Dressage stirrup leathers - worth it?

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NikNak1

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I need to replace my stirrup leathers as mine have stretched so v difficult to get even legs!! I've been looking at the dressage t bar ones as we mainly do dressage and was wondering whether they were worth the extra cost? Although we do dressage mostly we also hack quite a lot and do a bit of jumping now and then, I guess there's no reason why these couldn't be used or would I need to get 'normal' ones too? And any recommendations (preferably not too expensive!!)
Any thoughts?? Thanks!
 
I love mine. Was going to get bates ones but thought I'd get some cheapies to try instead and they still look fab and iv had them about 3 years! I can't stand normal ones now and use them on my gp and even when I jump. I think I got wintec ones and was pleasantly suprised and they where half the price of the bates ones.
 
I've always thought I might get some, but I am perplexed as to how you 'run them up' when you've finished riding? anyone?
 
I got some I hate them they feel 'wrong 'can't work out why.
And I hate the way they look in the tack room as well laid over the saddles rather than run up .
 
I love mine. Now when I ride in normal stirrup leathers I find the "tail" annoying and too much bulk under my thigh!
The only annoying thing is u can't run them up so I just cross them over the top of the saddle.
 
I have the Bates dressage webbers on my saddle. They are fine to ride in but I hate not being able to run them up. So fed up getting whacked in the knee cap by dangling stirrups when unsaddling/carrying saddle :/
 
I have them on my wow saddles but don't like them at all! They are really awkward to get on the stirrup bars and you have to get just the right length so that the t bar sits below the flap. On my jump saddle this leaves me with only the bottom 2 holes to use and with the dressage saddle (as my legs are short) its impossible.

I have wow ones and FSS ones (from ebay) and both have a hole at the top so you can run them up.
 
Hmm... seems like marmite you either love them or hate them! I might try and find some inexpensive ones to give them a try, thanks for everyone's advice :-)
 
Yep, one hole for the T-bar right up by the stirrup bar, away from all the other holes. When not in use pop the T-bar in the top hole which gives you a loop of leather and you can run up as normal
 
Please take care using them - always make sure the t-bar is well and truly 'home' in the hole. If they come out when riding they can cause a nasty accident (as I found out!!)

If you don't like the bulk of the buckle at the top have you tried turning your long leathers upside-down so the buckle is at the bottom by the iron - put buckle to front edge of iron, loop the excess back up the leather and secure with either a few elastic bands (cheapskate's option) or a leather guard. Running up stirrups is no problem.
 
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