Re: RC: Wintec

[Sue Brown <sbrown@wamedes.com>]

Jerald Thiessen said:
>Wintec saddles wear quite well. I have 4 wintec saddles as our family all 
>ride (2 kids a wife and myself). My saddle is showing wear now but it is 9 
>years old and I put roughly 1500 miles a year on it (1500 x 9 = 13500
approx. 
>miles, probably a low estimate). 

I have 5 Wintecs -- bought a used Sport dressage several years ago, then
bought new (over the next couple of years: an outback style, then 2 - 2000s
(17 & 17 1/2), a Pro Dressage, and a small AP.  The Pro was for me and I've
used it several years and LOVE IT!  It's also used by students and it's the
favorite.  I have a perfectly good (in fact, quite good ($1300 new 6 years
ago) leather dressage saddle, a leather County Competitor AP, and a smaller
AP...none of which ever get used!  Besides being slipperier, they're higher
maintenance in our wet climate.  

I teach a lot of beginners...and the Wintecs perfect for that.  No slipping
and sliding -- you forget about the continual feeling of sliding off every
time you go around a corner (think back to when you were first learning to
ride. ;-))  With that fear gone, you can start having fun with learning
your balance.  And they all wear good.  The Pro needs it's billets replaced
soon but that's about it.

I find it a lot more comfortable than the 
>Thorougood saddle. It fits well on my horse and has not sored my horse at 
>all. I a heavy weight and use an all purpose saddle. I tried the outback 
>model but did not like the leg position as it was too far forward and I 
>tended to bang my legs on the poleys when jumping obstacles.

Yes, I found this also so don't use that one myself.  It works good,
however, for first timers out on the trails.  We're not jumping anything at
that point (stepping over at a walk) and should their horse spook, they're
fairly well cemented into the saddle.  Not stuck to the fabric, but held in
by the poleys.  As they gain more confidence and skill, they ride in
something else if they choose.

From what I've gathered from talking to others, a used Wintec Pro is hard
to come by.  They're a nice saddle and people tend to hang on to
them...unless they don't fit their horse (and they can be restuffed.)
There's usually someone in the wings who will buy it.  I know I have no
plans on selling any of mine -- they'll keep getting used until they fall
apart.

Sue


sbrown@wamedes.com
Tyee Farm
Marysville, Wa.


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