Stirrup leathers are a vital piece of safety equipment, and you must clean and condition them regularly to keep them supple. Stirrup leathers take a lot of weight, and if you don't take care of them, they might snap when you ride. You can clean English leathers with a sponge and saddle soap, and for the best results, use a leather conditioner afterwards. To encourage even wear on your leathers, swap them over regularly - the left to the right and vice versa. The stirrup leather will stretch more on the near side because you use it to mount.