Synthetic Saddles

[nettiemaria]

Originally posted by patchworkpony:
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-title”>quote:</div><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-content”>Originally posted by nettiemaria:
I will NEVER buy another synthetic saddle. Very uncomfortable, I’ve had two - don’t like them, don’t want them, they hurt my butt, fit awful - I think they are cheap junk. Just my opinion

What brand or brands did you have? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Oops, sorry, I had a Wintec and then I had a golly can not remember the name, was it King?
I also had a Fabtron, which I did not mention here before, which was better, but also hard as nails.

BTW, it did not fit my horse. The “King???” one would not stay on the back at all, it rolled all over the place, it felt unsafe to ride in. The Wintec - was as hard as nails. It also did not fit my horse, and was not balanced.

I will say that my hubbie had a Big Horn that he was training his colt in, and I rode in that one a few times, and that one was actually kind of nice.

[patchworkpony]

I really like the look and feel of the wintec isabell with the removable gullets. Has anyone used one of these? How do they fit??

[chicamuxen]

I know that a lot of endurance riders use Big Horns and Abetta saddles. You may find the Abetta has more variety available in trees. A friend is using one and is quite happy with it. She competes a lot and is comfortable in it but of course it has to fit the horse. Most tack stores don’t have all the endurance styles in stock. You should do some research before ordering and then make sure that it fits your horse.

chicamuxen

[Teeberry01]

Luv the Fabtron cordura saddles! Completely sold on 'em. Started with pre-owned, and once my guy stopped growing, the tack shop fella ordered the style I wanted, but with the tree size we needed, and took my old saddle as a(very generous) trade in. Got the new one for a pittance of the retail price.

[Bogie]

I paid $260 for mine through a dealer on ebay.

[Weebonilass]

I ended up with a Wintec AP as it was the only thing I afford that would be big enough to fit my propane tank of a gelding. I haven’t done any really long rides in it, but he doesn’t mind it and I haven’t had any complaints.

Neither of us like the Isabelle we tried… it was too deep for me (too many years of riding saddleseat, I guess) and I’m not sure what his complaint was… maybe I was sitting too deep on his back as he was still tender back then… but while he didn’t buck me off (his normal response to something he doesn’t like), he minced his foot work, which isn’t like him.

I knew a gal who really liked the Big Horns. She got a second one just like the first when she got the second horse for daughter/husband to ride. I think she paid $365 locally for them

[chicamuxen]

The saddle that fits your horse well is the “good” brand for you. Every horse is different. Of course, there are so many saddles today that are available in multiple widths. It used to be that the typical saddle had only one or two tree widths available. Not so anymore.

Wintec has many different gullet widths and now has an extra wide saddle available that has a couple of different gullet plates available. However, only the front of the saddle is changed when the gullets are swapped out and the back half of the saddle tree remains the same. In my opinion this is a problem.

Thorogood makes a variety of saddles for different types of horse backs. They have very wide panels and the panels width down the whole length of the saddle have a more consistant slope than the changeable Wintecs.

There is a bigger selection of western style (and hornless endurance) saddles available now. More widths and style types. Abetta has quite a variety.

chicamuxen

[Bogie]

I just bought a wintec pro jumping saddle with cair and I’m amazed by how comfortable it is.

For the person who asked – wintec saddles without cair are flocked with wool which means that they can be fitted to your horse by a professional saddle fitter. The cair panels are supposed to adjust to your horse automatically.

I have several expensive leather saddles and I am impressed by the quality/balance of the Wintec.

[HoRsEYGaL8o8]

I’ve ridden in synthetic as well as know people who own them. Wintec’s are very good, I don’t have one but I’ve ridden in an english as well as western saddle. I found the western to be a little hard in the seat but the english is very comfortable. I haven’t found that they bother horses any more. But then again it really depends on the horses build. I approve of synthetic saddles though. They’re easy to keep and very light and comfortable.

patchworkpony,
My friend has one of those removable gullet ones. Personally I don’t like them because I feel like they put me in a really forward seat. But it really depends on you I guess. Good Luck!

