Posted 2016-06-28 12:58 PM Subject: Stirrup adjustment to fit a kid. Help!
Expert
Posts: 2128
Can you just punch holes further up to bring the stirrips higher? This kid is around 9 and the stirrups need to come up about 6-8 inches. I am not a leathersmith and dont want to mess anything up. I feel like the fenders may get in the way also. Advice please??
Posted 2016-06-28 2:18 PM Subject: RE: Stirrup adjustment to fit a kid. Help!
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 495 Location: Washington
I used a drill, easier then a hole punch. Just make sure the fender slides through so you can put the stirrup hobble back on so the stirrup doesn't turn. If the extra leather hangs wrap it back up into the hobble. I'm 5' so always have had short stirrups and have to always put more holes in, then wrap the extra back up.
If that doesn't work, get smaller fenders. Safety first for the little one!
Posted 2016-06-28 2:22 PM Subject: RE: Stirrup adjustment to fit a kid. Help!
If you have someone in your area who does tack repair they can trim the top of the fender along with punching holes. If done correctly you can not tell it has been done.
Posted 2016-06-28 7:47 PM Subject: RE: Stirrup adjustment to fit a kid. Help!
Expert
Posts: 1543 Location: MI
We had problems with the buddy stirrups because the fenders got in the way, and the horse it if you're my daughters feet asking them to go.
On my daughters barrel saddle, I punched holes higher up in the stirrup leather and cut the fender to accommodate the short in length. It worked great and made me realize how important that was for my children's security when riding.
Posted 2016-07-01 11:29 AM Subject: RE: Stirrup adjustment to fit a kid. Help!
Expert
Posts: 3815 Location: The best kept secret in TX
We use latigo straps in place of fenders until they are tall enough for adult fenders. We put a buckle on the end so we can loop them through the stirrups and wrap them around the tree just like regular fenders. So they kind of work like english stirrup leathers.
Posted 2016-07-01 2:27 PM Subject: RE: Stirrup adjustment to fit a kid. Help!
Regular
Posts: 67
I'm old and only 4'11 so this has been an ongoing issue for me my entire riding life. I either buy youth fenders or trim the regular ones down so I can pull them up further. Since I converted to a treeless I just pulled the fancy fenders off and had plain leather strips made.
Posted 2016-07-01 11:11 PM Subject: RE: Stirrup adjustment to fit a kid. Help!
Elite Veteran
Posts: 794
I just fixed my grandsons saddle tonight and I used two belts. Took of finders and put belt on. Will replace with finders when he is tall enough to reach them.
Posted 2016-07-02 8:54 AM Subject: RE: Stirrup adjustment to fit a kid. Help!
Fact Checker
Posts: 16575 Location: Displaced Iowegian
Southtxponygirl - 2016-06-28 2:29 PM Putting youth fenders on would be the easy way and best way of doing,for safety reasons.
^^^^ THIS......the main problem with cutting down the tops of the fenders to accomodate a 6-8" shortening is that once the child's legs grow and you have to drop the fenders, the cut off part will be below the jockey and "catch" at the top. Buddy stirrups are fine for just slow riding but don't have the stability for any kind of "fast" riding.
Stirrup adjustment to fit a kid. Help!
