Wintec or Custom?

["Tina Hicks" <tina@autoairbagcovers.com>]

Rhonda, since I've owned 2 DeSotos and currently have a Wintec 
with the changeable gullet I'll try to answer a few of your Q.

>finally stated that when my horse and I get back to our "average" 
>shape, I can get a custom saddle -- if I really have to and if I swear 
>that's the last saddle we buy for at least five years. 
okay, how long has this guy been with you? Not very long if he 
believes you about no more saddles for 5 years :) Saddle buying is 
practically a past-time in this sport :(

>amazing, isn't it?  He now wants to know what's wrong with the 
>Wintec where you can change gullets and use the saddle on 
>different horses. 
There's nothing wrong with these saddles if they work for the long 
haul for your horse. Unfortunately you won't know that till you use it 
for the long haul :0. 

I just bought a new one and I hafta say I am VERY impressed with 
the comfort and workmanship on it - at least out of the box - esp. for 
the money. I've only ridden a few times in it so can't comment on its 
longevity or how it fits the horse over the long term but so far for 
$314 (on sale through Dover and free shipping to boot at the time) it 
was money well spent. The idea is very good I think - we'll see how it 
holds up.

>He pointed 
>out that we own ten horses and ten different gullets cost a heck of 
>a lot  less than ten different saddles.  
I think that's how a lot of folks end up with one - some folks stay with 
them forever, some hate them, and some use them as an inbetween 
saddle but not for the long term. Hard to say where it will fit in the 
whole scheme for you.

>1.  Can I use my EZ ride stirrups with the Wintecs?  
yep, just put them on the english leathers like I've done - works like a 
charm

>2.  I liked the dressage saddle better than the All purpose saddle.  
>Is it okay to use the dressage saddle for endurance or is there 
>some drawback that I'm not aware of?
The only thing I can think of is the panel size - dunno if it varies 
from the dressage to the AP or not. Other than that, I can't imagine 
the difference between the two would be very much. Let me say 
again **it's okay to use whatever works** whether that's a wintec 
dressage or a 'spensive custom saddle - you'll just have to use it to 
see if it works - pretty earth shattering advice <NOT> but that's 
about the jist of it.

>3.  If the dressage saddle is okay for endurance, where do you 
>hook stuff when using a dressage saddle for endurance?  There 
>were only two d-rings on the saddle for the breast collar
Oh that's easy - the sport packs for the front of the saddle hold all 
kinds of stuff. I think Lovell of Mack makes wither bags as well that 
work great though I've not tried them. I wouldn't spend the money 
<again> on _any_ cantle bags for a english saddle. been there, 
done that....twice, they all bounce <please don't email me that I'm an 
idiot and I should try a certain english cantle pack cuz I'm not gonna 
:)> You can also put stuff on you in the form of  a waist pack or vest 
withy pockets like Australian Connection carries. You can also load 
stuff on a camelbak....

>5.  Can I use my regular breast collar with an English style saddle, 
>or do I need to buy a new one of those as well as new girths?
Depends on what you call a regular breast collar.....To me a regular 
one (I grew up riding english) is one that attaches to dee rings on 
the pommel. If you are talking about a more traditional western one 
that attaches lower sort of across the shoulders then yes you'll need 
to get a new one - tho you may not need it with this saddle, dunno.

>I have looked into custom saddles by Anne George and Desoto 
>saddles, so any comparisons to those two saddles vs. the Wintecs 
>would be helpful.  
That's kind of like comparing apples/oranges both from $$ 
perspective and a use perspective I think. My Wintec is great for 
what it is - an inexpensive, decent fitting saddle for an in-etween 
since my SS causes me great knee pain but I sold my DeSoto (to 
use the SS instead of course)  before I figured that 
out....WWWAAAHHHHHH.......I *loved* my DeSoto and wouldn't 
hesitate to get another if I wanted an endurance/western saddle. 
Marilyn makes *the* nicest endurance saddle around - her saddles 
compete head-on with saddles twice the price (literally) in my 
opinion in terms of workmanship (and I have no affiliation with her 
except that I love her saddles) but I think I'm going back to my 
english riding roots so I'm leaning towards a stubben or a reactor 
pannel for when my pile of pennies is big enough.

I'm hoping that my wintec will just kind of...work...and I won't have to 
use my pile of pennies for another saddle but I know there's no 
chance of that happening :)

Hope this has helped some.

Tina