Stirrup Leathers

What types of stirrup leathers are there?

• Plastic stirrup leathers
• Leather stirrup leathers
• Classic stirrup leathers
• Short stirrup leathers, also called mono stirrup leathers

Stirrup leathers are an essential part of riding equipment. Without them you cannot attach stirrups to your saddle. Stirrup leathers are available in leather, imitation leather, plastic or nylon, ideally in the same colour as your saddle. Classic stirrup leathers are threaded through the stirrup slot and the stirrup bar on the saddle and then fastened by means of a buckle in the respective hole of the desired length. Finally, the buckle is pulled up under the saddle flap to the stirrup bar. The protruding end of the strap is ideally tucked into a loop provided for this purpose on the saddle flap so that it does not interfere with movement.
Stirrup leathers with loops, also called mono stirrups or short stirrup leathers, are particularly popular with Icelandic riders and horse trekking. These have a sewn loop that is hooked into the stirrup bar. The buckle is located on the stirrup. The advantage of mono stirrups is that they are less bulky around the thigh and therefore help to provide a comfortable fit. They are especially used on saddles with only one saddle flap. To prevent the strap from warping, they are usually backed with tear-resistant nylon.

What length & width should the stirrup leathers have?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the correct length and width of a stirrup leathers. A typical way to determine the correct length is to hold the stirrup away from the saddle and under the armpit. The arm length determines the appropriate stirrup strap length. However, you should readjust this length while sitting on the horse. The stirrup length should be chosen so that the perpendicular of ear, shoulder, hip and heel is reached. If the stirrups leathers are too long, the rider will end in a fork seat and tilt forward. If the stirrups are too short, the rider will end in a chair seat with the legs bent forward. With both types of incorrect stirrup leather lengths, the rider's joints can no longer swing correctly or influence the horse.
Stirrup leathers are available between 48'' and 68''. For a normal sized rider 52'' to 58'' is sufficient for a jumping saddle. For a dressage seat with longer legs, stirrup leathers of 60'' to 66'' are recommended. Riders taller than 5 ft 9 should choose stirrup leathers of 68''.
The width of the stirrup leathers depends on the weight of the rider and the discipline being ridden. You can buy stirrup leathers with a width between 1-2 inches. The most common width is 1 inch, which you can also find in our online shop.

Can all stirrup leathers be combined with all stirrups and saddles?

Classic stirrup leathers can generally be used on all English saddles, whether dressage, jumping or general purpose saddles. The saddles are similar in construction with regard to the stirrup bar on the saddle tree and the double saddle flap, which is why the stirrup leathers are buckled in the same way.
The situation is different for saddles with a mono saddle flap, as is the case with trekking saddles, Icelandic saddles or Spanish designs. In some of these styles, the stirrup leathers are buckled above the saddle flap. The buckle of classic stirrup leathers could scratch the leather and pinch the rider's leg. To avoid scratch marks on the saddle leather, stirrup leathers with loops are used. Their buckle, which lies on the stirrup, is covered by a small leather slider.
You have to try out whether a stirrup leather fits the respective saddle design. However, every stirrup fits every stirrup leathers. You are free to choose which stirrup you feel safest with.

Which stirrup leathers are suitable for children?

As children have relatively short legs, the stirrup leathers should also be short. To avoid annoying clapping of the protruding strap end, stirrup leathers between 48'' and 52'' are recommended.

How are short stirrup leathers fastened?

Short stirrup leathers, also called mono stirrup leathers, are particularly easy to buckle. They have a sewn loop at the top that is hooked into the stirrup bar. Some styles have a classic buckle with a spike, which is located on the stirrup. The protruding end of the strap then sticks up and is prevented from folding down by means of a slider. Other short stirrup leathers are buckled with the help of T-bars. This eliminates the need for a buckle.