Can someone help me please? I have a western saddle, a cordella saddle, not a leather one. I have no idea where the stirrups are supposed to be, but they seem too long to me?
There is no way to shorten them any more, as they have been shortened all the way up.
Pictures of the saddle and me.
A side shot of you in the saddle would be best, but if they feel too long for you, they probably are.
With a nylon stirrup “leather”, you can’t just punch more holes up higher without it fraying and stretching over time. But, if there is room on the “leather” you may be able to take it to a saddle repairer and have that person put in some holes and sew in a leather reinforcer section so that the hole doesn’t stretch out.
repair shop
The saddel repairer will fix you up. I think lots of western saddels are made for men and longer legged people.
You and your horse look great…You will feel better with shorter stirrups…
You can burn holes through the stirrup “leather” higher up, with a hot nail. The hot nail will melt the nylon. This is a cheap and fast fix. Otherwise, you have to go to a saddler for replacements.
Like buying Jeans, while do all manufacturers feel all woman are 5’10???
I’ve had the same problem with a few of my saddles too. Putting holes through nylon is extemely difficult. I would take it to a saddle repair shop.
My only concern is, now the bottom of your fender will be too bulky to go under the stirrup. (I hope that makes sense).
This is my biggest gripe about western styled saddles. The stirrups adjust for people from 5’10" - 6"9" and if you’re shorter, you’re SOL. :eek: I never understood this. I literally punched holes 5" up higher on my Abetta saddles. Then I finally said screw it and replaced the fenders for english leathers and irons.
I was totally surprised when I got my new Abetta Endurance a few weeks ago… Maybe they got the hint :). But, I didn’t have to adjust the stirrups at all. In fact I have a couple of holes to bring it up some…:yes:
take it to the saddle repair guy. the whole thing needs to be cut down to fit and more holes put in. the stirrup leather itself is too long as well- even with more holes it’s not going to give you any leeway- won’t fit up over the bars nor through the stirrup.
I don’t have a single western saddle with this issue, and I’m 5’5" on a good day. A Bullard, a Bighorn, an older Abetta, a Rocking R, a Tucker and a Crestridge. All have plenty of options lengthwise for short little me. You guys are buying the wrong saddles 
the only one that’s titchy…is an endurance saddle from Valley Tack :lol:
I believe it actually has more to do with your length of leg, and preferred length of stirrup than just overall body height.
Stirrups
Thanks for all the advice. Actually I had a pretty good ride today. My feet did not hurt, or ankles so much today, actually my knees gave me a problem today.
We put more holes in the nylon with a hot screwdriver. I am not really sure of the correct length of the stirrups. The only problem with short legs and putting the stirrups up is that it is almost impossible to get my leg up that far to get on the horse. Hubby had to help me up.
Pictures of our ride today -11/13/07 The ones of me are not so good, but my husband does not know how to take good pictures. It was cloudy today, and drizzling a little rain.
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m61/debbienc/Horses/11-13-07-19.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m61/debbienc/Horses/11-13-07-13.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m61/debbienc/Horses/11-13-07-9.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m61/debbienc/Horses/11-13-07-15.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m61/debbienc/Horses/11-13-07.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m61/debbienc/Horses/11-13-07-16.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m61/debbienc/Horses/11-13-07-8.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m61/debbienc/Horses/11-13-07-7.jpg
Well, it’s a little late now, but the best option is to have a saddle maker adjust it for you. What they do is separate the nylon strap from the fender, cut down the fender from the top if needed, and then reattach the nylon strap to the fender with the holes moved to the proper location. That way you don’t have homemade holes fraying, and you don’t have a misaligned fender bunching up under your leg.
Looking at picture # 9 in your second batch, your rear cinch looks a little long to me. You obviously don’t want it tight like a flank strap on a bronco, but you don’t want it so loose that the horse could get a foot caught kicking at a fly.
I agree that the flank strap looks too loose. You don’t want your horse kicking at flies and get a rear foot caught.
If I do put a hole in nylon, I usually will take a match to the frayed nylon and that burns the frayness away. (I’m making up my own words now;))
I don’t want to harp, but please consider a helmet. You can read my post below about my fall. :no: This happened with a helmet and unfortunately I’ve been having wicked headaches. I have an appointment with the Dr. today at 1:00.
