Decent stirrups & leathers

[Captain Bridget]

The owner of my new share horse is pretty tall and bought new stirrup leathers not long ago that are massively long, he has to have them on the second to top hole!

But this means that I had to have two twists in them when I rode the other day! I'd be riding twice a week, schooling, hacking and jumping, do you think it would be worth getting my own stirrups and leathers?

It'd be a pain having to change them but it's also a pain having to put twists in!

Also which leathers and stirrups would you suggest? The saddle is brown and I don't want to spend too much, however much I want the Sprenger Bow Balance stirrups!

 

[forestfantasy]

Get some mono leathers - so easy to change, you just slide them on!
I have the stubben mono leathers & stubben stirrup irons (just the normal fillis ones) look nice and smart but not stupid prices!

 

[Captain Bridget]

Hmm they look interesting, would be good to just stick them on. Are they tricky to adjust whilst on the horse?

 

[forestfantasy]

Nope, they are really easy and much more comfy to ride in with no buckle under your leg

 

[Captain Bridget]

Hmm, definitely something to consider. I'm going to ride him again tomorrow so will talk to his owner and his sister and see what they think.

I don't like feeling like a child with twists in my stirrups, I never even had to do it when I was a child!

 

[JFTDWS]

I have gorgeous new albion ones on my dr saddle. I have a pair of jaguar ones which are pretty rubbish and stretched badly, where as my Stubbens (lovely shade of brown too ) and MT's (nylon covered leather so don't stretch but are thick so more difficult to change) have lasted well thus far. I have stubben irons which aren't expensive but I don't suppose it makes much difference unless you want fancy tilted ones or such

 

[Captain Bridget]

I would love to invest in some amazing Albion ones but until I can afford an Albion saddle I don't think I'll do that!

I'll have to see what make of saddle it is and see if I can match it, I don't want chocolate brown stirrups as it's more havana, that wouldn't be a good look. I do love Stubben as a make, one horse I used to ride had a lovely Stubben jumping saddle I think, and I like the name..! Good to know they're a good brand to buy though.

I might try and get a photo of the saddle tomorrow as it's an interesting saddle!

 

[m1stify]

can you just punch a few more holes in the stirrup leathers that are on the saddle already?

 

[Captain Bridget]

can you just punch a few more holes in the stirrup leathers that are on the saddle already?

That'd be the simple answer wouldn't it! Probably be a better idea than spending money on stirrups! But if I had the stirrups I'd feel part way towards owning a saddle!

 

[JFTDWS]

yea my stubben leathers are very close match to this saddle (forgive the fat pony, it's an old photo, and alas the saddle is defo not stubben!) so it really depends on how your saddle would match up - it's the problem I always find with brown tack! Black is much easier to mix and match! I always like stubben stuff though

 

[Captain Bridget]

They do look good don't they. Especially on such a handsome pony.

I wish the saddle were black to make it easier, but I do think brown tack looks lovely for the most part.

 

[JFTDWS]

Thank you, though I think he looks like a ball of lard in that photo But yes, brown tack is divine for showing Fortunately for me, that's my cob's saddle, but it fits the highland nicely, so I have the option of F's black saddles or using the cob's matched up brown tack for showing. If you start acquiring stirrups / irons etc now, you'll have your own tack shop before you know it

 

[Captain Bridget]

That's handy! I have a feeling if I get stirrups I'll end up not riding for ages and them not being worth it so I might go with the simple option of punching some more holes if I can!