Wintec Gullet Help

I'm a new rider and just purchased a used "like-new" Wintec Wide off ebay. It came with the black (medium) gullet and I changed it to the red (wide) gullet. I noticed that the plate into which I screwed the gullet was a bit loose even after the screws were completely tightened, but didn't think anything of it. I rode in it once for a short non-jumping lesson, but my instructor said that I should install an extra-wide gullet to fit my horse better.

When I opened up the saddle again, I found that the plate into which you screw the gullet was completely snapped on the right side (just below the metal plate). After consulting Wintec's website, I believe the part that snapped off is called the flexible tree point.

Any ideas what caused the snapping the plastic? Any chance that the red gullet was improperly installed? The saddle has been stored in a safe place and not subjected to any impact.

Any ideas whether it is repairable? The person I spoke to over the phone at my local tack store wasn't helpful.

Is this a common problem with Wintec saddles?

Any insight is welcome. Thanks!!!

Sounds to me like the seller may have lied and the saddle may not have really been very much like new when you bought it..it sounds like it might have had an accident. It is possible for it to have been in an accident and not have much visible external damage. I'm not exactly sure what you're describing but it sounds to me like you're suggesting the tree is broken? If the tree is broken, I'm pretty sure it's not repairable and you're going to need a new saddle or you could be seriously hurting any horse you ride in it. I'm sorry =(

The only thing I could recommend is contacting ebay/the seller and getting your money back. If it broke after one ride, then that was a misrepresentation of the product (sold as "like new" when it wasn't) and the person you bought it from will have to give you your money back. Also, see if paypal will cover your purchase.

If you paid via paypal put in a complain. If you paid via a credit or debit card its very easy to get your money back, just go to your bank and fill out a form. If the seller dosent offer a refund/return your bank can get the money back from their account electronicly. I've done it before when I purchased an expensive series on dvd that turned out to be bootleg.

It is replaceable hon.

My flexible tree point broke on me, with my older Wintec *It was a Wintec 500 A/P*

The reason why it broke, is beacuse either a too narrow gullet was used on the horses back, and the flexible tree point broke over use because it couldn't flex far enough to accomodate the horses shoulders or - the right gullet was in the saddle to accomodate the horses withers, but was not wide enough to accomodate the horses back, which in turn, again, broke the flexible tree point because it couldn't flex far enough.

That is what happened to mine. I had the correct color gullet in my wintec to accomodate my horses withers, but in turn, it was not accomodating my horses broad back - which at the time, I had no clue about.

My TB is A Symetrical - high narrow withers, very broad backed.

The tree point was doing it's job, it was just pushed beyond it's limits.

I took mine to a Saddle Maker/Fitter's shop, and she replaced it for me at the cost of $10 or $20. It is easily done. Took her a day to get it done for me, and I had my saddle back home the next day.

The gullet was not improperly installed, it is just because the user of the saddle had no idea how to properly fit a saddle on their horses backs *not uncommon*

Oooooh....doesn't sound good!
Like MIEventer said, it sounds fixable. I have a Wintec 500 AP, but it hasn't pulled one of those on me yet!
If it was something that happened when you were riding in it, not when the seller owned it, the seller isn't responsible. But, I don't know a ton, so just do what seems right.
Good luck fixing that!

A saddler who goes by C4 on Ultimatedressage.com said he'd replaced those plastic points with leather ones and that solved the problem.

Those plastic points do not break if the saddle fits the horse it's on and if the plastic points are in the "Pockets" that they are designed to slide into. If you have a Wintec, you hopefully know what pockets I mean. The Flexible plastic points are NOT the problem, people misusing the saddle is the problem.