Can only imagine what would have happened if I wasn’t wearing one.
Your guy is a real cutie too!:yes:
Is the gullet of your saddle sitting on your horse’s withers? Why I ask is it seems like your gullet looks like someone’s I know. It is made for a very low, almost none existant withers.
What I was taught, growing up on a cattle ranch and spending way too many hours a day in a western saddle, was the stirrups should let you stand in the saddle with about 3 fingers worth of space between your pelvic bones and the saddle seat.
I learned to measure before I got on by putting the middle finger of the same leg (right hand, right leg) on that button or concha that’s below the saddle horn in front of the fender and putting the stirrup up into my armpit. The bottom of the stirrup should hit just in front of the armpit, maybe even a skotch (is that a word?) shorter.
I do hope that makes sense. 
Find a good saddle maker to help you adjust, or get a knowledgeable western trainer to take a look.
Also, what FEELS right to you? You should be comfortable, not tearing up your knees with too short stirrups or feeling like you’re always chasing too long stirrups.
In the saddle, drop the stirrups. My good length in a western saddle is when the bottom of the stirrup hits just above my ankle bone.
My 2 westerns are both leather, one very old Montana Saddlery and one newer Billy Cook, have had to have holes punched between the factory holes to fit me.
Also, don’t assume both stirrups should be the same length. Mine are not, due to long term issues with one leg, but not everybody’s legs are the same length and it makes a difference.
BTW, beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing and good luck.
Just a word of caution. I’ve been told that just putting holes (even if they are burned) the nylon stirrup leathers will stretch after a while. That’s why the manufacturers put some type of reinforcement plate. It could be dangerous if you are riding along and the buckle comes loose. Keep an eye on it and take it somewhere to have a reinforcement plate of some sort–usually leather–if the holes start to stretch and wear.
I sympathize with you about long stirrups! I am 5’2" and like my stirrups fairly short. My Big Horn saddle lets me get them short enough for me, with one hole to spare! Some other western saddles I have tried–Cordura as well as leather–did not have enough holes for me to shorten the stirrups enough.
I just looked at your pictures–they’re lovely! but I think part of the problem with your stirrups may be the way the stirrup hobble is buckled in the pictures of the saddle on its stand. I’ve never seen stirrup hobbles buckled around just that part of the stirrup strap. Usually I see them buckled around the whole lower (narrow) part of the fender, just above the stirrup, to keep the stirrup in place. Other posters who ride western–what would you say? You may know more than I do. I would think the stirrups in these pictures would flop and slide all over the place and make for a very insecure and uncomfortable situation. I don’t know how to post a picture, but here’s a link:
http://www.western-saddle-guide.com/stirrup-hobble.html
If having your stirrups short enough for comfortable riding means you can’t mount from the ground, get a mounting block. Most riders I know use them, not only for their own ease in mounting but mostly for the sake of their horses’ backs. It is hard on a horse’s back to have rider heaving themselves up into the saddle from the ground. For trail riding there are different kinds of stirrup extenders. I haven’t tried any, so can’t make recommendations, but I have seen them in catalogs.
I second the comment about the helmet! Do please wear one!!
Stirrup hobbles
Well talk about learning something new everyday! I’ve ridden Western all my life and never knew what those Thingies were called. :eek:
Good eyes Wellspotted- (hey, no pun intended) get it, “well spotted”… LOL
To the OP, I bet you’ll find a difference if the stirrup hobbles are around the whole bottom, wrapping around your fender and buckling behind the stirrup strap.
Originally posted by Huntertwo:
Well talk about learning something new everyday! I’ve ridden Western all my life and never knew what those Thingies were called.
Good eyes Wellspotted- (hey, no pun intended) get it, “well spotted”… LOL
:lol: :lol: :lol: You got it.
I learned it today too, Huntertwo. I was Googling “stirrup garters” and not finding anything; looked in one of my tack catalogs, found stirrup hobbles, and came here and changed it! (But then, I started out riding English, when tall boots had garters and where kids still wear garters with jodhpurs and paddock boots!) :winkgrin:
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