Velociti GARA stirrup leathers are nylon reinforced at the buckle for improved strength and durability. Stainless steel buckles.
The efficacy of your riding should be your primary priority while picking stirrup leathers. Appropriately sized leathers allow you to change the length of your legs and riding discipline. Your second purpose when selecting stirrup leathers is to match the colour of your saddle.
Stirrup Leather Varieties
Traditional, lined, and synthetic stirrup leathers are available.
Traditional stirrup leathers are known to last a long time and keep their look. If necessary, you can have holes drilled or leathers shortened by a saddler. Traditional leathers have the disadvantage of stretching somewhat over time and use, and can do so asymmetrically depending on rider habits. Traditional leathers are simple to clean and maintain.
Nylon-core Stirrups and leathers were created to assist and protect against stretching. A small layer of soft leather surrounds the nylon webbing, which has very little flexibility. The disadvantages of this sort of stirrup leather are that it cannot be punctured and cannot be cut if necessary. It may not be as durable as a typical, thicker stirrup leather depending on the sort of soft leather encircling the nylon. The nylon inside the soft leather is unlikely to alter, and the usefulness is likely to continue. These leathers are simple to care for and should be conditioned with a lederbalsam.
Synthetic stirrup leathers. Although there is no regulation against it, you should avoid using synthetic stirrup leathers with a leather saddle since synthetic materials tend to harm leather saddle flaps. A mild soap and water solution can be used to clean synthetic leathers.
Preferences for Stirrup Leathers
Stirrup leathers are offered with one-inch and half-inch interval perforations. Some riders prefer the more exact length adjustability that half-inch inch (also called as half-hole) leathers give.
Another thing to think about is the breadth of the leather. Leather typically comes in three widths: 1 inch, 7/8 inch, and 3/4 inch. Many riders who want to decrease weight under the leg choose for smaller widths, which are particularly ideal for toddlers and little riders.
Buckles are also important components of stirrup leathers. They are made of stainless steel for durability and strength, and they are available in two basic shapes: curved and flat. Some riders like the classic flat buckle, while others feel that slightly curved buckles tuck more neatly into the stirrup bar region, reducing bulk beneath their thighs.
You may also choose the finishing features of your stirrup leathers, such as bevelled edges or delicate stitching for added elegance. After you’ve decided on the sort of leather you want, think about colour and length, as shown below.
Stirrup Leather Colour
If you have a dressage saddle, it is most likely black. It will be simple to match your stirrup leathers to your saddle! Brown jumping saddles, on the other hand, might make colour coordination difficult.
Because the leather used in saddles is not the same as the leather used in stirrup leathers, a precise colour match is rare. Even when manufactured by the same company, various leathers will receive colour in somewhat different ways.
If you have a worn brown saddle, it has most likely darkened with age and wear. You should be able to match the present colour of your saddle to the brown of your leathers, keeping in mind that the leathers will darken significantly with conditioning as well.
If your saddle is fresh, think about how the leathers you choose will change colour as you condition them. If the brown of the leather looks to have red overtones, for example, after oiling it may appear even redder. A medium brown leather may never darken sufficiently to match a really dark or ebony brown saddle. To darken leather, use a high-quality leather stain and conditioning oil.
Leather Stirrup Lengths
Correct stirrup leather lengths vary by discipline and are critical for supporting your stance and performance when riding.
Leather Stirrup Lengths for Hunter, Jumper, and Cross Country Riding
The average adult uses 54-inch stirrup leathers for jumping disciplines. A rider who is small in stature may benefit from leathers that are 48 to 52 inches long. A tall rider may require a length of 56 inches. Children’s leathers are typically 48 inches long, although Pessoa Children’s Non-Stretch Stirrup Leathers are available in 42 inch length for extremely small children.
Note: If you ride in an all-purpose saddle that you use for both jumping and dressage, make sure the stirrup leathers are long enough to allow a larger leg length for your flatwork.
Dressage Stirrup Leather Lengths
Dressage stirrup leathers are typically 60 inches long, with the purpose of having the leg hang long against the horse’s side for maximum contact. Stirrup leathers in 56 or 58 inch lengths are recommended for short dressage riders; leathers in 62, 64, and 67 inch lengths are recommended for tall dressage riders.
Stirrup Leather Measurement
1) For hunt seat, measure the length of your arm from your armpit to the tips of your fingers; for dressage, measure the inseam of your leg to the ankle bone.
2) Increase this measurement by two.
3) Add a couple inches for a hunt seat or 6-8 inches for a dressage seat.
Remember that the stirrup iron’s height will add six to eight inches to the entire length. This method of measurement will allow you some extra to tuck into the stirrup leather keeper on the saddle flap, reducing bulk and friction under your leg. Excess leather, on the other hand, might be ugly and distracting to the judge in the show ring.
This measurement approach is only a suggestion; you should change your estimates based on your physical build.
Stirrup Leather Care
To maintain your saddle and stirrup leathers in good condition, clean and condition them on a regular basis.
Keep the following ideas in mind as you go:
• While riding, the stirrup leathers are put under strain. Keep an eye on the leather where it meets the buckle and the iron to ensure it isn’t breaking.
• Replace your stirrup leathers if you believe they are weakened due to loose stitching or cracking.
• Ensure that the release clasp on your saddle’s stirrup bar is constantly open, allowing the leather to drop off the bar if necessary.
