South Eastern Livestock

wintec vs. ovation? saddles?

I”m looking for an english saddle more like for jumping for casual AND shows. I’ve heard Wintec are not as good, but just wondering, in comparison. Wintec or ovation?

First off, I want to say to Author/Actor:
That stuff about a Western saddle being way more comfortable for horse and rider is horseshit. A Western saddle is EXTREMELY heavy, and does NO good for the horse’s back, in addition to taking SO much more energy from the horse. That’s reason #1 why I don’t ride Western. The second is that with so much leather and blankets ++ you get next to no contact with the horse, you’re just sitting in a huge contraption on top of it. Then you have the huge immovable stirrups, the shape of the saddle that just makes you “sit there” instead of really ride. No thanks. I’ve ridden Western for four days straight in the Rockies and sure it’s a bit comfortable on long trails, but you lose all contact with the horse, it tears on the endurance and I wouldn’t convert to Western in a hundred years.

OK, with that rant over and done with, let’s see….

I wouldn’t recommend Wintec. Synthetic saddles are usually cheaper than leather ones and have the great advantage that they’re really light, but I don’t like the general quality (not that resistant to wear at all) nor the look. I’ve had several synthetic and leather saddles, and end up liking leather the most, despite the weight. But if you’re going to get a synthetic saddle anyway, Wintec is one of the better brands! Synthetic saddles are also usually more facilitating towards rebuilding it for what type of riding you’re doing at the moment (Velcro etc). You want to see cheap, low-quality synthetic saddles? Go to Maxam =)

I don’t know who it was who said that cheap leather saddles have a tendency for the dye to rub off where the stirrup leathers go? That’s SO true. The horse I take care of at the moment has a really cheap leather saddle that fits really well and looks beautiful, ( http://www.hooks.no/product.aspx?productid=320614&deptid=26&sortType=sortPopularitet&sortOrder=DESC the brown one) but the dye is seriously rubbing off from the stirrup leathers and it’s annoying. Not going to look good in shows. =)

I know nothing about Ovation, but people do seem badly dispositioned towards them here.

I would recommend Thorowgood, Griffin series (high-quality synthetic) or even Stübben, if price isn’t an issue. Stübben is very expensive but REALLY high quality.

Here:

http://www.hooks.no/product.aspx?productid=320663&deptid=26&sortType=sortPopularitet&sortOrder=DESC

http://www.hooks.no/product.aspx?productid=320366&deptid=26&sortType=sortPopularitet&sortOrder=DESC

Going there, we just transferred from $200 for the previous saddle I linked you to, to $2,260 for a Stübben. But Stübben saddles are worth it ALL the way.

Wintec 2000 All Purpose 17 inches Saddle $0.99

WINTEC Saddle Cleaner Spray 500ml $9.99

Wintec Saddle Cleaner $11.99

WIDE Wintec/Bates/Collegiate Easy Change Gullet for Dressage-A.P-Jumping Saddle $12.95

28″ WINTEC ENGLISH SADDLE STIRRUP LEATHERS WEBBERS COLOR BROWN $14.99

28″ WINTEC ELASTIC BLACK NEOPRENE ENGLISH SADDLE GIRTH MINT $14.99

Wintec Gullet Gauge – Checks Your Horse’s Tree Size for Fitting Any Saddle – $15.05

NEW Easy Change Gullet for Bates/Wintec Saddles $25.95

Wintec Comfort Pad English Saddle Pad NEW $28.95

Equestrian Wintec Standard Saddle Comfort Pad White $32.82

WINTEC Comfort Saddle Pad with Back Lift $34.50

Wintec Comfort Saddle Pad with Front Lift English NEW $34.95

WINTEC Comfort Saddle Pad with Front Lift – White $41.95

Wintec Sport All Purpose Saddle $49.00

Wintec Saddle Carrying/ Storage Bag/ Case, Blue $59.95

Wintec Youth Fenders – Black – Fits 12 Saddle $60.95

Wintec Synthetic Youth Kid’s Children’s Pony English All Purpose Starter Saddle $61.00

Wintec Youth Fenders – Black – Fits 13 Saddle $65.15

Bates WINTEC Pro 17.5″ Dressage Saddle w/ New ENGLAND Leathers – Black Monoflap $75.00

Wintec Close Contact 17.5 Inch English Riding Saddle with pads; Used (ad502) $99.99

Wintec All Purpose Saddle 16″ $100.00

WINTEC SADDLE Western 16 inches $100.00

17″ WINTEC SPORT SADDLE- Close Contact $150.00

17.5″ 44 cm Wintec Dressage 500 Saddle Black Synthetic Used Horse English Tack $165.00

KIDS WESTERN WINTEC SADDLE $180.00

WINTEC KIDS SADDLE All Purpose BLACK Package $189.00

Wintec 500 All Purpose Saddle 18 inches $200.00

Wintec Kids Saddle – Black – Adjustable $202.95

Wintec Western Pleasure Saddle $205.00

Wintec 250 All Purpose 18″ Saddle, Wide, black with 54″ black stirrup leathers $215.00

Wintec Kids Leadline Saddle Package $220.00

Wintec Youth All Rounder Western Saddle 13″ Seat NEW $224.00

Wintec all purpose saddle 17 inches, includes girth, webbers, stirrups $225.00

Wintec 500 All Purpose 17.5 inches Saddle $225.00

Wintec Kids Leadline Saddle Package 11″ Saddle NEW $230.00

Wintec 250 All Purpose 16.5 inches Saddle $250.00

Wintec 2000 All Purpose 16.5 inches Saddle $250.00

Wintec all purpose saddle 16.5 seat, wide tree $250.00

Wintec 500 Pony Dressage Saddle 16″ with Cair $250.00

Synthetic English AP-Jump saddle, Changable gullet, black, 16″, Wintec or Ulster $250.00

Wintec Synthetic Youth Western Saddle – Brown – 12 $271.95

Wintec Synthetic Youth Western Saddle – Brown – 13 $271.95

Wintec Synthetic Youth Western Saddle – Black – 12 $271.95

Wintec Synthetic Youth Western Saddle – Black – 13 $271.95

WINTEC SYNTHETIC ENGLISH ALL PURPOSE SADDLE BLACK 16 HORSE gullet systemSTIRRUPS $275.00

Wintec Youth Synthetic Saddle – Black – 13 $275.45

Wintec Youth Synthetic Saddle – Black – 12 $275.45

Wintec Western All Rounder Saddle semi bars NEW $285.00

Wintec Western All Rounder Saddle semi bars NEW $285.00

Wintec Western All Rounder Saddle semi bars NEW $285.00

Wintec Bridle $52.50 Synthetic bridle with padded nose and brow band….

Easy-Change Gullet System – Complete Kit $99.95 The Easy-Change Gullet System provides the flexibility of changing the fit of a saddle to suit a horse’s changing shape. This means you don’t need to buy a saddle for every horse you own and you don’t need to buy a new saddle for a new horse. You can easily determine the correct gullet width for your horse with an Easy-Measure Gullet Gauge. There are six gullet sizes available. YELLOW for Narrow, …

Wintec Elastic Dressage Black 24 Inch $44.95 Ideal for Wintec saddles. No-rust stainless steel roller buckles. No-stitch soft rolled edges. Wide 2″ elastic stretch throughout….