Stirrup leathers keep stretching?!

[spotty_pony]

I seem to keep stretching stirrup leathers - not any particular make, and not just one pair either!! I do ride with quite a lot of weight down through my lower leg and most of the time in what I call my 'safety position' but seem to be stretching leathers!

Has this happened to anyone else or just me?

 

[FfionWinnie]

Have you tried non stretch ones. I am really happy with my investment in some bates non stretch.

 

[spotty_pony]

Think I might have to as could prove expensive otherwise!! Are the Bates ones still leather? Have stretched my friend's stirrup leathers too - she's had them for three years and they haven't stretched before so must be me - oops!

 

[tallyho!]

Get ones with the webbing inners. Why aren't you sitting on your bottom?

 

[spotty_pony]

Get ones with the webbing inners. Why aren't you sitting on your bottom?

I am, but also carry a good proportion of my weight down through my legs and through the stirrups. Having ridden quite a few sharp and spooky horses and ponies I have found this is the best position to keep me secure.

 

[Ellen Durow]

I seem to keep stretching stirrup leathers - not any particular make, and not just one pair either!! I do ride with quite a lot of weight down through my lower leg and most of the time in what I call my 'safety position' but seem to be stretching leathers!

Has this happened to anyone else or just me?

It's a fault common to cheaper stirrup leathers from India and Pakistan, etc., due to the way the leather is prepared. If you can't afford "English" leather ones (which may be made in other countries but really refers to the type of tanning process) there are leather ones backed with webbing and synthetic ones either of which might be worth looking at.

The usual advice given to prevent uneven stretch in stirrup leathers is to swop them over from side to side regularly.

 

[mandwhy]

I used to do the same on a jumpy TB, weight shoved down into my heels for damage limitation during any silly moments! Just get the ones that have a nylon/synthetic core, but leather on the outside.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Buffalo hide or rawhide I think is the strongest leather for minimal stretch. I think a lot of what is sold as English leather these days is very poor quality, so its not enough to buy something labelled English leather, you need the strongest if you're putting a lot of pressure on them.

 

[Caraphernelia]

I have some shires non stretch ones with a webbing core that are great and are very reasonably priced:

http://www.shiresequestrian.co.uk/shop/product.php?productid=16320&cat=709&page=1

I also have some prestige ones that are lovely, the leather is absolutely beautiful. I highly recomend these but they are not as reasonably priced as the shires ones

 

[Tnavas]

They do that! Do you get on from the ground?

If you do then after each ride swap your leathers over so that they stretch equally.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Think I might have to as could prove expensive otherwise!! Are the Bates ones still leather? Have stretched my friend's stirrup leathers too - she's had them for three years and they haven't stretched before so must be me - oops!

Yes they are two bits of calfskin stitched together with a nylon core.

I still swap them around now and again when I remember.