Has anybody ordered one of these recently? I guess they have brought the original model back. Opinions? How different are the panels on the original version than they are on the redesigned version? Are the trees aas flat or straight on the original as they are on the newer version?
Your post prompted me to do some Googling… did you read this?
http://www.wintec-saddles.com/us-ca/wintec-isabell-original/
Thanks. I did see that article after I posted the question. I guess I still would like opinions from anybody who has one of these Originals that have just come out recently. I can’t remember what type of horse conformation the original saddle fit best.
I sat in an old one about 8 years ago when they first came out. I felt really jammed in there versus the newer model. I’m surprised to hear they brought the old one back.
I have three old ones and love them. I have sat in the new style Isabell and hated it. The old style are getting a bit hard to find here now so I know of people who were very happy to be able to buy a new one in the original style.
My very old Wintec one was used on a horse who was like a barrel. The flocked panels and an extra wide gullet fit him beautifully. My other two are leather versions and I have now had the cair taken out of both and they have been flocked to suit each horse. One is on a fairly typical TB with a normal wither and reasonably narrow back and the other is on a WB with quite a high wither which drops off quite quickly to a wide back.
From my own experience my three are quite different shapes but I am lucky that my saddler was able to adjust them with flock to suit. If they didn’t fit I would have to look for something else that fitted, but I am happy with my Isabel’s.
I also love my old Isabells. I have two. Both CAIR. They fit my large barreled, very jumper-shouldered somewhat banana backed Trakehner. I had them on a typical nattow, slab-sided TB with a different gullet. I also had them on a sway backed Clydesdale mare, before the sway was very pronounced.
They fit the WB best. They were very serviceable on the TB and Clydesdale. I am 5’10, all leg, and have been both slimmer and heavier in the saddle. Including 5 months pregnant. It’s not an ideal fit for me, I take the blocks out and my knee is a bit further forward than ideal, but it’s really, really close. It also FEELS fine, it’s more that it doesn’t look exactly right. I mostly use these saddles for conditioning and trails. I am a very recreational dressage rider.
I didn’t like the feel of the new Isabell at all. The panels kind of protruded more over the flank area. Under the candle. I’m not a saddle fitter…the older one just seemed to hug the contours of my horses better with less bulk.
Thanks to all of you for your input. The old version Isabell has always been comfortable for me but I’m wondering if it will fit my Arab…who needs a more curved tree and panel configuration. The new Isabells are extremely flat.
