Stirrup leathers that adjust below - like or dislike?

[Blacktree]

I've been thinking about getting a set of stirrup leathers that adjust above the stirrup - has anyone tried these? What did you think of them? :)

[Pony Fixer]

LOVE. I don't like bulk under my thigh from buckle, leathers, etc. Even those thinner buckles. I like just one layer, thankyouverymuch!

[Eclectic Horseman]

I have them too, and I like them. Mine have a "sleeve" that pulls down over the buckle and any excess leather.

I am short (4' 11.5") and I find them to be neater looking than conventional leathers.

[craz4crtrs]

I've been thinking about getting a set of stirrup leathers that adjust above the stirrup - has anyone tried these? What did you think of them? :)

I had trouble finding the ones that buckle at the bottom. I have a good pair of leathers, so I had Gary Mundy make me a stirrup sleeve. I love them and I really love not having any bulk under my thigh.

Check and see if he could make you bottom buckle leathers, or if you have a good pair of leathers, get the sleeves.

Gary Mundy gleather@rtccom.net

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c277/dmccary/stirrupsleevecovers.jpg

[BaroqueLady]

I got the Kavalkade dressage leathers from Dressage Extensions. They
have a buckle gizmo (not a real 'buckle') near the iron. This leaves the
extra length of the leather to flap about above the 'buckle'. You used to be
able to get 'stirrup leather sleeves' , a leather tube to slide over this area.
Can't seem to find them anywhere.

Pros: love the lack of bulk under my leg and especially love not having the
buckle 'bump' up top.

Cons: the aforementioned flapping leather (I did make a sleeve but not of
leather...works but will wear out quickly I am sure);

It is difficult to adjust the stirrup leathers since these do not have a real
buckle.

Biggest con: I cannot 'run up' my stirrups and end up crossing them over
the saddle. I hate doing this as it tends to mark the saddle. I have taken
to putting a pair of my old sport socks on the stirrup irons to protect the
saddle. It is a pain.:(

What I wished I had purchased: the Bates leather Webbers. ...all the pros
and none of the above cons.

[goeslikestink]

I got the Kavalkade dressage leathers from Dressage Extensions. They
have a buckle gizmo (not a real 'buckle') near the iron. This leaves the
extra length of the leather to flap about above the 'buckle'. You used to be
able to get 'stirrup leather sleeves' , a leather tube to slide over this area.
Can't seem to find them anywhere.

Pros: love the lack of bulk under my leg and especially love not having the
buckle 'bump' up top.

Cons: the aforementioned flapping leather (I did make a sleeve but not of
leather...works but will wear out quickly I am sure);

It is difficult to adjust the stirrup leathers since these do not have a real
buckle.

Biggest con: I cannot 'run up' my stirrups and end up crossing them over
the saddle. I hate doing this as it tends to mark the saddle. I have taken
to putting a pair of my old sport socks on the stirrup irons to protect the
saddle. It is a pain.:(

What I wished I had purchased: the Bates leather Webbers. ...all the pros
and none of the above cons.

they are the biggest con out --- and totally unsafe

[buck22]

I have two pair, one set of FSS from the UK (surprisingly nice for the price) and one lovely pair of prestige ones. Both have sleeves and the buckle T bar gizmo, not a proper buckle. I have not been able to ride either :(

Both I find are too long for me (when I do the "armpit" length test) even when adjusted on the last hole... actually, the FSS ones might *just* be short enough, I have a saddle rigged and ready to go with them. The prestige ones, though sumptuous leather, are calfskin stitched over a nylon core, and because of this the sewn loop at top (which is to hook over the stirrup bars) is too thick to pull through the eye of a normal set of irons... the only irons I can use them with are my icelandic "safety" irons that happen to feature a large offset eye. I could probably mash them down and force them through, but I didn't want to risk marring the leather.

I too have noticed that I cannot "run up" my irons when the saddle is stowed, and this I do not like either. I hate having my irons dangling down off my saddle, and I don't want to risk denting my saddle by crossing them, so they dangle like christmas ornaments and it drives me nuts.

I do recall some people once discussing that is it possible to somehow run up the irons by disconnecting the T bar, sending up the iron, and then wrapping the remainder somewhat traditionally, but I haven't tried. If one has a sleeved set, I'm imagining it would be rather difficult anyhow... I'm not sure, just imagining that.

If you're interested I may have two sets for sale soon :D

[JackSprats Mom]

I have some wintec ones and LOVE them, talk about easy to adjust IN the saddle and no bulk. I'll never go back.

[Kementari]

I had the Wintec ones and HATED them, because the "buckle" dug into my leg, no matter which boots or half chaps I was wearing (even in my winter Mountain Horse boots, which aren't exactly thin!). After enduring not insubstantial bruises on my legs for a month or so in the vain hope that I would get used to them, I gave up and went back to regular leathers.

I would recommend trying someone else's before you buy your own - clearly it's just a fit issue, but trust me when I say you don't want to be the one they DON'T fit!

[Kota]

I ride in the Bates Leather Webbers, and have for years. They're fab! I'm 5'6" and use the 28" (i think), the longer length is way too long for me.

[SillyHorse]

they are the biggest con out --- and totally unsafe
That's quite a statement. Care to elaborate?

[Knothead]

I've ridden in Bates for years and actually just bought a brand new pair of Prestige when VTO was having a clearance sale (that look exactly like the Wintec Webbers, except they are leather--and they have the sleeve).

