Oops Rookie Mistake, Stirrup Leathers.

[Janice]

So I got distracted and made a totally rookie mistake today.

I am replacing the leathers on a western saddle. They are the shorter, close contact kind, where the fender supports some of the wieght.

They have the strip sewn along the holes for reinforcement, and end at the top of the fenders,

with 3 copper rivets. So I go ahead and make up the new ones.

Problem is, I sewed the reinforcing strip to the wrong side. It should be on the rough out side, and it is not.

Question is, from a safety standpoint, can anyone see a problem with putting them on this way?

Any other concerns? Wear and Tear etc?

This saddle is used for cattle penning, and is needed tomorrow morning.

I have only to attach them at this point, or should I start over?

What would you do?

[jwwright]

Janice, it sounds like all you need to do would be to install the stirrup leathers so that the grain side will be down going over the bars of the tree. I personally see no problem with that, and there are several well respected saddle makers that I know of that routinely install the stirrup leathers that way on new saddles. I have done so a number of times on new full rough out saddles , with no problems. One more suggestion.....................on those 1/2 stirrup leathers like this, I also sew a W shape stitch line there at the top of the fender where the stirrup leather joins.................in addition to the rivets. Hope this helps, JW.

[Janice]

Thank you so much for the quick reply.

I didnt think of that stitch line, and willl add that in as well, good tip!

Thanks again!