Does it matter if I buy a brand of stirrup leathers that isn't the same brand of saddle? If I buy a different brand, how do I make sure they match the shade of the saddle?

 I have a Crosby close contact saddle and would like to replace the stirrup leathers. It's been difficult for me to find Crosby stirrup leathers that are the same size as the old ones - 1"x50. And I'm not sure other brands will match the saddle. Most of my online research has turned up leathers that are 1"x57 and they look dark enough to match, but I'm not sure. Any suggestions of where I can look?

I'm not good with sizes, because I'm so short that I can use the kids size. The leathers I have right now are adult, and I had to punch holes in them. They came with the saddle, though, so I've never even paid attention to what size they are.

If you want to guarantee that it'll match, you could always just buy the closest Crosby leathers and then punch extra holes if you have to.

As for matching, just get something that's reasonably close, no reason for them to match perfectly. You aren't really going to see them when you are riding anyway ;) If you can get them in the general same shade family I think you'll be fine (if they are too light you can darken them with oil as well).

No, they don't have to match and they don't have to be EXACTLY the same color.  Stirrup leathers are one of the things I refuse to spend a ton of money on.  The only attribute they need to have is to be strong -- I've had my current pair of $25 leathers for at least 5 years now and they still look like new and don't stretch.  No need to pay $100 for some fancy-schmancy name-brand leather. 

I completely agree with Solaris. Stirrup leathers are stirrup leathers. There is not a huge difference between a $30 pair and a $100 pair except for the name on them.They don't need to match your saddle, when you are riding no one is going to see them anyway.

Thanks for the advice.

The tack shops I normally go to have very little selection when it comes to leathers. And they tend to be the $100 variety. I've been looking online (especially eBay) for the best price/quality combo - which is why I was asking about matching the color; it's hard to tell how dark or light the leather is online.

I'm short too, so maybe I should buy kid's size. My current leathers are 1"x50 and most of the leathers I've looked at are 1"x57. Does that make a difference?

So the 57's will be 7cm longer than the 50's you have (that's 2.7, nearly 3, inches). I'd call that significant if you are so short that you are riding with your current leathers on their shortest or next to shortest hole. Though if you can't find 50's or shorter you can punch more holes in the 57's and they'll work fine; you'll just have lots of extra leather.

I'm 5ft and actually don't ride with kids leathers, but I could probably get away with it. I've been lucky in that my local tack shop was willing to order me reasonably priced ($50-60ish) "in between" (I'd guess youth, or extremely short adult) leathers. They are out there, but they are hard to find! :) I currently have 3 sets stockpiled (one on the saddle used and two as backup so I don't have to deal with finding them anytime soon ;) ).

Nope, it is definately inches. You have to remeber that the leather is basically halfed (or more) once you put your stirrup on it and put in on your saddle.

You could order them from on on-line tack shop. There are many reasonably priced ones out there, you just have to look:D

 Try www.Statlinetack.com for both expensive and inexpensive leathers. I have found that as long as you don't buy the absolute cheapest product in their line you are usually pretty safe as far as quality goes. And they have lots of colors and lengths to choose from. But for me, as long as they are brownish on a brown saddle, that's good enough. But reins MUST match! (lol)

I'm 5'4" and recently got a pair of 48" leathers labeled "child or small adult".  They work, but if I could have gotten a 54" pair that would have been perfect.  The main thing with overly long leathers that have to have holes punched is that it's hard to get them even - and if your legs aren't the same length, that just makes it worse.  And the extra long "tail" of leather hanging out behind the saddle flap can look kind of sloppy, especially if you ever want to show.  Doesn't really hurt anything, but I'm enjoying the "half-holes" on my new ones that make fine-tuning my stirrup length so much easier.

MaryM