Wintec Isabell questions

[TheHotSensitiveType]

My awesome instructor has been letting me use her Wintec Isabell for the last two weeks (did I mention she is awesome?!?), and ponykins is going amazingly in it. I just received my basically new Wintec Isabell in the mail yesterday, and…

WTF is that strap sewn to the saddle flap? What am I supposed to do with it? Not being around many dressage blocks, I have never seen this before and was a bit stunned when I saw the saddle. The pictures online ‘under emphasized’ the extra strap thingy. There are still the standard two billets under the flap.

[Milobloom]

The purpose is to hold the flap down/still but most people just cut them off, if you cut the stitches it stays neat

[TheHotSensitiveType]

Thanks! Of the many problems I have had or have caused myself, the saddle flap coming up is not one of them… If most people cut it off, I have to wonder why they bothered putting it there in the first place.

If I wasn’t to cut it off, is it supposed to go over top the girth?

[MissAriel]

I have heard that it is to keep the flap close to the horse’s side. My trainer has one with and one without the strap and I have never noticed a difference. It is put on over the regular girth, usually just tight enough to not leave a giant gap.

Why they put it on is still a bit of a mystery to me as well.

[Halt_Near_X]

[QUOTE=MissAriel;9022864]
Why they put it on is still a bit of a mystery to me as well.[/QUOTE]

The synthetic flaps are pretty lightweight and can bounce/flap more than leather ones do. I never really noticed a difference when riding, but I did when lunging.

I still cut the strap off, but that difference may be part of the reason it’s there.

[TheHotSensitiveType]

Thanks! I would not have thought of lunging, but I don’t lunge enough to make keeping the straps there worth it. Also, flaps, well flapping is good for desensitizing, right?

[MysticOakRanch]

The leather version comes with the “over girth” too - I think everyone just cuts them off.

[Hayburner]

I’ve had my wintec Isabell for many years and I have NOT cut this strap off.

Sure I’ve thought about it after reading many threads about it on here and UDBB, but I like that it helps me to tighten my girth an extra hole. I also like that it does keep the flap closer to my horse.

I see no reason to cut it off.

[Hayburner]

I’ve had my wintec Isabell for many years and I have NOT cut this strap off.

Sure I’ve thought about it after reading many threads about it on here and UDBB, but I like that it helps me to tighten my girth an extra hole. I also like that it does keep the flap closer to my horse.

I see no reason to cut it off.

[J-Lu]

I had one of the original Isabells and loved loved loved the saddle. I simply fastened the overstrap. I would NOT cut it off, it keeps the flaps close to the horse and takes all of 15 seconds to fasten.

[KLB]

I had cut it off my very old Wintec Isabell as the strap had started to split where it joined the flap. After a while I had worn the synthetic panel on the bottom of the flap and my good boots were squeaking on the now shiny panel I had my saddler replace the panels with leather and replace the strap.

I find the strap does help the flap sit flat, especially on the ones that are shaped like a barrel like the boy this saddle was for.

I have left the strap on my other 2 leather Isabells and like J-Lu said it only takes seconds to do it up over the girth.