English tack and apparel?
Well i am wondering what your opinion about certain saddles like the Wintec saddles? Do you hate or like them and why?
Also what kind of breeches and half chaps would you recommend to an english rider on a budget??
Thanks soo much!!
Yea i have ariat chocolate paddock boots.
Save your money, measure yourself AND your horse and just go get a gently used European made saddle. Think Stubben, Pariani, Kieffer and the lot. OR if you’re looking for close contact, there again, Stubben, Crump or Crosby. You can find them for under $500.00 or less on ebay.
IF you don’t know how to measure yourself for a saddle, you start at the outside of your knee, and then take the tape all the way up to your hip and that’s you’re seat size.
Do not get a wintec saddle. Everyone at my barn hates them. They are big, uncomfortable and noisy. Alot of our beginner riders will use them though but they are real uncomfortable for a hunter jumper. They are also not leather! I have a bevel saddle that i love and they are not that expensive. The Rodrigo Pessoa saddles are nice also but most are over $1,000 so it depends on your budget. However the wintec are very cheap.
I do not use half chaps but they are very nice especially if you ride in short boots. However if you ride in tall boots they are not useful. They help prevent rubbing from your breeches on your saddle. For breeches i would go to a local tack shop or find some online. But at a tack shop they can help make sure that they fit you well. Ariat, tailored sportsman and tuffrider breeches are very nice. The Tailored Sportsman can be alittle more expensive. Check out equusnow.com and look at their rider apparel section
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2′6" hunter jumper rider
Wintec is okay, but since I’ve almost always ridden in a Collegiate, I’m kind of partial to them.
For a rider on a budget, I would go to a local tack shop that has items on consignment (Like Bits and Bridles Saddlery… I think they’ll ship stuff to you if you call and ask).
If you can’t get used stuff, I would go to a tack shop and try stuff on, see what fits you best. Then you can go home and look for the same stuff on Ebay. I really like the Ariat Sport Low-Rise breeches, I’ve gone through 2 pairs already. They also make good half-chaps.
If you still can’t find something cheap on Ebay, I would just get a pair of riding tights and kids’ half-chaps if you’re small enough.
As a last resort, some small tack shops will let you pay for items in installments, so instead of paying full price for them right away, you pay a small amount however often until they’re paid off.
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Okie dokie..
first off i love the wintec saddle… they are fantastic mid priced saddles and the synthetic is just fantastic… and if you get a relativly new one still stylish enough to show in… and the easy change gullet is fantastic… not a big fan of the cair but it serves its purpose…
Breechers… i love stickybums… like these the peter williams… but again dublin do some cheaper priced ones… like these –
http://dublinclothing.com/Aust/range/Jodhpurs/Jodhpur_Intro.asp
and for half chaps… nothing goes past the ariats crown to match with the ariat boots, but if your tight on a budget dublin have some nice ones… here are some links..
http://dublinclothing.com/Aust/range/Footwear/LeatherGaiters.asp
http://www.ariat.com/products_listing.aspx?pcid=12&cid=29&scid=94
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Save your money, measure yourself AND your horse and just go get a gently used European made saddle. Think Stubben, Pariani, Kieffer and the lot. OR if you’re looking for close contact, there again, Stubben, Crump or Crosby. You can find them for under $500.00 or less on ebay.
IF you don’t know how to measure yourself for a saddle, you start at the outside of your knee, and then take the tape all the way up to your hip and that’s you’re seat size.
References :
Over 40 years of training horses, riders and making/repairing saddles and tack.
Saddles: Wintec saddles are synthetic leather. They are cheaper, but some people don’t like the feel of them.
I ride in a saddle i bought from my barn. It used to be a lesson saddle, but i liked the fit.
Almost always it is best to buy a used saddle. No breaking in, and their always cheaper.
On breeches: go to the tack shop, horse supplier store, or whereever breeches are sold in your area. Try some on, a few different pairs, and write down the sizes AND brands, but don’t buy them. When you get home, search ebay, amazon, and other online stores and search the sizes and brands. You can usually find them cheaper online.
Half Chaps: I like them, i think they make jumping a bit easier. Again, find the sizes in the stores and then look on online stores for cheaper prices.
Hope this helps!
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Owning a horse… and this stuff.
i have a wintec. It just kinda sucks. I have ridden in it for a couple years. It is hard to sit in the proper position for me, but i have extremely long legs. The cair system is horrible to. It doesn’t absorb shock because it is air and not wool and most of the horses i rode in the saddle had sore backs. As a result i had to but a very expensive wool pad to absorb the shock that the panels didn’t.
I would reccomend getting the pessoa x-change saddle if you want one with the adjustable gullet. I have not ridden in it but it got good reviews and has wool flocking. I know keiffer makes and adjustable dressage saddle too.
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My wife rides a Wintec and she loves it. It was affordable, and the interchangable gusset system makes it easy to ride any horse we look at.
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I think the Wintecs are good for riders who just ride for pleasure. They’re fairly comfortable & easy to care for.
If you ever plan on showing though, forget it. Synthetic does not belong in the show ring. And they do look rather big.
I’d go with a really nice used saddle, or the new Collegiates aren’t bad & they have the interchangeable gullet like the Wintec.
Breeches – I love my Tailored Sportsmans and Equissentials! Both are expensive, but well made & comfy & stand up to lots of abuse.
Half chaps – go with what fits well. Don’t get the velcro kind, they’re hard to fit properly & will pick up all sorts of gunk in the velcro.
Try going to some local tack sales – you can find awesome stuff cheap – I scored a pair of TS once for $30!
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Myself and my wife both have Wintec synthetics. We are both more than happy.
Neither of us have a problem getting or keeping a good position (as they are both correctly fitted). We use them to show and jump in, and the synthetic finish is great to keep clean.
Neither of our horses have suffered from sore backs from the cair system, but again, both saddles are properly fitted.
You can buy these new with the complete set-up, girth, synthetic leathers, stirrups, and bridle, everything you need to get started.
I’ll admit if I were a millionaire I’d probably use a different saddle, but on my budget I am more than happy!!!
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