I ran across these on Ebay as I am in the market for new stirrup leathers. The price seems great, the color matches my saddle (as it appears in the photo) and they are nylon lined. The company is called Berlin Custom Leather and they have 100% positive Ebay feedback.
Is anyone familiar with these leathers? See http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Thoroughbred-Stirrup-Leathers-Amish-Made-TB790-/220729677369?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3364839639
I dunno. Around here, and they appear to be near me, they stick Amish made labels on a whole lot of things that aren’t exactly made by the Amish. Often some parts are Amish made but they don’t assemble the finished product. I assume that either they are not machine stitched or they are yet another partially Amish product or they are machine stitched by more modern sort of kind of Amish relatives.
Thats really not going to effect if these leathers are going to last or stretch. No length given. Seller does have good feedback, appears to be a store but don’t see feedback specific to Amish made tack items.
Take a shot but use a credit card and make sure they can be returned and when. They look unremarkable and pretty much like most stirrup leathers in a picture.
Most of the Amish leather workers in my area use machine stitching. The sewing machines are powered by a generator and these are Amish from very conservative communities. They also work with nylon and other synthetic materials.
I dunno. Around here, and they appear to be near me, they stick Amish made labels on a whole lot of things that aren’t exactly made by the Amish. Often some parts are Amish made but they don’t assemble the finished product. I assume that either they are not machine stitched or they are yet another partially Amish product or they are machine stitched by more modern sort of kind of Amish relatives.
Thats really not going to effect if these leathers are going to last or stretch. No length given. Seller does have good feedback, appears to be a store but don’t see feedback specific to Amish made tack items.
Take a shot but use a credit card and make sure they can be returned and when. They look unremarkable and pretty much like most stirrup leathers in a picture.
BTW Berlin leather operates under several different names and also makes heavy harness and Mule tack, they come up on Google under their various names.
[QUOTE=findeight;7939850]
I dunno. Around here, and they appear to be near me, they stick Amish made labels on a whole lot of things that aren’t exactly made by the Amish. Often some parts are Amish made but they don’t assemble the finished product. I assume that either they are not machine stitched or they are yet another partially Amish product or they are machine stitched by more modern sort of kind of Amish relatives.
Thats really not going to effect if these leathers are going to last or stretch. No length given. Seller does have good feedback, appears to be a store but don’t see feedback specific to Amish made tack items.
Take a shot but use a credit card and make sure they can be returned and when. They look unremarkable and pretty much like most stirrup leathers in a picture.[/QUOTE]
It looks like the length is 55". I suppose the price is right but I am going to stick with one of the brands SmartPak sells, which have plenty of feedback.
[QUOTE=Christa P;7939863]
Most of the Amish leather workers in my area use machine stitching. The sewing machines are powered by a generator and these are Amish from very conservative communities. They also work with nylon and other synthetic materials.[/QUOTE]
Same in my area. Local Amish make AMAZING tack items!
[QUOTE=moving to dc;7939898]
Same in my area. Local Amish make AMAZING tack items![/QUOTE]
Agreed. I go directly to the shops and I get high quality for great prices. I even get fully custom items - if I can explain or show them what I want they will make it.
Just be careful when having them replace billets…years ago my friends horse was having back issues. We narrowed it down to when she rode in her old Prix. So I looked at it. Turned out she had taken it across the river to have it fixed at the Amish saddle shop. Well he put a bolt through the tree to hold on the billets…
Yep that big ol bolt can make a horse pretty sore…
I love my Gary Mundy leathers. Custom everything for $60.
[QUOTE=roseymare;7939987]
Just be careful when having them replace billets…years ago my friends horse was having back issues. We narrowed it down to when she rode in her old Prix. So I looked at it. Turned out she had taken it across the river to have it fixed at the Amish saddle shop. Well he put a bolt through the tree to hold on the billets…
Yep that big ol bolt can make a horse pretty sore…[/QUOTE]
They can be hit or miss - on the same project.
The guy local to me did some work on an old parade saddle - replaced the fleece (beautiful job, resewn in old holes) but darn near destroyed the stirrup leathers.
Agree that all the ones I know use machines for most work. Rule often is they can’t have electricity from the grid - not that they can’t have electricity.
Agreed with Gary Mundy’s. If you’re going for handmade, local, small business, and great quality, he is the one to go to.
Third for Gary! He’s the best.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
