Measuring Stirrup Leathers

[MoonMountain]

I just purchased a dressage saddle for my lease horse and I to use for schooling and our show later this summer.

It came with dark brown leathers, so I want to get some black ones. I measured these ones, and when they’re adjusted to my leg, they have about 8" excess leather hanging out of the keepers. The total length of the leather is 60".

So would I want to go with a 54" leather? Would that make it so only 2" excess is hanging out of the keepers? That makes sense to me math-wise, but I just wanted to confirm. I’m 5’5", if that means anything.

Also is there any advantage to a 3/4" width vs. 1" width? The brown ones are 3/4, but the ones I’m looking at online are all 1". Not sure what difference that makes?

Thanks in advance – I’ve always ridden in other peoples’ saddles, this is my first time buying things for my own, so I want to make sure I get it right!

<MM

[jonem004]

I think 54" will be adequate for you. Don’t go cheap on leathers. Thinner, low profile, lined so they don’t stretch at the very least. I rode in a pair of cheap leathers a couple of months ago and getting poked in the thigh by the bump from the buckle is NOT worth the price difference of economy leathers. I ride in Bates leather webbers and will vouch for their comfort and durability. I think you would take the 28" in those. I’m 5’6" and I ride in the 28" and I’m less than half way up the holes.
I don’t really have an opinion about the width, but make sure they will fit through your irons.

[no.stirrups]

54" should be perfect for traditional leathers, but consider whether you want T-bars for less bulk under your leg (those are the webbers mentioned by jonem004, though lots of other companies make them under other names). Length will be different for those. If you do go with traditional leathers, Harry Dabbs has some with a curved buckle that sits really nicely under the thigh.

I prefer the thicker width so the pressure is a little more distributed where it runs across my leg.