Wintec are an Australian saddle manufacturer - the manufacturer of the first synthetic saddle

Saddle

A saddle is a supportive structure for a rider or other load, fastened to an animal's back by a girth. The most common type is the equestrian saddle designed for a horse, but specialized saddles have been created for camels and other creatures...

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The company is a subsidiary of Bates Australia

Bates Australia

Bates Australia is a leading saddle manufacturer originally established in 1934. Bates Saddlery was formed when Mr. George Bates borrowed $100 from his sister, bought a sewing machine and began to make saddles on the veranda of his home in Perth, Western Australia...

, originally established in 1934, and are known for their innovative approach to saddle manufacturing, in particular the synthetic "Wintec". For comfort, these saddles have two innovative features: the CAIR Panel System, and the Easy Change Gullet System.

Gullet System

The EASY CHANGE Gullet System was designed in 1998 to help custom fit a saddle to a horse’s withers

Withers

The withers is the ridge between the shoulder blades of a four-legged animal. In many species it is the tallest point of the body, and in horses and dogs it is the standard place to measure the animal's height .-Horses:The withers in horses are formed by the dorsal spinal processes of roughly the...

and help maintain a good saddle fit . As horses constantly change shape the ability to change gullets allows the saddle to maintain clearance of the wither according to the horse’s shape.

Panel System

The CAIR Panel System, an air filled panel, was developed in 2000 as an alternative to the traditional flocking in saddles . Flocking often becomes compacted, restricting the horses in their movements and often causing damage through pressure points. Air being a fluid medium helps to evenly distribute the rider’s weight across the length of the panel. CAIR offers excellent comfort for the horse as it conforms to the horse's movements and posture

External links

• Bates Australia
• Wintec Website
• EASY CHANGE Gullet System
• CAIR Panel System