Wintec 2000
I used to ride in a Stubben Roxane (which I loved). Unfortunately, as time wore it did not work for my mare. I initially dismissed the thought of trying a Wintec even though an Equine P/T recommended it. I tried a lot of leather saddles from 1.5K up to 3K Either it worked for me but not for my mare and vice versa. After getting tired of trying saddles my trainer and I said what the heck why don’t we give the Wintec a try.
I never thought a Wintec saddle would have made such a difference in the way my mare moved and performed. Suprisingly, I found it very comfortable and secure especially with the equisuede seat and flaps. Wintec has really improved the look and feel of their saddles from the very old ones I rode in years ago on school horses. Even my trainer had to admit it was the best fitting saddle he had seen on her…that she rode lighter, more forward through her shoulders and carried herself in a better frame. Also he’s was not a fan of synthetic either…just saying the word Wintec made him shudder. He even thought the Wintec 2000 was a nice looking saddle though I doubt he would say use it for showing. Which I do little of anyway.
Saddles (synthetic or leather) are a very personal choice as to how it feels. For as many people who love Wintec many will dislike. Though I tend to think it’s more due to the fact it’s synthetic and not leather which people equate with poor quality. I confess I did and I was proven wrong. I’ve been riding in this saddle since the end of May 2007 and my mare and I are doing great and the saddle has held up beautifully (including the equisuede which holds up better than real suede)
Check out HorseTack Review which offers a lot of good feed back on Wintec saddles (pro and con) for A/P, C/C, Dressage and Western.
http://www.horsetackreview.com
P.S. I did try the Bates CC (which makes the Wintec line of saddles) on a hobby horse but never rode in it because when I received a demo to try on my mare it was with a medium gullet and I needed a medium wide. Also it sat funny on her when girthed up. After I sent it back I found out that the CAIR panels in a new Bates leather saddles will tend to look perched on the horse and that you need to intially sit on it and make the adjustments. So that might have worked too
