Need help quickly--adjusting western stirrups

Buckshot · 05-13-2008, 12:37 PM

I feel soooooo stupid.

Anyways, I just found out that the horses I'll be trying out tonight are going to be ridden...by me (along with the other woman)

I think I'll have the other person ride first, because I'm more experienced than her and it'll be easier for the horse to give her **** if she gets on first.

However, she is a TON shorter than me. Almost a foot probably. I don't know if I'm going to be riding english or western (no problem there, can do both)

, but the thing is....I have NOT done ENOUGH western to be able to adjust the stirrups flawlessly. And those stirrups will definitely need to be lengthened if she rides first. Unfortunately, I don't have a western saddle at home that I can play with. Sooo....any quick pointers for this?

Thanks!!

Finallyownhorse · 05-13-2008, 01:14 PM

My western saddle have a little leather piece with a buckle on it that needs to be removed before adjusting the length. It sets just above the stirrup.

Someone showed me a quick way to measure the length needed. Its not 100%, but it will get you close to the needed length.

After you completely remove the leather piece above the stirrup. You removed the metal tounge piece out of the hole its in for keeping the stirrups length. Located on the back side of the saddle leg piece.

Then hold the stirrup into your arm pit while holding your fingers at the top of the side leg thing. Sorry I can not think of the leg things real name.

The correct length will be when the stirrup just touches your arm pit with your fingers at the top of the leg thing. *UGH I can't think of what the real name of the leg thing is.*

When in the correct spot, look here the metal tounge/buckle thing is and put it in the holes its closest too.

sorry, this would have been so much better of an explaination if I could think of all the proper names.

Rhythmic Hooves · 05-13-2008, 01:26 PM

Fender!... I think. We always call the the stirrup leather but I think it's called the fender.

Now for my tip. The how to measure advice is good but you might fix the first then count the holes so they are even.
Tip #2. When you find the right hole and set the stirrup then I would suggest you take hold of the front or back piece of the fender leather and pull whichever one is shorter to even them out instead of trying to move the stirrup on the leather piece... does that make sense? My stirrups sit on the same place in the leather weather a short person rides or a tall person because the leather has molded around the stirrup at that spot. I sure hope that is making sense.

And lastly, my dad always says that when you are in a western saddle and sitting up straight and correctly you should just barely be able to see the toe of your boot over your knee (of course I like mine shorter and my brother likes them longer so...).

Tell us how it goes by the way!

luckydragon · 05-13-2008, 01:29 PM

First you have to undo the "hobble strap" then you can unbuckle the metal part underneath the fender, like finallyownhorse said. After you check the length of the stirrup you may have to pull the top of the fender so the outside and inside are the same length. (The fender is wide on the outside and narrows before it goes through the stirrup and back up. The narrow part has the metal buckle on it that goes into the holes on the leather piece underneath, where the other metal part is that slides over the buckle.) Then you can rehook the buckle. Make sure the metal piece that slides down is as tight as it can be when the stirrup is hanging there. That's why you have to pull the fender to straighten it out. It's not very fun when you are riding and the stirrup comes undone! That has happened to me when I rode in my Mom's barrel saddle, her legs are quite a bit shorter than mine and the saddle hadn't had the stirrups changed much, and I didn't get it pulled tight enough! Hope that helps!

Finallyownhorse · 05-13-2008, 01:44 PM

Luckydragon, its so much easier to understand when you have the right names and a picture to boot! LOL

luckydragon · 05-13-2008, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finallyownhorse

Luckydragon, its so much easier to understand when you have the right names and a picture to boot! LOL

Isn't it though! I grew up riding western and I still have to stop and think what the fenders are called. For some reason, even though the name comes to mind right away, I have a hard time remebering if that is what they really are called!

