Stirrup Leather Guides

[Saddlebag]

I don't know what else to call these but they are invaluable and free. I got tired of the struggle to feed stirrup leathers around the bars when I'd either cleaned or replaced stirrup leathers. One particular saddle almost had me beat when it occurred to me to cut a plastic strip about 4" wide all the way around a tall yogurt container. I rounded the corners on one end. With two of these I slide these in first then slip the leather in, like a sandwich. It slips thro in a heartbeat. I repeat when I've gone thro the bar and back under the skirt. I'm done in less than 5 min and no struggle.

[Spence]

Sounds interesting. Any chance of a picture or two. I can read, but it has trouble reaching the part of the brain that pictures it.

Thanks

Spence

[Suze]

Sounds interesting. Any chance of a picture or two. I can read, but it has trouble reaching the part of the brain that pictures it.

Thanks

Spence

oh giggle - I so love this

I might have to steal it sometime. (I work better from visuals myself)

[rustyriggin]

I always use shoe strings, but I might have to give that a try.

[Janice]

You may have just saved me some work! Thanks!

I do a number of replacements on western saddles each year, I will be trying this out soon.

[hidepounder]

That's a great idea! You know all those brown spots you see up under the seat jockeys? Those are blood stains from the top of the saddlemakers knuckles, skinned up trying to get those leathers through! The plastic is a good idea!

Bob

[Saddlebag]

Sorry I don't have any pics. The saddle I was working on had skirts so tight I tho't perhaps the maker had used a fence stretcher to tighten them. There was no way, no how I could feed the stirrup leathers back thro short of removing the skirts. As the expression goes. I was "blown away" by how easy the plastic strips made the job.

[Ronny]

I use the flexible steel rulers with the cork on the back. I use a 16" one and take the cork off, slide it into the stirrup slot then the stirrup leather will slide right on top. Very easy. Ronny

[Saddlebag]

While we are on the subject of miserable stirrup leathers, how do you folks string your strings thro the tree when replacing them?

[Sara]

Thank you so much for a great piece of advice!!! Here I thought I'll have to throw the saddle away after trying in vain to insert stirrup leathers back where they belonged (had to repair a stirrup leather on a used saddle for my little nephew). Tried to take the jockey off, but even after removing the front conchos and the screw under the swell it still seemed impossible, while further dissasembly risked to never get assembled back! At this point I've found this thread!!! It worked in 5 minutes!! On the other side I even didn't have to remove the conchos or anything!!

Thanks again!!

Edited November 18, 2010 by Sara

[Billy H]

Saddlebag, Great idea!

Hidepounder, I know that you were kidding; but that is the absolute truth!

The last saddle I built had blood stains all over the underside of the seat jockey. I was truly in a panic, thinking that I would not be able to get the leathers fished through.

My right hand knuckles were sore for nearly a month.

[GrampaJoel]

Now this I would like to see a photo or two of. This sounds like a knuckle saver for sure.

[mulefool]

I've used a flexible plastic ruler in the same way, but they're a little more brittle, i've broken a couple that way. This sounds like it would be less likely to break. I guess frustration is the mother of invention. thanks for sharing. Chris

[alb]

I have scraped knuckles right now from a particularly ornery saddle I worked on last week. It's not often that the huge wooden wedge we use fails, but we sure worked up a sweat on this one. I'm looking forward to trying this trick on the next tight one. Thanks for posting!

Ann

I've used a flexible plastic ruler in the same way, but they're a little more brittle, i've broken a couple that way. This sounds like it would be less likely to break. I guess frustration is the mother of invention. thanks for sharing. Chris

[Saddlebag]

I'm glad this trick is of benefit to others. While I was trying to figure out a better/easier way to string leathers I knew I needed something slippery, like plastic. Lo and behold an empty tall yogurt container was sitting on the counter staring at me. I had a huge AHA moment and cut a strip of plastic from it. Scrounged around and found another. The curl in the plastic is also helpful and for any yogurt lover, replacements are cheap.

[Hennessy]

when i replace leathers i first tie curtain cord onto old leathers and slide them out leaving the cord on both sides of the bar, right and left has cords.with these cords i tie thru a hole on the tip of new leas i use skidmores a buttery paste and grease up leas about one foot then pull corded tip up n over n under rarely a problem sometimes th handhold skirt nail needs to be loosed works good for me.

[Saddlebag]

Hey guys, had another AHA moment today. While trying to deal with a bad case of bronchitis for the past few days my horse's water buckets froze solid. I don't normally let this happen but if I bend over I start marathon coughing bouts. While leaving the house I noticed the plastic tobaggan which has sides, leaning up against the railing. This is where the AHA hit me. At the fence I slid it backwards partway under the fence with my foot, moved the pipe from the hydrant and voila, a new water container. Any leftover was easily emptied without my having to bend over. The tobaggan is now outside the fence waiting for the next watering.

[Suze]

See there is always a "second use" for everything

you just have to think of it first

feel better soon

[buckaroogal]

I take a coat hanger run it up thru first then with the end bent put that thru the bottom hole of the leather and pull it thru.

[Randy Cornelius]

I may have to try this one, But I keep a bale of big bailer twine in the shop. Tie one end to the old leather when I pull them out. Leave the twine hanging out and punch a small hole in the end of the new leathers, tie on the twine, soak the end of the leathers to bend them just a little and usually they pull right through without sikined knuckles. I read in the Al Stolhman books that he used Vasline to lube up the bars for pulled the leathers through. I have some saddle butter of some flavor that I have used but don't like the idea of Vasline.

Randy