I’m 5’4 with fairly long legs, and I usually have to cut adult leathers- and punch extra holes. Should I get the 48" childs’ leathers, or would they be too short? 
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Funny Story of the Week:
I was with my 9 year old dtr in Brooklyn with relatives. We stopped at a market and upon seeing the No Loitering sign, dtr said “Wow Mom, even the littering signs here have accents!”
and have been very disappointed. Have had them since about November and the only sign of being broken in (I have tried every trick in the book… )is that they have stretched so much that I have had to punch about 5 extra holes in each side.
I suppose I should say that the plus is that they have stretched quite evenly, so the holes all still line up, but ARGH… they were NOT cheap ($100-ish, as I recall.)
They are bulky under my leg, almost impossible to change to a different hole while mounted, have stretched a ridiculous amount and just generally S*CK. Anyone who wants a pair that will probably LAST forever… call me and you can have these. As thick as they are, one would need a blowtorch to make them fail.
I am giving up and going for the Italia leathers from Bevals…in SHORT adult since that would definitely describe me 
Does anyone know, do they offer those in a half hole version??
Bevals!!!
Bevals makes “short adult” length leathers…I have exactly the same problem as you! I got the short adult length Italia leathers and the length is perfect! 
“Throw your heart over the fence and your horse will follow.”
Thanks for everyone’s advice. Actually, the leathers I am looking at are the narrow lined ones from Paul’s Harness Shop. Under $30, look great, and I’ve heard wonderful things about them (the leathers and the store).
~*~
Funny Story of the Week:
I was with my 9 year old dtr in Brooklyn with relatives. We stopped at a market and upon seeing the No Loitering sign, dtr said “Wow Mom, even the littering signs here have accents!”
Something to keep in mind - know the number of holes you want (my old 54’ were fine, but the new 54’'s only have 1/2 as many holes - gotta get punching).
I will also say call Beval’s! While I am tall (5’8"), I am blessed ( ) with short legs! The beval leathers in the 50" length are the FRIST I’ve ever bought in which I have not had to punch extra holes! And I love having the half hole lengths, too!
They are expensive, but the also do NOT stretch - and last forever!
the problem with getting short leathers is that you can’t let them down enough holes to climb on from the ground!!!
I’m also 5’4" and I use the Beval short adult Italia leathers which fit me perfectly. Before I had these, I used children’s leathers and those worked too.
I’m 5’4 with fairly long legs, and I usually have to cut adult leathers- and punch extra holes. Should I get the 48" childs’ leathers, or would they be too short?
~*~
Funny Story of the Week:
I was with my 9 year old dtr in Brooklyn with relatives. We stopped at a market and upon seeing the No Loitering sign, dtr said “Wow Mom, even the littering signs here have accents!”
A hint for those vertically challenged BB’ers: Do not cut off the ends and punch extra holes – the ends look tacky and so many holes will eventually weaken the leather.
Instead, take them to a saddler or shoe repair place and have the leathers shortened at the buckle end. Costs about $5. (Or just buy shorter leathers… 
)
I’m with ya. I am 5’4" also(after 2 yrs of being 5’3.5")
Adult stirrups(54") are WAY long(I am on the top hole)
I found some 50" ones on ebay, but I haven’t seen them in stores.
Rebecca and Pirateer The Pi, 9 yr old bay tb gelding.
Go Big, or Go Home
Take them to a boot repair or saddlemaker and have them take whatever number of inches off the top by the buckle. If you start punching you will NEVER be even again. I took 4" off an adult pair and finally got to ride in a number like 8 or 9 instead of 3 above the last number on the left and 4 1/2 above on the right. Get my drift.
Ahhh, truly custom leathers, now there ya go.
And by the way who the heck rides in the number 2 or 3 holes???
“The older I get, the better I used to be.”
I am 5’5" with short legs. I got the 54" for my dressage saddle because the childs leathers didn’t reach the keepers. But, on my jumping saddle I got the kids leathers because I ride alot shorter. So, I think it depends on which saddle and how short you ride.
I always thought I was some sort of midget because my first saddle came with leathers and I was always punching holes in them. I was really getting a complex about it. Then I finally bought new leathers and realized that the original ones were extra longs!!! So, I was normal sized!!!
You guys are absolutely brilliant!!! What a great idea to have them shortened!
I’ve used kids leathers in the past too.
Bevals!!!
Bevals makes “short adult” length leather…I have exactly the same problem as you! I got the short adult length Italia leathers and the length is perfect!
“Throw your heart over the fence and your horse will follow.”
Use the 48"s. There’s plenty of room and they will stretch. Personally have switched to the Prestige synthetic leathers. My new Bevals with the holes every half inch lasted 8 months with good care, dumping me in the corner of the ring. That plus 3 other in barn leathers of various brands letting go at the most inconvenient times including a trainer on a high preliminary horse convinced most of us to switch to the unbreakable. These are ugly orangey and come in 54" only. The top where it hooks over the bars has a metal clip thingy, doubt it can be shortened there. They do not stretch. At all. The stitching is reinforced synthetic and there is a layer of plastic under the whole thing. You can feel a little more bulk under your leg with just paddock boots on, I do not notice a difference under tall boots. Guess what? They are about $20 cheaper and should last twice as long,guess the holes kind of ream out.
From Allergy Valley USA
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