Wintec
500 AP
All Purpose Saddles
Manufacturer: Wintec
Model: 500 AP
Category: All Purpose Saddles
Purchase: I bought this saddle from www.adamshorsesupplies.com and paid $360 for it. The shipping was free, and the price included an Easy Change Gullet System.
Likes: One word: durability. I bought a Wintec because I needed a saddle that would stand up to every day use- and that was exactly what I got! I ride several different horses on several different farms, so my Wintec has been tossed into the back of numerous pickup trucks, balanced over fences, tossed in a heap on the ground... Nothing seems to damage this saddle! And it is SO easy to clean; my first experience with it was at a show in pouring rain. That day, it got soaked several times, had me and a friend drag our muddy boots across it, and was sweated on by it's equine user. And somehow a wipedown with a damp rag between classes kept the saddle looking amazing! The girth straps on this saddle are great as well- they are not the nylon ones that you find on regular syntehtic saddles (You know, the ones that get frayed and stretched and evetually break?) They are a special coating OVER nylon and do they ever hold up well! With almost a year of heavy use and a bit of abuse, my Wintec is still going strong and looks great. It's extremely versatile- with the cantle of a dressage saddle and a bit of jumping saddle influence in the slightly forward flap. This saddle puts the rider into a great position- not tipped forward or tipped back. It's a comfortable saddle for horses as well- the panels are uniquely shaped to distribute pressure evenly over a large area. When I first rode my pony in the Wintec 500 AP, I noticed an immediate change when cantering him- his movement was much freer and there was a definite increase in bucking! THe easy change gullet system allows me to custom fit my Wintec to any horse (it was IDEAL for me when I rode lesson horses for a while). Overall, it's a very durable, versatile saddle!
Dislikes: The seat on the Wintec 500 AP is a bit harder than I like. After a long, all-day trail ride I'd feel the seat of the saddle bruising my seat bones with every stride of the horse. For schooling and short (2 -3 hour) trail rides it's fine however. It does get scraped up a little bit easier than I'd like, but then again as I said in the previous paragraph it has held up beautifully considering the things I have done to it!
Quality: WONDERFUL quality- built like a leather saddle on a tree that is guaranteed for life. British-made, with georgous tight stitching and nicely stuffed panels.
Summary: A great value for your money- perfect for any rider who wants a durable, everyday saddle!
Rating: 5
Author: Rebecca-Midnight
Date: 2004-10-08
Usefulness Rating: 4.65806 out of 5.
155 reader(s) voted.
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