Stirrup hobbles are short leather straps that buckle around the bottom of your fender and stirrup leathers, just above the stirrup. They keep the stirrup where it belongs and hold the fender down tight. I think everyone riding Western should use them, and I recommend them to everybody. They are one of the smallest, least expensive pieces of tack on a saddle, and they are a safety item. I build mine in my shop in Eminence, Indiana.
You can see exactly where they sit on my parts of a western saddle post.
What do stirrup hobbles do?
Look at the bottom of a Western fender. The stirrup hangs from the stirrup leathers, and the fender lies over them. With nothing holding them together, the fender and the leathers can separate, and the stirrup can swing, twist and move out of position as you ride.
A stirrup hobble wraps around all of it, fender and leathers together, and buckles snug. That does two things:
- It keeps the stirrup where it belongs.
- It keeps the fender down tight, so it doesn't get in the way of your foot or your communication with your horse.
Why are stirrup hobbles a safety item?
I've seen a stirrup flip up into the wrong part of the fender and create a big mess. That's a wreck that could have easily been avoided with an inexpensive stirrup hobble.
When the stirrup and fender are held together, the stirrup hangs where you expect it to be every time you reach for it with your foot.
Saddle makers like Tucker Trail Saddles make the same point when they walk through why hobbles matter:
How do you put on stirrup hobbles?
It only takes a minute and no tools:
- Find the spot. Go to the bottom of the fender, just above the stirrup, where the fender and stirrup leathers stack together.
- Wrap the hobble around the fender and leathers. Put the widest part of the hobble in front and the buckle in back.
- Buckle it nice and tight. You want it snug around the fender so the leathers and fender can't separate.
- Do the other side the same way.
Then give them a look when you saddle, the same as you'd check your latigo.
My stirrup hobbles
My stirrup hobbles come as a pair, one for each side, and they're $16.50. They come in two finishes:
- Light oil, cut from oak skirting leather, a firm, dense leather that holds its shape.
- Dark oil, cut from latigo, which stays supple.
Stirrup Hobbles: 12", stainless buckle, six holes, sold as a pair, light or dark oil. $16.50.
| Spec | Stirrup Hobbles |
|---|---|
| Length | 12" |
| Width | Contoured, 1.5" at the widest point, tapering to 5/8" at the buckle end |
| Leather | Light oil: oak skirting leather. Dark oil: latigo |
| Hardware | Stainless steel buckle |
| Adjustment | 6 holes, 1/2" apart |
| Sold as | A pair |
| Price | $16.50 |
When should you replace stirrup hobbles?
I've taken a lot of saddles apart over the years, and stirrup hobbles are one of the parts that need replacing. They live down at the bottom of the rig and flex with every stride. If yours are cracked, stretched out, stiff at the buckle holes or just gone, it's time for a new pair. It's one of the least expensive fixes you can make on a saddle.
I don't do saddle repair anymore, but I do build replacement parts: latigos, billets and hobbles. You can see them in the parts and pieces collection.
Three different things called "hobbles"
Western tack uses the word "hobble" for three different pieces of equipment, and people mix them up all the time. Here's how they sort out:
| Piece of tack | Where it goes | What it does | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stirrup hobbles | Around the fender and stirrup leathers, just above the stirrup | Keeps the stirrup where it belongs and the fender down tight | $16.50 a pair |
| Cinch connector (hobble strap) | Under the belly, between the front and back cinch | Keeps the back cinch from sliding back toward the flank | $12 |
| Horse hobbles | On the horse's front legs, no saddle involved | Keeps a horse from wandering when there's no place to tie | $95 |
My cinch connector is biothane, because that strap sees more mud and water than any other and biothane never rots. My horse hobbles are two layers of harness leather stitched together with 9 adjustment holes. If you came here for the cinch connector, how tight should a back cinch be covers it.
While you're down at the stirrups
It's a good time to make sure your stirrups fit your boots and the way you ride. My stirrup size guide walks through it, and you can see what I carry in the stirrups collection.
Rosewood Roper Stirrups: wide roper platform, 5" inside width, dark leather treads. $99.
How do I take care of stirrup hobbles?
The same as the rest of your tack. Brush off the dirt and sand, clean with a liquid saddle soap, let them dry completely and put on a thin coat of a good conditioner like Skidmore's. Let that sit a day, then wipe them down with saddle soap once more to take off any tacky feel. The full routine is in how to clean and condition leather.
If you ever want me to do it for you, I'll clean and condition anything I sell for free, for life. Get it to me and I'll ship it back at my cost.
My lifetime warranty
Everything I make has a lifetime warranty. It covers anything that breaks or fails in normal use. Parts that wear with use, like latigos and off billets, aren't covered once they've worn out. If it can be repaired, I'll repair it. If it can't, I'll replace it, at no charge. If you have any questions, contact me. The details are on the warranty and leather care page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need stirrup hobbles?
I think everyone riding Western should use them. They keep the stirrup where it belongs and the fender down tight, so it doesn't get in the way of your foot or your communication with your horse. I've seen a stirrup flip up into the wrong part of the fender and make a big mess, and a hobble would have prevented it.
How do you put stirrup hobbles on?
Wrap the hobble around the bottom of the fender and stirrup leathers, just above the stirrup, with the widest part in front and the buckle in back. Buckle it nice and tight around the fender, then do the other side.
Are stirrup hobbles the same as a hobble strap?
No. "Hobble strap" usually means the cinch connector that ties the front cinch to the back cinch under the belly. Stirrup hobbles go around the fender and stirrup leathers above the stirrup.
How much are stirrup hobbles?
Mine are $16.50 for a pair, in light oil oak skirting leather or dark oil latigo, with a stainless steel buckle.
When should I replace stirrup hobbles?
When they crack, stretch out, get stiff at the buckle holes or go missing. They're one of the parts on a saddle that need replacing over time.
Tyler has been building Western tack for more than fifteen years, the last six of them full time, from the shop at his house in Eminence, Indiana. Growing up around some of the top professionals in the pleasure horse, barrel racing and racehorse worlds gave him the chance to ride high-quality horses in each of those disciplines, and years spent as a pickup man and riding ranch horses today are where most of his ideas for better tack come from. Every piece he builds is made in the USA and guaranteed for life.
