Non-stretch Leathers?!

[HairyCob]

Whilst Norm was checking Dolly and her saddle today he condemmed my (very expensive!) leathers as they have stretched beyond use...:mad:

He advised me to get some of the Bates ones with the nylon core that don't stretch, and I duly toddled off to the tack shop to get some.

Luckily my tack shop also sells Saddle Co saddles, so I was able to put a set of the leathers against 'my' saddle- and frankly my dears, they just won't do!

The 'brown' of Bate's leathers is horrible- very, very different to my saddle- it's the colour of puppy pooh! Or if you like, much more 'Newmarket' than 'Havanna'!

SOooooo... anyone got any suggestions? Can the Bates leathers be 'toned down'? Do they darken with age? Are there any other 'non-stretch' brands? Would it be sacreligious to put wintec synthetic 'leathers' on a leather saddle? Is the moon made of green cream cheese?

Answers on a postcard please, or if you don't have my address, post them here!:D

ETA: Appologies for my 'strangeness' tonight! Norm 'Bowened' me while he was here (no, that isn't a euphemism!) and it always sends me slightly 'off the wall'. Soon I will sleep and tomorrow I'll be back to my normal, boring self!

[Horsesarelife]

Are you shure they were not the newmarket ones anyway, because they do both brown and newmarket and I can't imagine them selling to newmarket coloured ones, and no brown, especially seeing as their brown saddles are actually brown :).

http://f5c.yahoofs.com/shopping/mcid15_127488/simg_t_tx10685206852jpg110?rm_____DLB9H65G4
thats the three colours they do, and the brown ones look pretty brown to me :)

[HairyCob]

Nope, they were definitely marked as 'brown' on the packaging- not quite as 'tan' as newmarket, but definitely NOT the dark brown I'd like to go with my dark brown saddle.

I guess I *could* get black, that would look better than the brown, but I do hate having 'mix and match' tack....!;)

[Iron Maiden]

Jeffries do a non-stretch nylon cored leather, a friend of mine has them & swears by them. I've got some Prestige non-stretch ones, so far I'd say that they are lovely but I've not had them long & they are not cheap so ask me about them in a year for a more informed opinion!!

ETA: I only have black tack these days so I don't know what shade of brown the leathers come in. I like black, it's easy to match with other things that are black!

[Daffy Dilly]

I have the Bates brown leathers on a Native Saddle Co saddle (dark brown) and agree, they are orange! But yes, they do tone down.

Otherwise, Stubben leathers are designed so that the leather pulls in two different directions, basically meaning it doesn't stretch. I decided not to put another pair of £35 leathers to the test, and they come in silly sizes, which is why I went for the Bates.

[BeachRiding]

The wintec synthetic haven't stretched on me.

[Dawn_connie]

*giggles at the banter*

Kids party today, I realy need booze... but giggles will have to do!

Im not much help am I?

Dawn

[neen]

My Wintec webbers match our Saddle Co saddle perfectly in terms of colour -- is your Saddle Co saddle a chocolatey colour?

[Palomino Mare]

i recently bought the derby house leathers for my wintec as i dont like the wintec leathers. i wouldnt reccommend the DH leathers, they've strechted sooo badly that one leather is now 2holes longer than the other (and i do change them round)

i think i'm going to buy stubben ones as i have a slight stubben fetish and Daffy Dilly has just given me a good excuse:D

[Sammii]

I have a pair of wintec synthetic leathers, and they have stretched too....despite all the fuss from wintec that they wouldn't :rolleyes:

[MuddyCob]

Collegiate do some stirrup leathers with nylon core - I saw them when I was shopping for new leathers recently. I cannot vouch for their performance as I bought "normal" leathers, but they do them in black and brown (a dark brown - not newmarket)

[chickflick1066]

I have the Treadston Non-stretch stirrup leathers. Would be good, if one of my holes wasn't busted on brand new leathers. Ah well.

[Daffy Dilly]

Bates and Collegiate are made by the same people, just different leather. ;) Collegiate saddles are generally browner than the Bates though, which are quite red, although certainly not as orange as the leathers!

[Chip]

That poo coloured leather is called 'Australian Nut'

Please DO NOT use synthetic leather with leather saddles or vice versa, unless you want to ruin your saddle:eek:

[HairyCob]

Please DO NOT use synthetic leather with leather saddles or vice versa, unless you want to ruin your saddle:eek:


That's what I thought but good to have it confirmed before some numpty tack shop assistant tries to sell me some...!:D