Wintec close contact 500

[S_mores]

As an add on to my previous post re the wintec ap saddle, does anyone have experience with the wintec close contact ? Likes, dislikes?

https://www.wintec-saddles.com/product/wintec-500-close-contact/

I feel this one would be more suitable for showing (looks like leather ) and jumping than the ap but at the same time I’m undecided because i want to dabble in a bit of everything and heard the ap has more security and would also suit if I wanted to try some low level dressage where the close contact saddles are geared mostly to jumping

[CatPS]

This is going to fit your horse differently than the AP… been there, done that.

I personally prefer the Thorowgood synthetic saddles over Wintec for fit and quality.

[Frosty_M]

Is there any way you could try out both saddles? I think that’s the only way you can make a good decision about this.
Anything we virtual friends cold tell you would be purely theoretical.

[jen-s]

I used to own a Wintec Pro Jump saddle. I loved it. Alas, it didn’t fit my horse at the time. I think there are very few riders who have bodies built to fit the Wintec AP saddle in a way to make it helpful for jumping. General riding, light dressage, sure thing. Jumping gets tricky because as soon as you shorten your stirrups appropriately, your knee will likely go over the flap. I’m a low level eventer/all-arounder and I do all of my riding in a forward-flapped close contact jump saddle. That includes dressage, etc. For me, I need to be sure that I have all the support and function possible for jumping and I’d rather sacrifice a bit for flatwork.

I do think that Wintec makes a good saddle. That said, my personal preference is flocked over CAIR (and have a fitter check the flocking before you ride in it much) and I strongly prefer the Pro line to any of the standard saddles. The extra security is invaluable. You can often find them used for a very good deal. Depending on your climate, you need to be aware that in cold weather, the Wintecs are harder and slicker than in warm weather. I live in the south eastern area of the US and I was fine for the 3 months or so of mild winter that we have. British Columbia might be a bit of a stretch for comfort in these saddles.

[Texarkana]

You’ve been asking a lot of questions regarding showing & Wintec saddles on these forums. I LOVE Wintec saddles, but for what you are asking, I don’t think they are what you want.

I have not ridden in the Wintec Close Contact 500 saddle since they redesigned it. The older models of this saddle were SLIPPERY, but Wintec has changed their synthetic material in recent years. I imagine that problem has been improved.

If you are dead set on a Wintec, this saddle in brown or the Pro Jump in brown would be better options if your ultimate goal is to show in hunter classes. Hunter riders tend to frown upon all purpose saddles. Hunter riders also tend to frown upon synthetic saddles, especially in black. Any trainer or judge worth their salt shouldn’t care what you ride in so long as it is clean and fits, but unfortunately, people have preferences which can affect you in shows where you are scored subjectively or on overall impression.

Bottom line: if showing in hunter classes in the future is a priority for you, you are best to look for a leather close contact saddle in the same price range, new or used. You mentioned in earlier threads you want something with a changeable gullet; Wintec is not the only brand that is adjustable these days. Bates, Wintec’s leather counterpart, markets very similarly designed saddles in leather. Collegiate makes durable and balanced saddles for their price point and also has a changeable gullet system available on some models. It’s easier to “dabble” in dressage in a jump saddle than it is to successfully compete in hunter classes in an AP saddle.

[Heinz_57]

I bought one (used) a while back, and although it is a slightly older version, unless they have redesigned or are using a different tree, I suggest staying away from the Wintec adjustable trees. There are quite a few older threads on this tree issue, usually involving the tree cracking at the “point”, where the screws for the plates go in.

I BROKE the tree all by myself. I am not Hulk, I’m not even super strong; all I did was change out the gullet plate and the darn thing cracked right up the middle of the head. It was not broken when I bought it, but it did break before I ever even put it on a horse. It cost me a couple hundred bucks and now it’s useless. If you buy new, you can “warranty” the tree if it breaks, but you will need the original receipt and should expect it to take a very long time to be fixed. :lol:

Based on the pictures of your pony in your other thread, I think a Thorowgood would probably be more likely to fit better than a Wintec.

[S_mores]

Thank you @Heinz 57 . I have been looking at the Thorowgood T4 which is available at greenhawk and on sale right now however the seat is 17 inch or 17.5.

They don’t have the compact available.

[jen-s]

Thorowgood seats run small. If you need smaller than a 17, then you’ll be fine. If you are looking for a larger seat, then this isn’t the brand for you.

[S_mores]

I’ve bought a Thorowgood T4 so will just have to wait and see when it gets here and fingers crossed it fits well