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