Wide Stirrup Leather Brands

Just as a second opinion: I bought a pair of the TSF leathers and liked them so much I bought a second pair for my other saddle. Now, I’ve never seen the FreeJumps–and maybe I shouldn’t if I want to remain a contented person!–but I think the quality is quite nice on the ones I have.

If it makes a difference, both of my pairs are black–one is dressage length and the other is a shorter (cc saddle) length.

I cannot recommend the Total Saddle Fit slim stability leathers enough. I have strongly considered purchasing multiples in every color just in case they ever stop making them. They disappear under your leg but are still so stable. And I LOVE the buckle at the bottom. I twisted it so my irons hang at a 90 degree angle and it has been life changing.

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I just passed on my 5 year old Millbrooks to a barnmate and switched to TSF. The TSF feel a tiny bit less “grippy” but they’re also not fully broken in yet; I think the leather quality of the Millbrooks is better on the part of the leather that touches the calf, but I prefer that the TSF are majority calfskin and lined - my Millbrooks stretched like crazy over time.

It looks like Smartpak is also making their own wide leathers now, for $99.

I wouldn’t give millbrook any of my money after hearing horror stories about their customer service and after dealing with the owner in person.

I have TSF and they are good. Not the highest quality of leather but I do find they are better quality than Millbrook.

The Ovation brand is not high quality but were fantastic for deciding if I liked the type of leathers before fully committing to spending money on a higher quality one.

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Ditto the comment on the Ovation ones. I needed new dressage leathers anyway, so decided to give the Ovations a try to see how I liked the style–because for $50, they were a good test price-point. The leather quality is mediocre, but they’ll do well enough for my dressage saddle for now, and I do like them for the price.

If I invest in them for jumping, as opposed to the lined leathers I have now, I think I’d probably go higher-end. The leather on my jumping saddle is softer than the buffalo leather dressage saddle, so I’d want something less likely to wear on it.

I just got my stimulus check and am craving wide stirrup leathers. I wonder if the SmartPak ones are any good?

I am not a wide stirrup leather user at this time. But I did notice that Gary Mundy is making them, and I am a very enthusiastic Gary Mundy stirrup leather user generally!

Three years later :wink:

Now I have tried the Millbrook, TSF, and Ovation ones. The only ones I would buy again are the Ovation. The Millbrook aren’t the quality the price would suggest and stretched like crazy. The TSF were cheaper but also not amazing quality and started off too long for me to begin with. The Ovation ones are quality that match the price point and don’t seem to have stretched the way the Millbrook ones have. Do they look like $200 leathers, no? But are they $200 leathers? Also no. I think they are reasonable bang for the buck and hold up well for what they cost.

Also, having seen how the owner of Millbrook behaves on social media, I’m not looking for excuses to patronize her business if I have alternatives.[quote=“vxf111, post:28, topic:446969, full:true”]
Three years later :wink:

Now I have tried the Millbrook, TSF, and Ovation ones. The only ones I would buy again are the Ovation. The Millbrook aren’t the quality the price would suggest and stretched like crazy. The TSF were cheaper but also not amazing quality and started off too long for me to begin with. The Ovation ones are quality that match the price point and don’t seem to have stretched the way the Millbrook ones have. Do they look like $200 leathers, no? But are they $200 leathers? Also no. I think they are reasonable bang for the buck and hold up well for what they cost.

Also, having seen how the owner of Millbrook behaves on social media, I’m not looking for excuses to patronize her business if I have alternatives.
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Updating. Yesterday my Ovation leathers disintegrated mid-ride and I almost fell. They didn’t wear out or tear— the stitching just gave out and the nylon core inside had frayed. I was dismayed—they just fell apart! And I take good care of my leathers and they were not old/overused. I can’t recommend them anymore.

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Get those orders in! I found this online:

12/05/20] No leather orders will be accepted from 11/15/20 through 3/31/21. Warranty and returns on prior orders will be honored during this period. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

I expect to resume operation in the shop on 4/1/21 through 12/31/21 with a somewhat reduced catalog of products. I plan to retire from the leather business on 12/31/21.

I am very sad about this. I might have ordered some extra pairs earlier this year so I would have backups.

Updated to show photos of the Ovation stirrups which disintegrated mid ride on me yesterday

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