Buying my first saddle

Do you know if the Wintec 2000 is currently offered with flocked panels like the Wintec Pro AP? I could have sworn it was, but I can't find anyone selling them currently. I really don't want to mess with CAIR at all.

I've sent a message to one of the few local saddle fitters that I've found (Two Time Tack) to see what they have to say. The upside is that they do have Smith Worthington listed on their website, who do happen to make some suitable saddles that aren't $2000. I also like that SW offer saddles in a seat larger than 18" and some even with extra forward flaps (which I may or may not benefit from).

This is a god point. Captain can be very stoic, he really doesn't show that he is in any kind of pain, ever. For example, when those really awful rub marks occurred a few months ago, Captain didn't do anything to indicate that there was a problem -- he just continued to do everything I asked him to do without complaint!

Must admit I've not come across a non-Cair 2000 and Wintec don't show one on their website. It's still possible to alter a Cair saddle - the extra wool goes over the 'airbags' to force their shape. But it is more difficult a job to do, especially at the rear, than with a flocked saddle.

Seat size depends on your build AND the horse's back length. I doubt you'd need bigger than an 18" (I'm 5'11", 34" leg, medium build, 175lbs and ride in a 17.5" with no problems). For me, the most important thing for your horse is to find a saddle with plenty of panel. This probably sounds weird but the bigger the panel area, the softer the flocking can be to give the required support. (Conversely, the smaller the panel area, the harder you have to pack it).

Hope you find something suitable :)

Unfortunate. As much bad stuff as I've heard about CAIR, I really don't want to even try it.

I'm a little over 6' and weigh about 250lb. Hopefully the saddle fitter I ultimately decide on will bring some demo saddles for me to try. I've never actually ridden in a saddle that really fits. I've also found another saddle fitter (Annette Gavin of Hastilow USA) that I'm very interested in hearing back from -- I've heard some really glowing reviews.

I also came across the Thorowgood T8 GP while browsing the Hastilow USA website which I think might end up being a really good option for Captain and I. I really like the combination sythetic and leather build on the T8. They even offer it in a high wither version which might be ideal for Captain. For some reason I had been thinking that Thorowgood was a house brand of Dover. I was pretty shocked when I found out they were made in the UK.

Thanks for all the help, I'll be sure to update the thread as the process continues.

I doubt very much a HW saddle will suit - they have a narrow tree with deeper back profile - though the dropped panel on Thorowgoods is huge. I'd have thought the Cob tree would be a better fit. That also has a decent panel.

I've met Ian Hastilow. They make really good quality saddles so one of their fitters should at least know how to fit your horse.

Best of luck.

Just going to drop in a comment about Wintec. I have a wintec pro dressage that I just bought used this year. It is probably a few years old. Still has the changable gullet. Mine is flocked. I searched high and low for a flocked one of a good deal. Luckily most think they want CAIR so the flocked is cheaper.

I have heard of a saddler taking out the CAIR completely and replacing the whole underside with flocked. So if you find a good deal and you have found someone to do this I would go ahead and get the CAIR.

Their a/p saddles are much easier to find than dressage was. I looked for months.

Just wanted to update this thread and let everyone know that I did get a saddle.

The saddle fitter echoed what unclearthur said, that there is just no way to get away from using a ton of padding until Captain gains some more topline muscle. She left me with a copy of his with tracings and showed me how to take them myself. I will be using this to track his progress and to determine when it is time for her to come evaluate Captain again. It turns out that the padding I was using was along the right train of thought, it just needs to be modified a bit.

The saddle I ended up with is a 2001 18.5" Hastilow GP Stag w/ dropped panel and suede seat/knee rolls. It's made of Pittards WR100 leather, which feels amazing and is extremely easy to care for. Definitely a saddle several price tiers able what I thought I was going to be able to own.