Millbrook Leathers

[Jackie_Cochran]

The widest part is still on the top.

I first bought the recommended length (according to my height, 5’3+") and when I put the leathers at my riding length I had just one hole left for adjustment when my leathers were at a comfortable riding length. The end of the stirrup leather was NOWHERE near the loop on the flap to keep it out of the way and it ended up poking me in the thigh, mildly uncomfortable and quite distracting

The first pair I bought was at the recommended 125mm, recommended on the basis of the chart (I am 5’3+") and recommended when I finally got someone on the phone.

After my initial disappointment I got in touch with Millbrook asking for information about how long the wide part of the stirrup leather was for each length of the stirrup leather. She replied and the 115mm leather’s wide top part was 12" long, the 125mm leather’s top wide part was 13" long. I had already determined that from where the leather crossed my shin bone I needed the wide part to be 2 inches longer.

The solution was easy, the 145mm stirrup leather would end up with the widest part of the leather crossing my shin. Ever since I got the longer leather I LOVE these stirrup leathers!

I ride Forward Seat but I do not jump (I have MS and I just do flat work). If I was jumping, especially over 3’6", I would have had no trouble with the leathers, 3 holes shorter and my lower legs would have been happy.

Another part of my “problem” is that to keep my seat in the right part of the saddle (17"–3 saddles) I have to have my leathers one hole longer than the recommended ankle bone length.

Even though I had to pay full price for two pairs of the Millbrook leathers to get one pair that fit me I STILL think my pair of leathers is worth every penny I spent on them because I am more secure in the saddle. Lately my proprioceptive sense had gotten worse (I do not “know” where my different body sections are) and my sense of balance has deteriorated, and my riding teacher has only mentioned my lower leg once or twice in the past 2 months. On the other hand she HAS been commenting on the position of my hands when I can no longer “feel” where they are in 3-dimensional space. With normal stirrup leathers it was the opposite, on my bad days I got about the same amount of comments about my hands and almost CONSTANT comments about the position of my lower legs.

My riding teacher is a saint. Even after a decade she never gives up with correcting my position as my MS messes up my central nervous system, she never loses patience with me, and she realizes that the days I am TIRED mean that she gets to see me walk the horse for 30 minutes, not very entertaining!

[vxf111]

So I bought the Total Saddle Fit leathers… They arrived very quickly. They’re ok. The leather quality is somewhat commensurate with the price. They are not super super luxe and high end (in my book the Prestige calf wrapped leathers are the gold standard). But they have soft leather and are nice looking. Unlike the Millbrooks they are nice and flexible and don’t have to be JAMMED into the stirrup bars. That makes them way more adjustable. It also makes them a little less stable/good at keeping your leg still since half the “magic” was the jamming. I think they run long. I’m 5’6 with a normal length knee to hip and a little bit short knee to ankle. I have the 54" leathers on the top hole to flat. I’ll probably need to punch a hole. I wish they came in more of a red-toned brown, which would match my saddle better, but they are more of a havana color. I am not sorry I got them but, like the Millbrooks, they didn’t exactly give me a religious experience or anything.

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[MsRidiculous]

Anyone tried the Henry James version? https://www.henryjamessaddlery.co.uk/collections/stirrup-leathers/products/wide-jumping-stirrup-leathers

[Against_All_Odds1]

@vxf111

So I bought the Total Saddle Fit leathers… They arrived very quickly. They’re ok. The leather quality is somewhat commensurate with the price. They are not super super luxe and high end (in my book the Prestige calf wrapped leathers are the gold standard). But they have soft leather and are nice looking. Unlike the Millbrooks they are nice and flexible and don’t have to be JAMMED into the stirrup bars. That makes them way more adjustable. It also makes them a little less stable/good at keeping your leg still since half the “magic” was the jamming. I think they run long. I’m 5’6 with a normal length knee to hip and a little bit short knee to ankle. I have the 54" leathers on the top hole to flat. I’ll probably need to punch a hole. I wish they came in more of a red-toned brown, which would match my saddle better, but they are more of a havana color. I am not sorry I got them but, like the Millbrooks, they didn’t exactly give me a religious experience or anything.

