What do I ask for this saddle....or do I even sell it?

[Abbie.S]

I have an ancient Wintec AP saddle. It’s easily 20 years old if not older. Brown, synthetic, nothing particularly fancy about it but it is in excellent shape given it’s age. No scratches or marks in the material, panels are wool flocked and flocking gets checked with regularity, has the interchangeable gullet system, billets are in great shape. 17.5in seat, so fits a wide variety of riders.

I have used this saddle for years to start young horses despite riding exclusively in western saddles myself because it’s light, easy to put on the horse and take away repeatedly in case they get worried about it, is well balanced and literally fits every single horse I put it on. Some years ago I had jokingly named it the sisterhood of the traveling pants of saddles because I haven’t found a horse yet that it didn’t fit well. Comparing it to newer Wintecs and AP saddles from other makers, I’ve noticed the panel width, length and shape front to back is in that Goldilocks zone: not to wide, not too narrow, not too much rocker but not too flat, just enough channel width and panels just long enough to take up a longer back but short enough to fit a compactly-built horse. It also positions the rider quite nicely - I’ve jumped and flatted in it and never felt like I was fighting my tack.

I use in a handful of times a year. It is not a staple in my tack selection other than for starting young horses. I also loan it out on occasion to students who are having saddle fit issues/waiting on saddles they’ve ordered/need a loaner for whatever reason.

I loaned it to a barn friend a couple months back as they needed a saddle for a new horse while a custom one was on order. Custom one came and did not fit nearly as well as my Wintec. They returned it and have been searching around for an alternative but haven’t had any luck. Barn friend sent me a message a few days ago saying they really liked my saddle and asked me if I had ever thought about selling it.

TBH, I have, but I know its value in the used market is maybe a couple hundred bucks based on what I see MUCH newer Wintecs going for around here. It’s always been much more valuable to me than it likely would be to anyone else. However, value is often determined by how much someone is willing to pay for a thing…

I don’t need to sell it. I also have other saddles I could use to start young horses in and don’t need this saddle. I am not the type of person to see dollar signs in a situation and I don’t want to be unfair to barn friend, but clearly there is a lot of value in this saddle for them given they’ve had a hard time finding another. Barn friend has asked me to think about it and if I am interested in selling suggest a price. I have no idea what to ask or if I should even sell it. WWYD?

[clanter]

we have four 30 year old Wintec saddles that have thousands of trial miles on them with nothing wrong or even anything that ever broke

These were inexpensive at the time so I would expect near zero today

If you do not need to sell it just keep it as from our experience they will deteriorate (unlike our leather show saddles that are still cleaned periodically)

[joiedevie99]

I’d expect one that old to be priced around $200, maybe $250.

[Libby2563]

IIWM I wouldn’t sell it because it sounds like it would be hard to replace, you might regret letting it go, and you don’t need the money (which is not likely to be much). I also would feel uncomfortable asking a friend (or anyone) for more than market price, even if it might be worth more to them.

[clanter]

@joiedevie99

I’d expect one that old to be priced around $200, maybe $250.

I do not remember just what we paid for ours in 1992 but am pretty sure it was around $300 each

[173north]

Keep it. A saddle that fits everything is priceless because when you need it, you NEED it.

If they really want the saddle, maybe you can figure out what style yours is and help them find a similar oldie used?

[furlong47]

Used Wintecs on eBay that have actually sold appear to have gone in the range between $150-$400.

Another thing to consider - this saddle is not unique in the world. They surely made more than one. Maybe she can find another, same model/tree, seat size, etc, that she could buy.

You could also just ask her what she’d be willing to pay for it, then decide if that’s enough to make you sell it.

[trubandloki]

Does Wintec (or someone else) not make something similar now?

I am confused why this saddle is so in need by this one person.

If I used a saddle as much and as successfully as you say you use this one I would not be selling it.

[Gesaffelstein]

Don’t sell , they can find another just like it.

[Scribbler]

The saddle is still useful to you. Keep it. Friend can go shopping.

[joiedevie99]

@trubandloki

Does Wintec (or someone else) not make something similar now?

IMHO, Wintec’s have changed dramatically three or four different times. At one point we had three Isabel’s in the barn, none of which work for the other horse/rider combos that had Isabels - wildly different panel shapes/curvatures, panel & channel sizes, and balance points for the rider.

[candyappy]

I had a black Wintec Wide AP saddle just like yours that I bought used and had about 10 years. I sold it a while back easily for $250. I sold it with all the gullet plates that worked with it ( 5) , the webbers and stirrups.

[Abbie.S]

This is exactly what I’ve found. While it’s still a Wintec, they’ve gone through several ideations of saddles and the shapes are all over the map.

I think barn friend’s desire to purchase this particular saddle is because they’ve had a hard time finding one that works for both them and the horse and have tried several. Because they’ve had mine the whole time they’ve been searching, they have something to compare and none of the ones they’ve tried have felt as good a fit as mine.

But yes, I’m leaning towards keeping it at this point.