Conference noted::equitation

    I have a general purpose Wintec for sale (17.5").  Used once, will sell
    fully mounted for $200.
    
    Larry

    I just bought two synthetic saddles made by Thorowgood - a short
    billeted dressage and an combination (event).  I love them - almost
    more than my Passier.  They were about $225 each (less girth/stirrups)
    and have a 6 year guarantee.  They also seem to be a bit higher
    quality than the Wintec's I've seen.
    
    -maureen
    

    Maureen,
    where can you get a thorowgood saddle?
    
    Sharon

I was wondering if any of you have ridden or own a Wintec saddle.  I am
thinking about purchasing one and I would like to here what you have to
say about them.

	o comfort vs. a leather saddle, is there a difference.
	o is it as easy to clean as they say
	o do they hold up to wear and tear like a leather saddle

Thanks,

Louisa

    I have ridden in them and dont like them.
    the tree doesnt feel solid, well maybe i shouldnt say that maybe it
    feels like you get really get no grip on them, you kinda just sit on 
    top of it. I just my seat and upper thighs when riding and find and 
    cant get a good grip than my saddle , then again I have a custom
    saddle so that might make a difference. Also I have notice that the
    saddle (cinch ) is too far up so if you put the saddle up high on the
    withers, after 30 mn of ridden the saddle is past the heart girth on
    the horse, thus puts you further back on the horse.
    
    the owner of the saddle loves it, so there two different opinions.
    he likes it because is easy to clean.. you can just wash it. rain 
    doesnt hurt it either he said.. then again I have had my saddle soaked
    with water as well more than once and had no problems.. 
    depends why you think you would like it. I though at one time it
    would be good for competeion barrel racing but after riding in one , I 
    think i would depend on a race barrel racing saddle with a nice high
    cantle.
    
    		wendy o'
    

    I own a Wintec dressage saddle that I use for winter riding(Seattle's
    winters are pretty rainy). They are impervious to the weather.
    
    Unlike the previous reply, I think they are very secure. The textured
    seat means you don't slip around even when it gets wet. Of course,
    dressage riders keep their lower leg on a horse with a relaxed upper
    thigh. So, riding style is part of this difference of opinion as gripping
    with the upper thighs actually weakens your seat.
    
    I haven't had any problems with mine. It stays put and doesn't move at
    all. It's a different shape than my regular saddle(County Competitor)
    so I can't use the same saddle pads. What I actually use under the
    wintec is a folded cotton "mattress pad" (6 rides per washing!) that I
    got a local tack shop. It doesn't shift under the saddle even though it
    has no straps or ties of any kind attaching it to the saddle. Wish I
    could say the same for my County! Pads sometimes slip under it.
    
    You do have to buy special stirrup leathers and girth as leather
    conditioners are supposed to damage the WIntec materials. I suppose you
    could use leather fittings and never oil them but... And, you can
    only use short girths with them(at least the dressage saddle. I don't
    know about the other styles.)
    
    About the only thing I actually dislike about mine is that the textured
    seat chafes more than leather does. This is unpleasant but you do
    toughen up after riding in it a bit and then you don't hurt as much.
    
     I don't know how they would hold up to very heavy use(like riding 3 or 
    more horses a day) but so far I'm happy with it. I got it last fall and 
    I haven't come close to wearing it out. But, I can't ride as frequently 
    in the winter(maybe 3 times a week?) because of the daylight problem up 
    here(we don't have lights installed in the arena yet)
    
    John

  When I was in Florida, I went to a dinner show called "Arabian Nights"
  which features about 100 horses doing just about everything a horse can
  do. After the show we talked with one of the riders. Among other things
  we talked about we noticed that they almost all rode in Wintec saddles.
  She said they have about 50 saddles to care for, so they can't be cleaning 
  leather all the time. The Wintecs they can just hose off after the show
  and leave them to dry overnight. She said that the trees tend to go after 
  about a year, but these saddles are ridden in 4-6 hours a day, every day. 
  The saddles are inexpensive, so when something breaks, they don't try to 
  fix it, they just throw the saddle away.

    I recently bought a Wintec endurance saddle, and absolutely love it. I
    ride 10 - 25 miles at a time, and there's nothing like it for comfort.
    I also like the fact that it's very lightweight and easy to care for. 
    Anyway, I have so far been using regular leather's with it, which I
    want to replace with the nylon leathers also made by Wintec.  What I am
    wondering is if anyone out there has ridden in "Webbers"...the fairly
    new design of leathers that are supposed to reduce bulk under the
    rider's leg.  I hear they are comfortable, but Im concerned about their
    longevity.  Has anyone heard any reports?
    
    - Linda