Wide Leathers

[SpotsandBays]

I see lots of people rave about the Pravins wide stirrup leathers, and that they offer more stability. I’m a sucker for being “influenced” when it comes to horsey products ?
Has anybody tried them? I spy that there’s a couple of other brands that do wide leathers too (that are abit cheaper than the pravins ones).
FSS
Lemieux Vector Pros
Eco Rider freedom balance
Anybody tried any of these and can vouch for the quality etc?
Did you see/feel a positive difference with them?

 

[Cloball]

Can't help but I am watching, anything to help my wobbly ankles

 

[SpotsandBays]

Can't help but I am watching, anything to help my wobbly ankles

We leg wobble together!

 

[Cloball]

Finally in the market for my very own stirrups and leathers rather than just using what I'm given and the choice is overwhelming ?

 

[Skib]

I did ankle exercises off the NHS web site to cure my wobbly ankles when I returned to riding after lockdown. Has worked well.

 

[sbloom]

I would suggest finding out why the ankles are dodgy, and strengthen or change movement patterns, have a look at Rider Reboot on FB, off horse work is usually needed as the best solution for these sort of issues.

The wider leathers can help a little, as can the right stirrups for sure, but it's often that another set of joints, or part of the body, isn't performing as it should - https://www.facebook.com/stephbloom...NzA9PKXErAh9wzXwjTZQNbTVY9S9WmJnVTUQm5NeA7cnl.

The saddle also plays a big part - if the thighs and knees are pushed away too far from the horse then the ankles often take up the strain but also it can be down to the shape of the ribcage not suiting how your leg hangs, how is your overall position in halt and walk, how do your legs sit against the horse's sides? In this instance changing stirrup length can help, but may not suit your riding overall. Otherwise working with a ridden biomechanics coach and a good saddle fitter who understands rider fit would help.

 

[Dexter]

I find them really useful. Not life changing brilliant, but with the right stirrups they have made a huge difference to my comfort and made my legs completely stable

 

[Dontforgetaboutme]

I have evoequine ones which I rate. Only issue is if you want to ride without stirrups they are a bit bulky to cross over.

 

[Cloball]

I'm a biomechanical nightmare I have hypermobility and neuromas in my feet. I do bouldering and Pilates which help with my stability and proprioception but the wobble is always there.

Would it be ok at some point to PM you @sbloom to ask for saddler recommendations in my area.

 

[SpotsandBays]

I would suggest finding out why the ankles are dodgy, and strengthen or change movement patterns, have a look at Rider Reboot on FB, off horse work is usually needed as the best solution for these sort of issues.

The wider leathers can help a little, as can the right stirrups for sure, but it's often that another set of joints, or part of the body, isn't performing as it should - https://www.facebook.com/stephbloom...NzA9PKXErAh9wzXwjTZQNbTVY9S9WmJnVTUQm5NeA7cnl.

The saddle also plays a big part - if the thighs and knees are pushed away too far from the horse then the ankles often take up the strain but also it can be down to the shape of the ribcage not suiting how your leg hangs, how is your overall position in halt and walk, how do your legs sit against the horse's sides? In this instance changing stirrup length can help, but may not suit your riding overall. Otherwise working with a ridden biomechanics coach and a good saddle fitter who understands rider fit would help.

Thanks for this!
My ankles are ok, my lower leg just isn’t as stable as I’d like it to be. This is mostly likely to be because I’m not riding fit! And I definitely need to work on my posture/fitness in general too for sure.
Just abit intrigued as I see a lot of people banging on about how good they are.

 

[SpotsandBays]

I find them really useful. Not life changing brilliant, but with the right stirrups they have made a huge difference to my comfort and made my legs completely stable

Thanks! I changed my stirrups last year and that definitely helped ?

 

[SpotsandBays]

I have evoequine ones which I rate. Only issue is if you want to ride without stirrups they are a bit bulky to cross over.

Fab, they’re one of the cheaper ones too!

 

[Landcruiser]

I bought these to take on a riding holiday where I knew the saddles would be english and I'm used to a western saddle with fenders, not stirrup leathers. I've always found english leathers pinchy. These worked really well, and are good quality.
https://www.shadowhorse.co.uk/products/tsf-stability-wide-stirrup-leathers

 

[sbloom]

Thanks for this!
My ankles are ok, my lower leg just isn’t as stable as I’d like it to be. This is mostly likely to be because I’m not riding fit! And I definitely need to work on my posture/fitness in general too for sure.
Just abit intrigued as I see a lot of people banging on about how good they are.

Same thing really, sorry, I think my brain picked up on the first comment a bit too much! Rider fit is so much more complex than we realise and unstable legs have many causes. How is your position in the saddle at halt and walk? If your leg wraps round, without flappy knees or lower legs then it may be much more to do with a Rider Reboot type approach, if the don't wrap well then the saddle is playing a part.

Have you tried shortening your stirrups? Does it help? Even if you can't ride that short/long for other reasons, it's more data to help work out what's going on.

