DownUnder or WinTec

I am in need of a saddle of my own - DD's is NOT comfortable to me and it really doesn't fit Yahzi all that well. I had been holding off on getting a saddle of my own until I had chosen a horse so I could get one that would fit my horse - now I have the horse and need a saddle.
So, right now our situation is such that I am not in a position to spend the kind of money I would like to be spending on a saddle. With that in mind, I have narrowed it down to either a WinTec western or one of the Down Under "Kimberly" saddles.
What would be YOUR preference, of the two? Does anyone here have either? If so, can you provide some feedback on them?

            

Hi,
I can't give you any feedback on the Wintec western, but I have bought from DownUnder and they are terrific people to work with. I called them because I have a gelding that is very difficult to fit for a saddle, and the Aussie stock saddle I already had wasn't right for him. They answered all my questions about all the saddles they offered and helped me pick the right saddle for my gelding. Their customer service is above and beyond anything I received anywhere else in my saddle hunt.

As for riding in my new Kimberly saddle... well the weather has been yucky and I've been down ill, so haven't had a chance to really break it in yet, but there are many people on here that ride in the Kimberlys and can tell you about them. If you go with the Kimberly call DownUnder. I was amazed to learn how much of a difference there really is in the styles of the Kimberly that they sell. Things that will make a big difference in the comfort of your horses and yourself.

My preference would be the Aussie saddle, but that is because I ride Aussie and English. I don't sit my rump in a western unless I have no other choice.

            

my experience with Down under has been the same, I need to conmtact them about the saddle I have now though.
As good as the Wintec english saddles seem to be, you would think they would be embarrassed to put their name on the total junk western saddles that have the name. Seriously they are terrible, cheap, uncomfortable saddles. For synthetic westerns the fabtrons or Abettas are much better.

            

To go with Joe's suggestions for synthetic western saddles, I love Bighorns. Out of the synthetic western saddles I've ridden in (I haven't ridden in all that many, just a Wintec, a Weaver, and a couple of Bighorns) I have definitely preferred the Bighorns. I've heard really good things about Abetta's as well.

I have a Kimberly (the "Synthetic Endurance" specifically, I didn't want an overgirth) from DownUnder and I absolutely adore it. I really can't say enough good things about it.
I have never, in my life, felt as secure as I do in that saddle. I feel crazy secure but then I can also hop Lacey over logs and post her trot without being confined. It's really wonderful. I'm actually finding myself getting over my fear of muddy conditions because the Kimberly holds me in so well that I really don't feel like I might fall (like I do in a western saddle and mud). I've found that it seems to really encourage me to ride better, more actively, and there's nothing about it that makes me ride worse.
I really cannot say enough great things.

Personally, I didn't find the DU people to be all that helpful but I never called, I just tried emailing. They certainly weren't rude or unhelpful, they just weren't excessively helpful.
I bought my saddle without contacting them at all (I just contacted them about saddle fit) and the saddle fits Lacey fine, so calling/emailing isn't entirely, 100%, necessary if you already pretty much know what saddle width and all you need.

            

I advise against the western Wintec. Mine broke on me causing accident (after just couple years of use). My friend's split under him forcing him to walk several miles back home with the horse. I'd much rather look into Abetta, Fabtron or Big Horn (sorry, I don't have experience with DownUnder).

            

            

Thank you for the input. I have to say, I am really surprised (and disappointed) to hear about the Wintec quality issue - we absolutely LOVE DD's english Wintec, bummer that the quality doesn't carry across disciplines. Back to the drawing board.......