Saddle with tree similar to Wintec?

[tulachard]

I’d like to pick up a dressage saddle for my mule. I’m riding her in a custom made (for her) western saddle with a wade tree - SQHB. We are doing western dressage but thought it might be nice to have a dressage saddle for her as well in case I want to take her to a USDF show.

She had a Wintec Pro dressage that fit her beautifully but Wintec saddles just doesn’t work for me, unfortunately. Any ideas of other saddle brands that have a tree shape (flat) similar to Wintec? We have an upcoming huge consignment sale in a nearby city so thought I’d look around there. Thanks!

[Rhymes_W_Orange]

If you want a leather version, there are Arena and Bates saddles. I have had Bates for years and just bought an Arena dressage saddle with the adjustable gullet and Cair panels.

[tulachard]

Do you know if the saddles sit the same way as Wintec? Wintec kills my hips.

[Rhymes_W_Orange]

I would guess they are very similar for the rider as well, so that probably won’t work. I wasn’t sure if you just didn’t like the synthetic. I wonder if a different model would help. I have really liked the Isabell in both its Wintec and Bates versions, but don’t like the Innova so they aren’t all the same.

[tulachard]

I haven’t sat in an Isabell or an Innova - worth a try if I find one I can sit in!

[sascha]

@Rhymes_W_Orange

I would guess they are very similar for the rider as well, so that probably won’t work. I wasn’t sure if you just didn’t like the synthetic. I wonder if a different model would help. I have really liked the Isabell in both its Wintec and Bates versions, but don’t like the Innova so they aren’t all the same.

It is definitely worth trying Isabel as opposed to Pro in the Wintec and Bates as opposed to Wintec. The tree shape for the horse is more or less the same, but they fit the rider differently. I can ride in Pro, not in Isabel. Bates is completely off the table for me.

[four2farm]

Kent & Masters are outrageously comfy, have an adjustable gullet and are wool flocked so they can be tweaked for the perfect fit.
Not nearly as popular here as in the U.K. yet but growing. One came into my coaches barn and six months later there are 12 of them. They make numerous models and the owners love them. The one issue is that if you have a long thigh they only have a standard flap length.

[EventerAJ]

Can’t speak to the dressage saddle, but I have ridden in Wintec pro jump (w/ wool, not Cair) & Bates close contact which are corresponding synthetic & leather models. Horse fit was very similar, but the wintec was awful to ride in; forced my leg off the horse, awkward balance, not to mention slick. The Bates was vastly better for me (& especially after I had the Cair panels replaced with wool). My little Bates close contact fits a ton of horses with its adjustable gullet, and I’m happy jumping in it up to Training level eventing.

[J-Lu]

I rode in, trained and showed in a synthetic Isabell through fourth. I loved that saddle. Multiple FEI level trainers rode in it with no complaints. I found the Pro too forward in the flap for me. Of note, I also own a wintec jump saddle that I evented in with 2 horses.

I have a friend with a mule that purchased a mule-specific english saddle. She didn’t think the mule needed it but swears that the mule went WAAAYY better, and the trainer concurred, with the mule-specific saddle.

PM me if interested and I can contact my friend or put you in touch with her. Saddle fitting is just “uggghhhh”, I know,.

[RhythmNCruise]

I got a Wintec Isabell a couple of years ago and I absolutely love it. My horse does too. It’s the only Wintec I’ve ever owned or ridden in, so I can’t compare it to others. It’s better than the Collegiate and M. Toulouse dressage saddles I had before it. I hated the Collegiate. Horse hated the M. Toulouse. We both love the Wintec Isabell.

[eightpondfarm]

When it’s my mule’s turn to go to our dressage lesson i ride him in the same saddle the other three wide horses wear. It’s a synthetic and kinda flat. Less than 200$ from Stateline: https://www.statelinetack.com/item/equiroyal-newport-dressage-saddle-pkg/E002577/

When i ride him around the farm i have a custom modified western-slash-endurance saddle that he goes well in on the hills here as long as he is in breeching and a double cinch and a breast collar. (some serious hills here)