 

[SpotsandBays]

Same thing really, sorry, I think my brain picked up on the first comment a bit too much! Rider fit is so much more complex than we realise and unstable legs have many causes. How is your position in the saddle at halt and walk? If your leg wraps round, without flappy knees or lower legs then it may be much more to do with a Rider Reboot type approach, if the don't wrap well then the saddle is playing a part.

Have you tried shortening your stirrups? Does it help? Even if you can't ride that short/long for other reasons, it's more data to help work out what's going on.

Good idea, I’ll have a play around with my stirrups. I’m just about to order some different shaped knee blocks as I think the ones I have currently aren’t doing me any favours. I’ve got quite a long thigh! Currently I just use the standard GP blocks but I’m thinking of trying some jump shape and having them places higher up to allow for some more knee room for me too

 

[sbloom]

Good idea, I’ll have a play around with my stirrups. I’m just about to order some different shaped knee blocks as I think the ones I have currently aren’t doing me any favours. I’ve got quite a long thigh! Currently I just use the standard GP blocks but I’m thinking of trying some jump shape and having them places higher up to allow for some more knee room for me too

That may help, for sure if your knee is pushed up off the flap by the block it will destabilise the lower leg.

 

[Vodkagirly]

Finally in the market for my very own stirrups and leathers rather than just using what I'm given and the choice is overwhelming ?

I totally agree. When I finally bought my own tack I drove myself mad with choices

 

[sbloom]

I totally agree. When I finally bought my own tack I drove myself mad with choices

If your legs tend to go forwards then a single thickness leather may help, if you have generally unstable lower legs then these wider ones may help but not if they're unstable because your upper leg is being pushed forwards...if your upper leg tends to drop down and your lower leg go back, then these may help, or any really thick non-stretch normal style leather.

As a fitter I've not paid that much attention to stirrups but since training in rider fit and looking around I like 90 degree slots at the top especially for flatwork, a reasonably wide tread with decent grip (but not cheesegraters), and ideally a safety release. Beyond that it becomes more personal.

 

[mini_b]

Tbf you’ve had comprehensive answers off people who know what they are on about ?

But… I have wobbly ankles and the wider leathers and wide tread stirrups helped with feeling more stable but it’s not a magic cure.
Mine are knackered after a series of breaks and they will never get that lovely springy absorbent feeling back, I recommend doing exercises to strengthen and mobilise your seat correctly and the rest literally drops into place (she says - I can tell when I’ve not done them)

i bought pravins and I really do like them, I can definitely tell a difference when I ride with normal leathers

 

[SpotsandBays]

Tbf you’ve had comprehensive answers off people who know what they are on about ?

But… I have wobbly ankles and the wider leathers and wide tread stirrups helped with feeling more stable but it’s not a magic cure.
Mine are knackered after a series of breaks and they will never get that lovely springy absorbent feeling back, I recommend doing exercises to strengthen and mobilise your seat correctly and the rest literally drops into place (she says - I can tell when I’ve not done them)

i bought pravins and I really do like them, I can definitely tell a difference when I ride with normal leathers

Yeah I’m pretty sure that the majority of my issues are due to my strength (or lack of!!). I’m going to try and dedicate this winter to strengthening up ready for next years shenanigans!

 

[mini_b]

Yeah I’m pretty sure that the majority of my issues are due to my strength (or lack of!!). I’m going to try and dedicate this winter to strengthening up ready for next years shenanigans!

i was so skeptical but honestly, it’s mostly why I have issues. you don’t want to hear it when it’s so easily fixed as well but it’s down to you to motivate yourself ?

I am not riding fit anymore because I only have my own so need to do things out of the saddle to help. I’ve found activate your seat program the most effective for me.

 

[SpotsandBays]

i was so skeptical but honestly, it’s mostly why I have issues. you don’t want to hear it when it’s so easily fixed as well but it’s down to you to motivate yourself ?

I am not riding fit anymore because I only have my own so need to do things out of the saddle to help. I’ve found activate your seat program the most effective for me.

Ahhh i keep looking at the activate your seat programme! How often do you do it?

 

[sbloom]

I like Activate Your Seat, especially for those who are only interested in working on their own in their own time, but Rider Reboot is much wider and the 1 to 1 aspect is highly recommended as we all need something different. He looks at your optical and vestibular systems, proprioception etc so he gets the brain working much better with the body, it's amazing what difference it can make.

Refined Riding is also interesting, she's a natural movement coach.

 

[SpotsandBays]

I like Activate Your Seat, especially for those who are only interested in working on their own in their own time, but Rider Reboot is much wider and the 1 to 1 aspect is highly recommended as we all need something different. He looks at your optical and vestibular systems, proprioception etc so he gets the brain working much better with the body, it's amazing what difference it can make.

Refined Riding is also interesting, she's a natural movement coach.

Thanks! I’ll definitely check these out!

 

[mini_b]

Ahhh i keep looking at the activate your seat programme! How often do you do it?

3/4 times a week for max benefit, I was really sore and creaky to begin with but I try and do a little bit of the more stretchy exercises every day and then do the actual full sessions 3/4x