Constantly loosing stirrups in new saddle-getting the fenders to stay turned out.

Ok, I see, there SHOULD be an extra inch or two play there to get that fender through so you can put the keeper on....if there isn't, I'd take it to a saddle shop and get the fenders cut back just like Stevenson suggested.

Sometimes you just have to haul on the fender a bit though.....I hope that's just the case

I will try that. If not I guess I'll have to take it to the saddle shop! Yippee. Lol
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You can buy kids' fenders and have them put on.

I use a little garden shovel handle for mine. :3 I just make sure I pit it back in after every ride. It stays long enough for the time I ride (usually 3-4 hours or a day of showing). Albeit, I can keep my keepers on since I'm on the second to last hole, lol.
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Pick up the flap on your saddle below the seat, look up where the fenders go around the tree. The fenders are usually a big loop. Push all the way up on the outer big part of the fenders, while pulling down on the thinner inside strap of the fender, it will rotate the wider leather up, and the thinner leather down, giving you the place to put the keeper, then wet the leather, do the broom stick thing, once dry oil it.

Joe is right, the leathers should slide through the opening in the tree and you should be able to rotate them enough to still use your keeper. And they will stay bent easier too, because you will be bending the leather where it is thinner instead of fighting the thickest part of the fender like you are now.

My main reason for posting though it to tell you NOT to wet the fenders if you are concerned about keeping them looking nice. I recently bought a like-new saddle for $250 which is a $1000 saddle. The only flaw with it is the previous owners must have really drenched the fenders to try to turn them. They succeeded in turning them but the fenders have the ugliest water marks on them now. Big dark, ugly water marks on an otherwise new light oil saddle. I could just kick them for that! But maybe I wouldn't have gotten it so cheap if they would have taken good care of it. But your saddle is similar in color to mine, so I wouldn't wet it if I were you.

Ah. Totally forgot the fenders can pull up...dumb me!!

I won't wet my fenders cause I'm too scared of marks. Will try what joe said first cause what I'm doing now is a PITA
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How about misting the backs with water? Not the part you can see.

Did you oil it to make it less stiff then do the broom stick idea
We did it with a 2x4 I think that mite have made a difference because of the weight and we didnt oil it

I said the same thing as all the others on page one.....