How do you attach leathers to a saddle?

Question

How do you attach leathers to a saddle?

Answer 1

Just to add a note to Zair's post which is totally correct.  I never recommend anyone leave the gates/key's closed or in the UP postion.  I don't even ride with my keys closed.  If anything ever happens you want the leather to be able to slide off so i won't be dragged.  With a key open you have a chance of it coming off in the event u get hung.  With it closed or in the up postion ur stuck, it's not going to release u.  If you ride with safety irons u can leave it up.  If you jump tons like an eventer and think there's a chance of ur leather pulling off over fences u can leave it up, otherwise i recommend u leave it open at all times.

Answer 2

Hello Brook brand new Yahoo Answers person!

I open  the "gates" under the stirrup flap, and slide over its bar. It might be easier to do this with the leather folded and with stirrup attached, then put the spring loaded "gate" back in the UP position. Some poke the leather under the gate and then add  stirrups and buckle. We prefer to leave the gate open  for children's hacks. Leather gets cleaned every day and very well each month, so the leathers are nice and soft. Luck!

Answer 3

Well, I ride English so I am not sure with western saddles, but I will tell you how with an English one:

1. Near the front of a saddle, at the top, there is a small flap. Locate it.

2. Under this, there is a small metal bar, about 1 1/2 inches long. Locate this.

3.This little bar, at the end, will or will not have a bend at the end, If it is bent, push down on it (sometimes it require a bit of work) so it is a straight bar.

4. Take your stirrup leather and make a small loop at the end that doesn't have the buckle.

5. Slide the loop around the bar, so that the bar is inside the stirrup leather.

6. Pull on the loose end.

7. Do up the buckle.

8. Depending on how the saddle was before, bend the bar back or leave it be.

9. Put the buckle on your usual hole.

10. Repeat on the other side.