Restricted forward movement of stirrups

[JAM]

Hi, all,

The stirrups in my saddle don't easily swing fully forward because the leathers are stopped by the latigo and cinch billet (as you can see in the photos). The rigging is (supposed to be) 7/8, and the rigging rings are a bit high because I made very small skirts.

My question is: What can I do structurally to prevent this problem in future saddles? And is there anything I can do to fix the problem in this saddle?

Thanks,

Julia

[ArtS]

Julia, Could you put a flap of leather that covers the rigging so that the straps slide over it?

Art

[bruce johnson]

Julia,

I think it is due to the rigging ring height, not the 7/8 position. How far are these rings below the bottom of the bar edges? I am just not seeing a clean fix other than a do-over on the skirts. You wouldn't be the first to ever have to do that.

[steveh]

I agree with Bruce, the rigging hardware is to close to the bar. I drop my flat plate rigging about 6 1/2 inches from the lowest part of the front bar to the bottom of my hardware. In the future layout your skirts so that they come down to the bottom of your rear cinch dee. Nice saddle.

Steve

[JAM]

Art, Bruce, and Steve, thanks for your input. I thought about a slider strap as a quick fix, but can't figure out how to do it so it works. I'll look at it again.

I think the ring is definitely too close to the bar - I didn't even think about that this time around. That goes on my list of things learned to think about in future saddles!

And I think you're right, new skirts are called for. I hate to waste perfectly good skirts - maybe I'll try taking off the top layer (the one that attaches to the top of the tree) and the rings, and try a flate-plate rig over the existing bottom skirt. I've never done a flat-plate (I really like in-skirts best and would like to specialize in them until I master them) but I'm told by some cowboy outfitters that flate-plate is the "gold standard". It may look odd (or not), but drawdown stands are for learning, right?

Julia

[JRedding]

Jam, I'm with Bruce about the heighth of the riggin' itself and a new set of skirts is the only absolute resolution. But I'd add part of your problem is coming from those brand new looking latigos that aren't broke in real well yet, and part of it is the full stirrup leather running down the back of the fender, you could eliminate the full stirrup leather and go the other way with a single fender and an attached stirrup leather and rid yourself of a full thickness of stirrup leather that's causing part of your problem. Give it ample time to really break everything in and get situated and it will get better and maybe good enough you can live with it if you really don't want to tear it down.

Edited November 29, 2008 by JRedding

[rickybobby]

Hi, all,

The stirrups in my saddle don't easily swing fully forward because the leathers are stopped by the latigo and cinch billet (as you can see in the photos). The rigging is (supposed to be) 7/8, and the rigging rings are a bit high because I made very small skirts.

My question is: What can I do structurally to prevent this problem in future saddles? And is there anything I can do to fix the problem in this saddle?

Thanks,

Julia

Julia,

You could try a "rigging hobble". They are usually on full double riggings (2 d-rings or 2 round rings) on that hardware there in not much room but 3/4 or 7/8 wide leather strap is fast/cheap and easy to do.

It is a strap that runs from the rear cinch ring to the front cinch ring and it keeps the leathers from hanging up on the frt. ring. I can email you a picture if you need.

Rick J.

[Hennessy]

Hi, all,

The stirrups in my saddle don't easily swing fully forward because the leathers are stopped by the latigo and cinch billet (as you can see in the photos). The rigging is (supposed to be) 7/8, and the rigging rings are a bit high because I made very small skirts.

My question is: What can I do structurally to prevent this problem in future saddles? And is there anything I can do to fix the problem in this saddle?

Julia

put a slide on it,go to suggested half leathers,get some thin 7ft nylon seat belt material tie off only n keep on goin adios peter john

[JAM]

Thanks for all the tips - you are all so helpful to a beginner!

I think I will try all of your ideas in order in least destructiveness and waste - first, the rigging hobble or slider strap (I've seen them on several old saddles - nylon seat belt strap? interesting idea... ), then a flat-plate rig over the existing bottom skirt, and then a complete skirt re-build. I will stop when the problem is fixed. If nothing else, I will learn a lot in the process. And fortunately it's winter so I will not miss the saddle to ride in.

And I'm going to re-do the stirrup leathers, too - re-configuring them to half-leathers should be easy and relatively non-destructive (and make the saddle lighter, too).

Julia

[kseidel]

Julia,

I think Hennessy was suggesting that you use nylon webbing latigos instead of leather. They can be much thinner and eliminate much of the bulk over the rigging ring.

Another suggestion: The rigging hardware you used is a very heavy and deep "flat spot" in your skirt. Bending an arc in that rigging ring from top to bottom will help it to follow the natural curve of the side of the horse. It will help the bottom to not protrude so far out at the tip pushing the latigos out into the path of your stirrup leathers. It will be hard to bend attached to the saddle and may need to be removed for shaping, but much easier and less costly than a total skirt replacement. I use 550 rigging rings which in principle are similar to the hardware you used. I shape an arc in all of them prior to assembly.

Keith

[tonyc1]

Is the billet lined?

Tony.

[JAM]

Julia,

I think Hennessy was suggesting that you use nylon webbing latigos instead of leather. They can be much thinner and eliminate much of the bulk over the rigging ring.

Another suggestion: The rigging hardware you used is a very heavy and deep "flat spot" in your skirt. Bending an arc in that rigging ring from top to bottom will help it to follow the natural curve of the side of the horse. It will help the bottom to not protrude so far out at the tip pushing the latigos out into the path of your stirrup leathers. It will be hard to bend attached to the saddle and may need to be removed for shaping, but much easier and less costly than a total skirt replacement. I use 550 rigging rings which in principle are similar to the hardware you used. I shape an arc in all of them prior to assembly.

Oh - okay. Now I understand.

A nylon webbing latigo would be thinner, but I can't bring myself to use them. Too non-traditional. But a good idea, nonetheless.

Keith, I know you use 550 rings and I've always loved the look of your rigging - that's how I want to do mine (but this ring looked so cool in the Bork catalog <ggg>). This ring was a lot "flatter" than I expected once it was in the skirt. I want them round and open, like yours, so I'll go with the real 550 next time. Shaping the ring with an arc is not something I would have thought of (one of those arcane bits of saddlemaking technique) - but is a fantastic idea. Do you use an anvil or a vise?

Tony - the off-side cinch billet is not lined, but is the doubled-over style (so there are always two layers of latigo on the off-side to match the two layers of latigo going through the near-side rig ring).

[jwwright]

Julia, just another couple of suggestions regarding the latigos that might be helpful to you . Depending upon the usage of the saddle, I sometimes use high quality, but thinner latigo leather to make the tie straps. Same idea as using nylon, less bulk. I have found that the Santa Ynez latigo from Seigel's in 8 oz works well for this. Concerning the off side.........nothing wrong with a half breed style such as you have on this saddle.....but, since bulk is an issue for you with this saddle, you might try a lined billet style, or as I prefer, a full lenth tie strap same as the on side, again made from a little lighter quality latigo. JW

[JAM]

Julia, just another couple of suggestions regarding the latigos that might be helpful to you . Depending upon the usage of the saddle, I sometimes use high quality, but thinner latigo leather to make the tie straps. Same idea as using nylon, less bulk. I have found that the Santa Ynez latigo from Seigel's in 8 oz works well for this. Concerning the off side.........nothing wrong with a half breed style such as you have on this saddle.....but, since bulk is an issue for you with this saddle, you might try a lined billet style, or as I prefer, a full lenth tie strap same as the on side, again made from a little lighter quality latigo. JW

Another excellent suggestion - I'll try these things.