Turning Western Stirrups

I just bought a saddle with the stirrup leathers turned as shown.. OMG I love it...

I didn't read all the pages on this, so apologize if I'm repeating a tip. I use a broomstick and twist my stirrups everytime I put my saddle away. It holds them the way I want them and if, for some reason they seem stiff or not quite right, I spray them with water and let them dry while on the broomstick. Then I use Lexol Leather Conditioner when the leather is dry, to keep it soft and supple.

I'm so happy my BC's stirrups came pre-turned.

Fabulous!!!! Thanks

LOL, just found this after searching the net, should of started at home I guess. Going to try this today

^^^ Please let us know how it works for you.

Will do, I've done the broom handle, I did broom handle with weights hanging on it, but no matter how often I do it the fenders go back straight.

I had them twisted round Sat night before I rode Sunday, and my knees are still shot

This is the last chance, if this doesn't work then I may have to admit defeat and go totally English

In order to turn stirrups with the broom handle you need to dampen the leather, all the stirrup leather and fender first. Unless you dampen all the pieces you could wind up with a water line. My old roper with the thick leather wouldn't even respond to this. I had to remove and reattach the blevins buckles to reverse them, then they kept the twist. Blevins buckles add too much stiffness to the stirrup leather. I much prefer to remove them, drill holes and lace them. That is how the early saddles were done.

I did the dampen the leather, still didn't set.....

I use the broom method. Oil the inside of the leather twist and insert the broom until the next ride. My limited experience is if oil has been applied to the leather water will not penitrate. If no oil has been applied then water will penitrate but when dry will have hardened the leather

Don't, don't ever use the mother inlaws broom. She will have nothing to ride home on and may visit for to long.