Pravins Sellier and Millbrook Leathers have something pretty awesome going on.  I had seen their stirrup leathers all over the Gram and I knew I had to give them a try. Apparently, the word on the street is that they help to stabilize your leg while schooling and jumping. Well, if a steady leg was the end result I was all about giving them a try.

After a little reach out, the team at Millbrook was more than helpful in getting me some leathers.   Now, do not be alarmed when you receive them as they may send you back into a 1980s flashback to stiff REAL stirrup leathers. At first I admit, I was a little put off. I was going to have to work for this ‘steady leg’ they boasted about?  And so it began.  Now admittedly I’m a little lazy around the barn, so as you can muster I wasn’t super jazzed about the work that I was going to have to put into these stirrup leathers. I believe I even did a reach out of worry to make sure the leathers were actually going to fit my legs. They seemed very short.   Once the fear of short ass stirrups faded, I began my due diligence of working the leather.  Let me break it down for you.

A) Grab the leather and mold it over and over in your hands.  I found this is a great way to work out any stress you may be feeling. Pretend it’s a baseball glove or something.  I did this for about a week. Every day when I realized my barn helper wasn’t cleaning the stalls enough or fed to late I’d just grab a stirrup leather and start working and bending it. 😉

B) Next step and I found this one to be ridiculously helpful as it actually stretched the leather.  GO FIND A BAR! No, not that type of BAR silly: A tying post,  stall bar, pipe corral or something sturdy. Now place the leather over the bar, grab each end and work it. And I mean roll it back and forth. Put your weight into it. Think of it as some weird cross fit exercise and motor through it. Trust me, this was the key in really working them in.

C) Last step, put them on and ride in them.  After you ride, do a nice olive oil or leather conditioning process and Voila’ you’re on your way.

So There you have it!  At first I wasn’t completely sold but after riding in them I found them to be very leg stabilizing after all. I did a few jumps, nothing crazy but my friend said, “Wow! I can see a difference”.  I’ll continue to ride in them some more and see if they’re right for me. I have a bunch of more riding to do in them before they’re formed to my legs. I was told by several riders that it’s a process but well worth the effort once they’re worn in!  I’ll keep you posted on the IG. Don’t let the hard work sway you though, they sell out quickly so they must be doing something right. PS no wise cracks about my trusty old Tipperary Helmet. It’s light and airy and it was hot as Hades that day.