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Thank you for the honest review! Super helpful.

[GreyDes]

I tried to order the Henry James version. They wouldn’t check out a US address on their website. I emailed and facebooked messaged them with no response.

Since I didn’t “need” them, I gave up

Let me know if you do get them. I’m very curious about the quality.

[Against_All_Odds1]

@GreyDes

I tried to order the Henry James version. They wouldn’t check out a US address on their website. I emailed and facebooked messaged them with no response.

Since I didn’t “need” them, I gave up

Let me know if you do get them. I’m very curious about the quality.

me too! Those ones look the nicest :yes:

[Against_All_Odds1]

@GreyDes

I tried to order the Henry James version. They wouldn’t check out a US address on their website. I emailed and facebooked messaged them with no response.

Since I didn’t “need” them, I gave up

Let me know if you do get them. I’m very curious about the quality.

I facebook messengered them and got this reply:
Hi AAO-we can do that for you. Just let us know your shipping preference and email address and we’ll send you an invoice.

Shipping options are:
Express (1-3 days) £25
Standard (3+ days) £20
Economy (5+ days) £15

I asked if they shipped their wide leathers to Canada

[KStranz]

I came here to see if anyone had experienced the same issue I have with my Millbrooks and found this forum. I have to agree with all of the stretching comments. I for the 125 and I am 5’5". I still have holes to go up, but they have stretched and continue to stretch. The worst part is that they didn’t stretch evenly, so one is a half hole shorter than the other. I had received them a part of an Instagram advertising push when they first began and have reached out to them to see if they would replace them with no avail.

What I really came here for was that I have noticed they rub my nice calf skin saddles REALLY BAD. I was hoping to find another brand and maybe the total saddle fits are the answer as I love how wide they are!

[evilc123]

@KStranz

I came here to see if anyone had experienced the same issue I have with my Millbrooks and found this forum. I have to agree with all of the stretching comments. I for the 125 and I am 5’5". I still have holes to go up, but they have stretched and continue to stretch. The worst part is that they didn’t stretch evenly, so one is a half hole shorter than the other. I had received them a part of an Instagram advertising push when they first began and have reached out to them to see if they would replace them with no avail.

What I really came here for was that I have noticed they rub my nice calf skin saddles REALLY BAD. I was hoping to find another brand and maybe the total saddle fits are the answer as I love how wide they are!

I am having the same exact problems: stretching, where they are now uneven; and rubbing my calfskin saddle. I asked my saddle designer whether there were certain types of leathers that shouldn’t be used with the saddle, and she said that anything that involves “chrome” during the tanning process. I don’t really know what “chrome” means in this context, but I reached out to Millbrook to ask if that is what they used and they said they had no idea.

[vxf111]

@evilc123

I don’t really know what “chrome” means in this context, but I reached out to Millbrook to ask if that is what they used and they said they had no idea.

They’re not making them. They’re importing them from a French guy who makes them and putting their name on them. Atelier de Pravins

Presumably they can tell you the process.

[bluepece2]

I used the CWD wide leathers. I love the fact that the buckle is at the bottom not at the top, less bulk on your legs.

[MsRidiculous]

I noticed that Ovation has thrown their hat into the ring with wide leathers too, and for super cheap - $40! Anyone tried these yet? https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Ovation_Wide_Comfort_Stirrup_Leathers/descpage-OVWC.html?from=900fbp

[Texarkana]

@MsRidiculous

I noticed that Ovation has thrown their hat into the ring with wide leathers too, and for super cheap - $40! Anyone tried these yet? https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Ovation_Wide_Comfort_Stirrup_Leathers/descpage-OVWC.html?from=900fbp

For $40, I’d be willing to take a gamble. It’s a shame they only have 1 size!