Who else has trouble with the stirrup leather/buckle lump bothering their leg? Have you found a jumping saddle that doesn’t? After years in one saddle the bump started to bother me. Now that I have a different horse to fit, the first saddle I’m trying seems like it may have the same problem. Am I doomed to buying Bates webbers to save my thighs? Also considering a custom Heritage saddle, so if anyone can speak as to those, please chime in!
Yup! I find it’s horse specific - I’m miserable riding my round barreled Arab in regular leathers, but they don’t bother me on narrower horses.
I like the Prestige leathers - much nicer than the Wintec/Bates ones!
Brown - http://www.cheshirehorse.com/Prestige-Ideal-Dressage-Leathers-P2901.aspx
I think I’ve seen some posts saying Frank Baines makes these as well.
ETA - Found them… http://www.trumbullmtn.com/store/fittings/leathers/frank-baines-t-bar/t-bar-28-blk/
If your saddle isn’t a monoflap, you can put your stirrup leathers under the flap to protect your leg from them.
Have you tried some of the flat-buckle leathers out there, like the Prestige nylon-lined leathers? I find they really do make a difference in the size and obnoxiousness of a stirrup leather bump.
If that’s not enough for you, then consider a saddle with more deeply recessed stirrup bars than what you’re currently riding in.
Also, Bates webbers aren’t the only game in town. 
Gary Mundy makes a lovely set of webbers for peanuts. Stubben and a few other brands also make webbers-style leathers.
We do sell the T-bar leathers which offer a flatter feel. However, you can’t run the irons up. We also like the Prestige slim line leathers that we also sell because the flatter profile at the top often eliminates that bulky feel. Harmonkraft makes them as well and we have a few of those all listed under fittings on our site.
a pair of boots or half chaps with sturdier leather might solve the problem too?
I don’t have issues with the buckles under my thigh, but I do get nasty bruises all over my shins from my leathers, especially after an event… I just attribute it to being easily-bruisable. 
I HATE the bump under my thigh. Always have. No matter how thin the leather or how flat the buckle. I ride in wintec or bates leathers with the T bars. Some people think they are tacky but I love them. So who cares. No one sees them and last time I checked there is no place on a dressage score sheet for “leathers” and nothing on a stadium course or xc course that about leathers. I also found if you need to wrap your leathers (calling all short legged riders out there!), it is far easier to do with these than with traditional leathers.
Call me tacky or whatever, but I am comfortable. And when mounted, I bet you can’t tell the difference!
[QUOTE=jn4jenny;7388550]
Have you tried some of the flat-buckle leathers out there, like the Prestige nylon-lined leathers? I find they really do make a difference in the size and obnoxiousness of a stirrup leather bump.
If that’s not enough for you, then consider a saddle with more deeply recessed stirrup bars than what you’re currently riding in.
Also, Bates webbers aren’t the only game in town. Gary Mundy makes a lovely set of webbers for peanuts. Stubben and a few other brands also make webbers-style leathers.[/QUOTE]And an example of a saddle with more deeply recessed stirrup bars would be?? So far my problems have been a Collegiate Challenge Event and an HDR event saddle. My close contact Crosby California Prix was not having the problem on the new horse, but I want/need something with knee rolls for cross country. Will look into the flat buckle leathers too. Also, various places used to carry sleeves so you could turn the leathers upside down and put the buckle at the stirrup iron, putting the extra leather in the sleeve–anyone know a place that has them now?
This exact problem is in The Horse’s Pain-Free Back and Saddle-Fit Book. Joyce illustrates how to turn your stirrups upside down and basically thread the extra stirrup leather up through the buckle so it basically becomes invisible and no bulk under the thigh.
I think CWD also sells a leather that does the same but I could be wrong.
Stubben leathers have a buckle that helps the leathers lie flat. My favorite to avoid the bump under my thighs.
[QUOTE=WW_Queen;7390380]
This exact problem is in The Horse’s Pain-Free Back and Saddle-Fit Book. Joyce illustrates how to turn your stirrups upside down and basically thread the extra stirrup leather up through the buckle so it basically becomes invisible and no bulk under the thigh. :)[/QUOTE]
I tried this with 3 different stirrup leathers, doesn’t work.
I had HORRIBLE bruises on my thighs in my HDR and Toulouse saddles. I did find a thin enough pair of leathers that I was able to bear riding in the Toulouse but it was never great, but I looked long and hard for my next saddle and I’ve NEVER had an issue with my Albion K2.
I’m all about the Wintec/Bates. I don’t care if they’re tacky (I have an ancient, peeling black pair on my brown jumping saddle…you can’t even tell when I’m in the saddle). I have a pair of the bates with the outer lining thing (so the T-bar doesn’t stick out), and it’s almost worn through. I’ve heard lots of good things about the Gary Mundy ones, so I think I’ll try those next.
Bruno Delgrange - the stirrup bar is recessed into the tree but not enough to bother the horse. Their stirrup leathers are full calf with smaller flatter buckles. No bump under thigh.
MDC Sport stirrups - quarter turn relives the tension on the inner calf eliminates rubs.
Just pull them round a bit so the buckle is further down, beneath your “contact area.”
