Wintec
500 All Purpose
All Purpose Saddles
Manufacturer: Wintec
Model: 500 All Purpose
Category: All Purpose Saddles
Purchase: I bought this saddle through a friend who was upgrading and buying a dressage and jumping saddle (the lucky thing!). It's my first saddle with my first horse; we seem to be going pretty well. I paid $400 for it (2nd hand obviously) and its been about a year I've had it. I find it really comfortable but my instructor has told me the next saddle I buy should be a leather one because apparently they are "so much better to ride in a leather saddle" but I'm going to stick with Wintec for the ease in cleaning.
Likes: It's a great first saddle. No need to worry about cleaning because you can just hose it off and its brand new again! It's really lightweight (added advantage to jumping). I bought it off her with all the extras and I would definitely suggest getting the add-in knee blocks as they are great! It's funny because at my pony club, this is the saddle everyone gets to start off with (good sign if around 15 people have this saddle still) and then buy a dressage saddle (dressage and ap) then sells their ap and buys a jumping saddle.
Dislikes: I only have one horse so I haven't had to change the gullet system yet, but I would recommend to get the saddle fitter out to do the job! Also, the suede on the knee pads have gone all bubbly and quite ruined but I guess after a lot of years if thats the most it can do, its a really great saddle. Also, my saddle fitter told me I need to get my girth straps (billets) repaired as they have worn out a bit. Easily fixed I guess.
Also, my friend has a Wintec Isabel (suede EVERYWHERE) and it is VERY bubbly now so I wouldn't recommend buying the all-equisuede saddles!
Quality: The wintec stirrups and the equileather on my saddle don't squeak (as some people have said that happens) and it's looking pretty brand new even though I'm guessing it would be older than 4 or 5 now. The construction is great and it is a really good first saddle for anyone looking to buy one. I stick to it like glue as well (added bonus!).
Summary: The bottom line is that it's a really good saddle to start off with! I've decided to stick with Wintecs because it's so easy to clean and the price. Also, we're show-jumpers and need all the extra bit of help so having a lighter saddle (on their website it says it weighs around 5kg) really makes a difference. Great saddle. Would definitely recommend it. I love my Wintec!
Rating: 5
Author: Laura
Date: 2007-04-02
Usefulness Rating: 3.2973 out of 5.
37 reader(s) voted.
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