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[appolonia]

Hey guys! I'm looking for a new cheapish dressage saddle to ride my training horses in. Wintec, or something similar. I ride so many horses every day that I don't know that I care if it has the "easy change" gullet system... I don't think it changes the saddle as much as people give it credit for, it's still not so easy that I want to mess with it

Comments

[belle7067]

I highly recommend the Thorowgood brand for inexpensive, quality synthetics - I HATE Wintecs, but the Thorowgoods are really very nice. I just got a used one for my horse, and I had one of their APs for a draft horse I used to ride.

[appolonia]

Would you mind being specific about what you hate about wintecs and why the Thorowgoods are better? That's what I've ridden and shown in for years, and I've liked it fine, but it was a used saddle I bought from someone on here like 6 years ago for two hundred bucks, and it's just getting worn out, plus it isn't really wide enough for some of my horses and it's a little restrictive to me on the bigger-moving ones.

[belle7067]

If you like Wintecs, that's personal preference - I have always felt that they rode like a cheap saddle. Lots of squeaking, ill-fitting, and unpleasant in general. The Thorowgoods ride like a much more expensive saddle for a lot less money. Their newer models look absolutely awesome and are ridiculously affordable, and they are very well made and durable. I just picked up an older model dressage saddle in the Thoroughbred shape for like $80 on ebay.

[edgeofthewoods]

Seconding this - I've been riding in a Wintec at my lessons and they are simply awful saddles to ride in. I find them to be stiff and bulky. Bearing in mind that I'm not a fan of synthetic saddles in the first place, I have to imagine there has to be something better out there than a Wintec.

[colebaltblue]

I've got a nice Thorowgood I'll sell you cheap. It IS a med tree. It'll fit your TB no problem, and it fit a warmblood just fine that I rode, but he was a bit narrow for a WB. If you're set on the wide tree, no worries.

I've got it listed here on Craigslist: http://eugene.craigslist.org/grd/3356874569.html

I was planning on posting it here with a bunch of other horse stuff/tack I don't want/need any more. If you're interested, feel free to make me an offer.

I am a HUGE fan of Thorowgoods, but I'm downsizing and getting out of the riding business so I'm just using my jumping saddle now. Otherwise I'd totally keep and still use it.

OH sorry. Just saw that you ride in them regularly and are familiar enough with the brand and its build that if you definitely know what you want. Reading comprehension fail.

Leaving this up in case anyone else is interested.

[corellian_ninja]

If you're near a tack shop just go sit in a few different saddles. A friend of mine was convinced she wanted a Thorowgood, but when she sat in one she hated it. She ended up with a Duett, something she hadn't really considered before that.

[trigger_happy01]

Not terribly cheap, but I highly recommend the Duett's... they come in varying widths (all wider than average) and several different types (from flat minimalist, to narrow twist with a deep seat).

[clevortrevor]

I have a Kent & Masters dressage saddle that was not terribly expensive and I'm very happy with it. It is adjustable, but unlike the Wintec, you can get it in different tree shapes to best fit the horse(s) who will be wearing it. It also has a really good panel - supportive, soft, and forgiving, so it is more likely to fit a wider variety of horses. From my understanding, the Thorowgood, K&M, and Fairfax saddles are owned by the same company, but made by different groups, and the quality does vary.