly uncomfortable solely because of the twist (an old Prestwick that was naaaaaarrrrowwwwww).
