[chinookmontana]

so i need a saddle for my 3yr old but i dont want to pay for a slightley expensive saddle that will only fit him for a few months.

so i thought id get a wintec with a changeble gullet to use until his back is done changeing, and they are quite cheap.

does anybody like them?

[Silverwings]

LOVE Mine! It's super easy to care for, really cumfy to ride in and is just LOVE!

Even though I have to get a new one cause it doesn't fit my horse.

[shyxpony]

I also have a wintec and I LOVE it. Very easy to care for and SUPER comfortable.

[chinookmontana]

cool. iv never owned or ridden in one so i was like hmmm.lol

[Dawn]

I love them. I only wish that I had a projump and a dressage pro instead of two ap.

I've got a 500 16.5" and a 2000 17" for sale right now if you're interested in buying slightly used. (The first one has less than a handful of rides on it and the second has not much more than that.)

You do have to realize though that they will not fit every horse. But if the tree itself fits the horse, the gullets help a lot with changing muscle.

[chinookmontana]

I would be interested but we live pretty far apart. (im in Alberta)

so i would rather find one closer to where i live. thanks though.

[Dawn]

Well that would be quite a bit of shipping wouldn't it.

[DiamondRio]

I am personally not a fan of wintecs or any other saddle that has a changeable gullet system (or cair for that matter). Though it may seem convenient and that they will fit a lot of different horses but in reality they arent great quality.
I was in the tack shop the other day talking to them about saddles because i am shopping for one now and asked about the bates since they have the changeable gullet system and they said that it really isnt worth it because you cant always get the perfect fit (like with any saddle unless its a custom). It would be better to just buy a higher end saddle (not made of argentine leather) and use a half pad or shim with the saddle to help the fit.

Are you sure that your 3 year old will change so drastically that it may need a bigger tree size in the future?

I ride a whole bunch of horses because i work at a boarding school that has around 40 horses and unless im riding my personal horse or a horse that my saddle fits perfect on i almost always use a half pad to help the fit.

i dont mean to rain on your parade but if you really want a wintec then get one! Just letting you know my opinion .
I had a wintec as my first saddle and it was a great saddle when i was little but now that i am showing regularly and flipping a lot of horses i need a nicer saddle.

[chinookmontana]

well i dont really want to spend alot of money on a saddle for him, i just bought one for my other horse.(im 15 and pay boared vet and ferrier for both horses so i am a penny pincher!)

i had one that fit him perfectly ...but about 2 months later i was riding and he spooked(my girth was tight i did it up right before he spooked)and my saddle slipped off almost underneith him.

So id prefere to spend the least amount i can and have it the longest i can.

thank you for the input though(still on the fence cuz i like leather!:P)

[DiamondRio]

Did the saddle slip because it was too wide for him? I cant think of any other reason the saddle would have slipped like that. Is he a wide withered horse?

I understand that you dont want to spend a lot on a saddle because he may grow out of it but in my experience it is better to save your money and wait until you can get a really nice saddle that will fit your horse and will last a while.