05-13-2008, 12:37 PM	#1
Buckshot Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Michiana Posts: 5,197 Images: 24 Blog Entries: 18	Need help quickly--adjusting western stirrups I feel soooooo stupid. Anyways, I just found out that the horses I'll be trying out tonight are going to be ridden...by me (along with the other woman) I think I'll have the other person ride first, because I'm more experienced than her and it'll be easier for the horse to give her **** if she gets on first. However, she is a TON shorter than me. Almost a foot probably. I don't know if I'm going to be riding english or western (no problem there, can do both) , but the thing is....I have NOT done ENOUGH western to be able to adjust the stirrups flawlessly. And those stirrups will definitely need to be lengthened if she rides first. Unfortunately, I don't have a western saddle at home that I can play with. Sooo....any quick pointers for this? Thanks!! __________________ Say ya to da U.P., eh? HGS's official Birdbrain

05-13-2008, 01:29 PM	#4
luckydragon Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canyon, TX Posts: 974 Images: 390 Blog Entries: 3	First you have to undo the "hobble strap" then you can unbuckle the metal part underneath the fender, like finallyownhorse said. After you check the length of the stirrup you may have to pull the top of the fender so the outside and inside are the same length. (The fender is wide on the outside and narrows before it goes through the stirrup and back up. The narrow part has the metal buckle on it that goes into the holes on the leather piece underneath, where the other metal part is that slides over the buckle.) Then you can rehook the buckle. Make sure the metal piece that slides down is as tight as it can be when the stirrup is hanging there. That's why you have to pull the fender to straighten it out. It's not very fun when you are riding and the stirrup comes undone! That has happened to me when I rode in my Mom's barrel saddle, her legs are quite a bit shorter than mine and the saddle hadn't had the stirrups changed much, and I didn't get it pulled tight enough! Hope that helps! __________________ Lucky Krews, 16.2 hand, off the track TB, now Eventing horse. Dragon Fly, 16.1 hand, TB cross, all-round horse. http://www.freewebs.com/eventingtbs

05-13-2008, 01:44 PM	#5
Finallyownhorse Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Southeastern South Dakota Posts: 1,891 Images: 163	Luckydragon, its so much easier to understand when you have the right names and a picture to boot! LOL __________________ Vanna, 21 year old Appaloosa mare Ace, 23 year old Solid Paint gelding

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05-13-2008, 01:14 PM	#2
Finallyownhorse Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Southeastern South Dakota Posts: 1,891 Images: 163	My western saddle have a little leather piece with a buckle on it that needs to be removed before adjusting the length. It sets just above the stirrup. Someone showed me a quick way to measure the length needed. Its not 100%, but it will get you close to the needed length. After you completely remove the leather piece above the stirrup. You removed the metal tounge piece out of the hole its in for keeping the stirrups length. Located on the back side of the saddle leg piece. Then hold the stirrup into your arm pit while holding your fingers at the top of the side leg thing. Sorry I can not think of the leg things real name. The correct length will be when the stirrup just touches your arm pit with your fingers at the top of the leg thing. UGH I can't think of what the real name of the leg thing is. When in the correct spot, look here the metal tounge/buckle thing is and put it in the holes its closest too. sorry, this would have been so much better of an explaination if I could think of all the proper names. __________________ Vanna, 21 year old Appaloosa mare Ace, 23 year old Solid Paint gelding Last edited by Finallyownhorse; 05-13-2008 at 01:15 PM. Reason: missed an instruction

05-13-2008, 01:26 PM	#3
Rhythmic Hooves Full Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 142 Images: 2 Blog Entries: 1	Fender!... I think. We always call the the stirrup leather but I think it's called the fender. Now for my tip. The how to measure advice is good but you might fix the first then count the holes so they are even. Tip #2. When you find the right hole and set the stirrup then I would suggest you take hold of the front or back piece of the fender leather and pull whichever one is shorter to even them out instead of trying to move the stirrup on the leather piece... does that make sense? My stirrups sit on the same place in the leather weather a short person rides or a tall person because the leather has molded around the stirrup at that spot. I sure hope that is making sense. And lastly, my dad always says that when you are in a western saddle and sitting up straight and correctly you should just barely be able to see the toe of your boot over your knee (of course I like mine shorter and my brother likes them longer so...). Tell us how it goes by the way!