[gothedistance]

I’m going to be getting a demo FreeForm in next week. I sat in one this past summer and said “WOW”! Not exactly synthetic (its Italian leather - yummy!) but I am in desperate need of a top quality English-style treeless for ALL my multi-sized well-rounded Welsh ponies.

Plus, I’m suspecting (and just became aware this is a “dressage saddle” problem that spans disciplines) that my beloved dressage-turned-endurance-saddle is “binding” the shoulders of my endurance pony, creating a short, stubby stride. He’s got a beautiful floating movement when he’s trotting free, and in the one exprience I had with a treeless on him he was every bit as awesome. I want his stride to return.

[AngelCat]

Originally posted by patchworkpony:
One more question! Do the endurance abetta saddles use regular western girths?

From what I could tell online, they do.

[nettiemaria]

I will NEVER buy another synthetic saddle. Very uncomfortable, I’ve had two - don’t like them, don’t want them, they hurt my butt, fit awful - I think they are cheap junk. Just my opinion

[Weebonilass]

Originally posted by nettiemaria:
I will NEVER buy another synthetic saddle. Very uncomfortable, I’ve had two - don’t like them, don’t want them, they hurt my butt, fit awful - I think they are cheap junk. Just my opinion

They may have not been comfortable for you, but let me tell you if they didn’t feel good to my horse, my butt would be on the ground. He’s very expressive in his dislikes

We both like the Wintec A/P 500. I,esp., like that he likes it. He also traveled well in a Thorowgood and an Ansur. Haven’t found many others that he took well too.

[Bugaboo]

Originally posted by Bogie:
I just bought a wintec pro jumping saddle with cair and I’m amazed by how comfortable it is.

For the person who asked – wintec saddles without cair are flocked with wool which means that they can be fitted to your horse by a professional saddle fitter. The cair panels are supposed to adjust to your horse automatically.

I have several expensive leather saddles and I am impressed by the quality/balance of the Wintec.

I second that! I bought a Wintec Wide AP saddle about 7 months ago and I love it!! I have a 8 year old Appendix mare who constantly changes shape depending on her workload and especially during show season. I love having the gullet system. Before I got it, I went through saddles like crazy with my mare.

I found it hard to ride in at first, mostly because it’s and AP and I rode in a Stubben CC before, but other than that, I find it very comfy and I love that it’s light and I don’t have to spend so much time cleaning it. Just wipe it off with a damp rag every now and then. The balance is very good and I find it to be good value for my money.

[AngelCat]

I’ve been riding in my Wintec A/P for a few months now – I found it to be uncomfortable enough to buy a seat pad for it. I love the way it looks, though…but I’m not positive it’s fitting my horse quite right so I’ve been riding in my Aussie til I have time to try fitting it again. I’m not impressed with the comfort of Wintec saddles! My western one feels like sitting on a board. Guess I’m spoiled by my Aussie…and that no-name brand English I found.

[patchworkpony]

Hmmm…

I’m so excited!! I can’t wait for my girl to come home!! Then we have to set up an appointment with the saddle fitter or find a saddle fitting clinic nearby. Our tackshops usually run them throughout the spring and early summer. Our tack shop has many different synthetics and I am going to try a bunch of them!

[GallopHer]

I’ve never noticed either of my saddles pinching or rubbing. And the seats are very comfortable for me. I love the fact that they are so light weight.

[patchworkpony]

One more question! Do the endurance abetta saddles use regular western girths?

[Teeberry01]

Bought a used, smooth seat Fabtron 10 yrs ago. Still in great shape. Have 2 rough out seat Fabtons that were purchased new 8 and 4 years ago. Got a lotta miles on em, and they’re holding up like champs. And still look good. The only parts showing wear are the off billets.

[weaver]

I have the Wintec Isabell and love it. It has the cair and changeable gullets. Horses seem to be fine with it also. I also have the torsion dressage saddle, I like it but not as much as the Wintec but am going to try and use it more for the long distance.
PS. I’m an ‘original’ ;minasnowtaian also. Iron Range transplanted to Maine via NJ