I’m a dressage rider dabbling in jumping. My mare LOVES it and would make a lovely hunter. I am looking to buy an inexpensive close contact saddle.
Are wintecs accepted at local low level shows? I’m in Canada if that makes a difference.
I showed A circuit in a close contact wintec for many years. Did fantastic. Went to regionals, I never felt like it impacted my placing. If I blew the class, it was my fault. And the cc saddle looked very close to leather, even close up.
1 Like
If it fits yours horse correctly, and you too, I don’t see any issues. There isn’t much of the saddle that can be seen when your riding anyway. I personally don’t like black saddles, but again, that’s just preference.
1 Like
The brown ones are pretty much indistinguishable from leather ten feet away.
1 Like
I had a Wintec close contact saddle back in the day and did jumper shows and events with it. I learned early on that most people had more expensive, more trendy tack and clothes than I did and suppressed my feelings of jealousy and inadequacy as best I could 
1 Like
Luckily I’m passed the stage of worrying about what other riders think. I’m more concerned about the judges. I have fancy dressage gear so I don’t want to spend a ton on jumping tack.
3 Likes
Most of our school horse saddles are Wintec in brown. I agree, they look like leather from a few feet away.
1 Like
I have a brown Wintec and have grown to love the look. I was afraid the color would be too artificial, but nope, completely agree with others who say it is passable for leather at a distance.
Of course, I only do eventing/jumper stuff, so my tack has no bearing on our performance. And I don’t give a darn if other riders judge my Wintec; it’s grippy, it’s comfortable, and my horse has never gone better in a saddle.
2 Likes
I think if it fits you and your horse, go for it! I was pleasantly surprised to read that others agree. 
2 Likes