A) For those that have the Webbers and can't "run them up".....there's a hole to buckle all the way up at the very top of the leather -- this is where you buckle when done riding and then you run up like regular stirrups. I cannot tell you how many people I've showed this to. It's not obvious unless you look for it.

B) What I hate is when an instructor or clinician wants to get on and they say, "Oh, we'll never get these long enough for my leg." Well, they are deceiving to look at (I think) because they are 32" in length because they only need to be half the length of a regular leather (64") because in reality, it is only half a stirrup leather. But, that doesn't mean they are made for children.

[HillaryH]

I've had both the Bates leather webbers & the Wintec synth webbers. I love the comfort and easy of adjusting but I busted through the backing on both in less than a year. They are way too expensive, esp the Bates, to replace that often. And, I'm an eventer and only ride in my dressage saddle maybe 4-5 times a week. I consider that light use for stirrup leathers. Sorry. They are nice under your leg but they DO NOT hold up IMHO.

[Blacktree]

I'm so glad I asked - thank you, everyone, that has shared their experiences (good and bad) so far! :)

I think I'll see if I can borrow a set before I decide, I'm guessing that as a 'vertically challenged' person (5'), that the extra will become a bit of a pain, even with a sleeve. I never thought of that.

[Icecapade]

they are the biggest con out --- and totally unsafe

I'm curious considering its so bold and you usually have quiet excellant logic to back your statements.



I haven't ridden in them but I did all my saddle sitting with them. Loved them, when I changed my mind about my then current leathers I went back but she didn't have my length, so I bought regular ones and at 60 bucks a pop they will last me until I die so no need for new leathers. Oh well. Next new saddle I shall indulge myself.

[Knothead]

I've had both the Bates leather webbers & the Wintec synth webbers. I love the comfort and easy of adjusting but I busted through the backing on both in less than a year. They are way too expensive, esp the Bates, to replace that often. And, I'm an eventer and only ride in my dressage saddle maybe 4-5 times a week. I consider that light use for stirrup leathers. Sorry. They are nice under your leg but they DO NOT hold up IMHO.

Wow - so surprised to hear it. My bates webbers lasted, oh well over 6 years and my webbers longer than that! I do have the Prestige version now which were considerably even more expensive than the Bates. I'm hoping the prove to have the same or more longevity!

[Mendin Fences]

I've ridden in Bates for years and actually just bought a brand new pair of Prestige when VTO was having a clearance sale (that look exactly like the Wintec Webbers, except they are leather--and they have the sleeve).

A) For those that have the Webbers and can't "run them up".....there's a hole to buckle all the way up at the very top of the leather -- this is where you buckle when done riding and then you run up like regular stirrups. I cannot tell you how many people I've showed this to. It's not obvious unless you look for it.

B) What I hate is when an instructor or clinician wants to get on and they say, "Oh, we'll never get these long enough for my leg." Well, they are deceiving to look at (I think) because they are 32" in length because they only need to be half the length of a regular leather (64") because in reality, it is only half a stirrup leather. But, that doesn't mean they are made for children.


I'm 5'4" and I purchased 24" Bates Webbers on TOTD a while back for $20. I was a little worried that they would be too short, but the next size up wasn't available. They fit me perfectly.
I didn't realize you could run them up, thanks for the tip! I usually just cross them over the top of the saddle so I don't have to adjust them. That would however come in useful when I have to travel with my saddle.

[OneFineMess]

I have the stubben ones, reg length was too short for me (and I only have a 32 inch inseam) and the long ones cause the buckle to sit right where it wraps around my shin. I have them adjusted in not the proper way to avoid that. For the price I wish I would have gone with webbers and still had $
left over ha.

[GallantGesture]

I have the Bates webbers and love them. The metal hook is starting to go through the leather on the side facing my leg and I've had them probably only 4 months (but I ride multiple horses a day), but they still work fine and it doesn' bother me. They are MUCH more comfortable than regular stirrup leathers that leave a buckle under my thigh. Actually, my other saddle has the Wintec Pro webbers, which are the same suede-like material as the Isabell. Those have lasted for years, maybe a little stronger material than the Bates leather. They are harder to find though. I'm 5'6" and adjust to the middle of the 28" webbers, plenty of room to go up or down on either side. The next size up (32" I think it is) cannot go short enough for me to ride with stirrups.

[Kit]

"I ride in the Bates Leather Webbers, and have for years."

Me too! They're great and have put all my friends onto them. Mine are well over a year old, maybe two when I think about it and they are holding up well. I have put the leather side next to the saddle so it's leather against leather. I'm 5'1" and it's great not having all that leather between my leg and the saddle.

[Om]

I have the Bates webbers, love the comfort, but the hook has worn through the leather on both of them, and yesterday the stitching started to just come apart as if it were really old.:eek: They are less than a year old.:(

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

I use the Bates leather webbers as well, at first I thought hey were a pain, because they were different. But I truly prefer them now - easy to take on and off, easy to fix, no lump under your thigh.

[Eclectic Horseman]

I have the Ortho-flex stirrup straps with leather removeable buckle covers.

click at http://www.ortho-flex.com/SaddleOptions/SaddleOptions.htm and scroll down.

The stirrup leathers are reinforced on the back with thin nylon webbing that is stitched on to the leather. I have had mine for about 20 years. I have had some of the stitching replaced where it wore out, but otherwise they have really held up.