I just purchase a Wintec Stock saddle. I wanted the security of the poleys on a new young horse and loved the idea of exchangeable gullets.
I ordered the medium size seat and when I tried it yesterday I found it very uncomfortable. The seat was under by hips so that I was on the edge of the seat. I tried adjusting the stirrups to put me further back in the seat(more like a chair seat) and that helped some but I was still on the edge of the saddle. Now I’m not hat big 5’6" 135 lbs so its hard to believe I’d need the large seat.
Any one have experience with these saddles and their fit ? I can exchange the saddle but am concerned that the large will be to big.
I’m disappointed as i need a saddle, I’m older so I want security (he’s jumpy) and western saddles hurt my knees. I need the free swing of english leathers . I was riding a Steele Plantation saddle but its to narrow for the horse.
Any Ideas?
My next door neighbor had one and she’s probably 30 pounds lighter and I believe she had the large seat…you do sit differently in a stock type saddle. I cant post worth a toot in one no matter how big the seat is.
You can, in fact, put English leathers on a Western saddle, you know. Or get stirrup turners or Cordura fenders, for that matter, lots easier on the knees.
And most barrel saddles and cutting saddles have free swinging fenders/stirrups.
I can’t stand to have my legs locked into place because I need to move them for different cues.
more saddle stuff
Thanks so should I try the large? I don’t understand why wintec places those stirrups so far forward. I have ridden authentic stock saddles before but never had the bars so far forward.
I had my western fenders replace (25 yr old saddle) a few years ago and he said he could not put english leathers on it . I don’t know why. anyway this saddle is about done. I’m also looking for a new horse so trying to find a safe saddle that will work on a different horse. My mare is 21 MFT, still sound but not as perky.
Looking for a gaited horse, broke. NC
I wish I felt safe in English but even as a kid I was not good at staying on during a bad spook . I’m now aging and need to avoid a fall, want to ride till I’m 90!
If you really like it I’d try the large. I know when I got one from Down Under, the size they told me to get ended up too small. I like my saddles a little bigger bc I like room to move, and this one had barely any room between my thighs and the poleys. And I am only 5’4" and 125. It put me in an uncomfortable position, and I have no issues in my cheap Aussie.
I’m not sure what you mean by being on the edge of the saddle. If you think you have plenty of room but it’s not placing you in the right spot, then maybe you need to look for something else. If that is the issue it could also be that the saddle is tipping forward/back on the horse, and affecting your seat. Can you post pictures?
Wish I could show pictures but I’m sitting on the edge of the seat as if the seat is to narrow and I have a small butt, used to be teased as “no butt” so I tried changing the length of the stirrups but it didn’t change a thing. It still left a large part of my rear end was outside the seat. Just like if you were sitting on the edge of a chair.
Thanks for the help
Should’ve said, you can put English leathers on a Western saddle provided there is a fender slot in the tree–if the saddle has to be actually taken apart to replace fenders then, no, you couldnt. Flip that sucker upside down, get a flashlight, and get a good look at how the fenders/leathers are on there.
I have found to my chagrin that I can fall off of or out of durn near any saddle, english, aussie, western. I’ve been hurt the worst by saddle horns so am sticking to english…but did have a big ugly western aussie hybrid with poleys save me from getting squashed once when the horse took a header. Bust the poley but only a little scrape on me, horse skinned her nose, from all reports it looked to be fatal but I merely rolled off when I was about six inches from the ground, since I was face down when I landed I didnt see the horse roll right over top of me when SHE hit the ground.
Maybe the twist is too narrow? You might want to try an Aussie from Down Under instead. Maybe they can help you find something that isn’t soo narrow. I don’t think a larger seat size is what you need if you have plenty of room from front to back.
Fit My Horses Great–but Not Me
I tried this saddle several years ago and just didn’t like it. I loved the adjustable gullet and my horses seemed to do great in it, but the seat position felt uncomfortable. I persevered through several weeks with it and finally realized that it just wasn’t going to work for me.
I have a couple of friends that ride in this saddle and love it. So, it’s a binary decision as to whether the saddle works for you.
I found the seat to be too forward for my liking. I kept feeling that one little bump and I’d be over the top no matter how far back I sat. I tried adjusting the stirrups, moving the saddle forward/back, and nothing seemed to help. I’m a size 4 jeans, so it’s not like my butt was hanging over the sides.
I went to Tucker and will own Tucker saddles forever more.
