Wintec / Bates
Close Contact w/ CAIR Panels
Close Contact Saddles
Manufacturer: Wintec / Bates
Model: Close Contact w/ CAIR Panels
Category: Close Contact Saddles
Purchase: I bought it slightly used from my Wintec savvy friend, with webbers, Wintec girth and breast collar (from Weaver) for $350.
Likes: The properly balanced and wide seat makes this saddle marvelous to ride in, and in my case gain stability in an english saddle. The synthetic leather looks real, but is a breeze to clean with soap and water. The cair panel and adjustable gullet is also a big plus, as I use it on my show horse who is under going constant training and muscle growth. The seat and panels will never need to be re-stuffed, saving you money in the long run.
Dislikes: The saddle works great on my show horse that has smaller withers and is generally more round in the barrel. But, if I use it on my other horse that has high withers, the saddle has a tendency to slide back. This is partly due to his gigantic withers. A simple breast collar is all that is needed to fix it.
Quality: Solid construction and the quality of the synthetic material is by far the best I have seen. Other synthetic saddles, such as Thorowgood do not have the "real leather" quality as Wintec does. Generally mistaken as the Bates, which is a good thing.
Summary: Very economical saddle and worth the money to buy. Cleaning time is cut in half, you will not need to restuff the panels and you don't have to worry about riding in the rain! I have bought this saddle from my friend who has the Wintec Pro Dressage saddle, and now my Wintec fever has caught on with my barn. Within the past 2 months, there have been 2 new Wintec saddles with Cair (one close contact and the other all purpose). Simply put, they are amazing.
Rating: 5
Author: Lacey
Date: 2007-06-26
Usefulness Rating: 3.2 out of 5.
25 reader(s) voted.
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