Dressage riders are often accused of being "snobbish" and I have to confess, I can be pretty picky about certain things when it comes to riding and horses. I guess we all develop our preferences over time and with experience.
I like a flat, preferably recently harrowed ring - not just because of the aesthetics (but oh! there's nothing better than floating along on gorgeous geometrically lined footing that resembles art work more than sport work), but also because I have my horse's best interest at heart when it comes to giving him the best chance at developing balance, good movement, and a reliable cushion for each foot to land on.
And I can be that way, too, about my tack. For example, when I first started riding, I thought all stirrup leathers were the same. I mean, they all hold the stirrups, they're all the same size, and basically, all you're doing is using them to give your feet a place to hang, right?
Over time, I realized that this was not the case. So I buy good stirrup leathers - once - and keep them forever! Because now I know that the quality of the leather matters, and I don't like thick, extra lined leather, because they tend to pinch and create extra bulkiness right under the area of the calf that should be touching the horse.
When I found out that Total Saddle Fit has expanded their products to include newly designed Stability Stirrup Leathers™, I was eager to give them a try. You might remember my amazing experience with the StretchTec Shoulder Relief Girth™ (click on the link to read all about it). I still love those girths after two years of regular use!
So. Can Total Saddle Fit do to stirrup leathers what they've done with their girths?
The first time I rode in them, I felt nothing. I mean it - nothing.
In fact, I forgot all about them. And I had a great ride!
It was only as I drove home in the car (where I do my best thinking) that I realized that there was a lot to that nothing-ness feeling!
Double Width
I think the most prominent feature is the double-wide leather that meets your leg. The extra width seems to fit the inner calf better. So it feels at once flat, and yet there's enough leather to support the contact area of your calf to the flap of the saddle.
The width also completely covers the bottom strap so you don't feel that movement between the top and bottom straps ever again! You know what I mean? Sometimes, do the straps bounce if your leg swings, or slide, snap, or grab at your inner calf? There's none of that with the wider top layer now.
But speaking of bouncing straps...
Quieter Leg?
Another thing I realized, after my next ride, is that the extra width fits delightfully into the saddle just behind the knee roll. So when your lower leg goes to swing forward, the leather stops at the knee roll. And so does your leg!
I know most of us won't complain about a stirrup leather that can help keep us stay quiet in the lower leg!
Leather Quality
I knew from my previous experience with the girth that the leather quality would be per Total Saddle Fit's usual high standards, and these leathers did not disappoint. I really am picky about the quality of the leather, and this leather is simply gorgeous. It's thin but not flimsy. It's soft and pliable. It also has that tiny bit of give that I like in good leather - there's no stiffness or harshness to how it feels.
And like I said at the beginning, it feels like there's nothing underneath your calf. Which helps maintain better contact with the calf.
There's more information about the stirrup leathers and how they work and were developed. Visit the Total Saddle Fit website for more information here. And if you want to hear Justin, the founder of the company, talk about it on The Dressage Network, click here. His interview is at 36:00 minutes into the broadcast.
Meanwhile, I'm going to continue enjoying the fantastic design that stabilizes and gives a sense of freedom at the same time! 🙂
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12 Riding Quick Tips – #7: Four Leg Yield Variations (Diagrams)
12 Riding Quick Tips – #3: Work On Those Long “Wrapping” Legs