Does anyone make a wide, or a stability stirrup leather that is not calf wrapped in the area that goes through the stirrup/buckle?
I am trying to avoid fragile calf products that seem destined to wear out a lot faster then solid leather. I am OK with swapping my leathers from side to side to accommodate an even stretching.
I have the wide Ovation ones. Theyâre definitely nothing fancy, but they get the job done and I think I only paid something like $60 for them. I ride 4x/week and have had them since May/June and they seem like theyâre holding up just fine. They did stretch a little, but nothing too crazy.
My only annoyance with them is that I ordered too large a size, and now if I need to punch any more holes in them (Iâve already punched two holes), Iâm going to have to cut the wide part down a bit so it fits through my stirrups. Not really their fault there thoughâŠ
The Millbrook / Pravins Sellier ones are just solid, fairly thick leather. I think theyâre cheaper if you buy from Europe, even with shipping, than if you buy from Millbrook directly.
Millbrookâs are plain leather. As a heads up, mine stretched like crazy and I would not buy them again.
well that sucks - they say theyâre prestretched. How much did they stretch would you say?
I wasnât good about switching mine (and Iâm also super crooked) so I chucked mine after 5 years when they got hopelessly uneven. Donât feel I really got my moneyâs worth, but I did love them for years!
Hmmm⊠over an inch? I never measured, but it was noticeable over an extended period of time. Much more so than other non-lined leathers Iâve had, and I treated the leather per their recommendation.
The leather is nice and thick so it may work for you if thatâs what you want and you can live with the stretching.
I have the Ovation Wide stirrup leathers as well and like them. Similarly, I have not detected any noticeable stretch and ride either 3 or 4 times a week.
My biggest concern that in the black colour they only came in 60" length at the tackstore that carried them. From previous experience, that is too long for my short legs and necessitates having to punch holes. Surprisingly enough, this was not the case. They fit, no holes needed to be punched and I could go shorter if need be.
Overall, it was an affordable way to try out a different type of stirrup leather without breaking the bank.
Wanted to throw in a quick note about the Ovation wide leathers hereâI bought a pair and while they are cheap, the quality isâŠnot great. My pair lasted about 6 months (riding 1-2 times/week) before developing a tear in one of the holes, plus a lot of stretching.
That would be bad enough, but when I saw the photos on another thread from a pair where the stitching disintegrated and rumors of a recall, I stopped using mine immediately and started looking for replacements.
I did find one option that wasnât mentioned here, possibly because theyâre British and seem to be more of a small business, but you may want to look into FSS wide stirrup leathers. They seem to be decent quality and price and are available in more leather colors and lengths than I have seen anywhere else.
I know itâs not what youâre looking for, but I ended up going with a pair of Total Saddle Fit Wide leathers and Iâve never looked backâand after Iâd sworn to myself I would never get calfskin-wrapped leathers! But they are gorgeous and so far (admittedly only a few months) have worn like iron and not a hint of stretch. Bonus, they come in 48â for short legs and the brown by some miracle still looks good with my saddle!
Iâve had a similar experience with the Ovations. I needed new dressage leathers, and thought Iâd pick them up to try out, and see if I liked the wide stability leathers. I honestly donât notice a difference in the dressage saddle, and while I admit I ride heavier in the right iron than the left, theyâve definitely stretched a good bit in bothâIâve had them less than a year and only ride twice a week max in the dressage saddle (doing w/t on a 4YO!) and have had to go up one hole on the left and a hole-and-a-half (that we had to punch during my lesson yesterday). Iâm going to end up going back to regular lined leathers.
Before I toss them, I may put them on my jump saddle for a ride or two to see if I notice a difference there, but even if I do, I wouldnât order the Ovation ones again.
I really like my Total Saddle Fit wide leathers. I originally bought them for my dressage saddle, but liked them so much I bought a pair for my cc saddle as well.
Iâve had them for 2+ years at this point, and theyâve been great. They have maybe stretched a little bit, but not a lot, and theyâve worn well. I donât know if they have any calfskin or not, but I think they probably donât, given how well theyâve held up.
Thatâs interesting! The thread was from last year, so I wonder if they changed something. I bought mine in May this year and theyâve held up perfectly fine riding 4x/week with little to no stretch. Donât get me wrong, theyâre not high quality, but they havenât given me any problems beyond being a little stiff. Maybe I just got lucky.
Any updates on the leathers? I didnât buy any last time round because my Stubben regular leathers just WILL NOT quit but theyâre over 15 years old so really, come on now.
Did your calf wrapped leathers fall apart?
Did your solid leather ones stretch out?
Whatâs the most durable option?
Due to colic surgery I havenât actually ridden in these yet. However, they are butter soft but seem durable. I have some videos posted on insta of them if you want the link let me know. If I had to say anything itâs that the double leather with nylon is a little bulky at the stirrup bar. But as I said I havenât ridden in them yet so not sure Iâll even notice once on.
I still have the Total Saddle Fit wide leathers, on both saddles (dressage and close contact). Theyâve held up beautifully. No complaints!
My Total Saddle Fit ones have held up fine after two or so years of use. My only complaint is that theyâre a âïžđ¶ to adjust. Harder up than down. I generally adjust before I get on for the primary activity of the day and go with that.
I have considered FreeJump or similar since I now have the FreeJump stirrups.
Editing to add that the adjustment problems are a combo of the thickness and the nylon making the holes not clean, but more of the former.
I worked hard to find that symbol.
I got the RLG ones at Fair Hill and have ridden in them for the last two weeks now. They broke in quickly and look great. I donât find them bulky at all under the stirrup barâtheyâre about the same thickness as their regular lined leathers, which I have on my dressage saddle.
you!
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