Acavallo Alupro stirrup Irons

[poiuytrewq]

I bought these last year and thought I liked them!
My foot aches and feels like I’m putting my weight on the outside of my foot, feeling less stable in my ankle.

Just recently I swapped back to some compositi plastic irons because the Alupro’s scratched my old saddle and didn’t want to risk my new one, in the meantime ordered some fleece covers.

Covers arrived and I’ve put them back on the saddle and instantly gone back to the unstable feeling and achy feet (I think that’s me trying to force them right!)

Has anyone else had this?
I think I’ve read about them not being great since but didn’t take a lot of notice at the time.
I may be reverting to cheap old basics and keep my fingers x’d I don’t get dragged

 

[Abacus]

I haven’t tried them, can’t help… but maybe the balance on them is wrong for you. Was just going to say that I often ride my son’s little horse with his compositi plastic ‘irons’ and really like the lightness of them, and they feel nice. I would go with what feels good.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I can’t believe I never associated the weird foot/ankle with the stirrups until stopping using them

 

[Barton Bounty]

I’ve literally just said this on another thread! I cannot ride without my flex ons now!
Today used my spare stirrups on my other saddle.. my foot and knees hurt and that was an hour

 

[Bobthecob15]

I didn't like them at all, they seemed flimsy and wasn't convinced they would actually do the job of opening in an accident. We returned ours without even trying them

We've got Le Mieux Vector Balance stirrups which are fab, have already worked when my daughter came off the other week, they are really light and comfy to ride in

 

[Barton Bounty]

I didn't like them at all, they seemed flimsy and wasn't convinced they would actually do the job of opening in an accident. We returned ours without even trying them

We've got Le Mieux Vector Balance stirrups which are fab, have already worked when my daughter came off the other week, they are really light and comfy to ride in

My friend just got these and loves them

 

[ycbm]

I didn't like them at all, they seemed flimsy and wasn't convinced they would actually do the job of opening in an accident. We returned ours without even trying them

We've got Le Mieux Vector Balance stirrups which are fab, have already worked when my daughter came off the other week, they are really light and comfy to ride in

Ditto. I did try and ride in them but sold them on very quickly. I didn't think they would necessarily release my foot and I didn't like the spiky foot beds, either, it seemed very counter productive to pin your boot to a safety stirrup.

 

[Time for Tea]

I’ve been very happy with mine. No weird ankle foot issues, love the wide firm footbed. Release not tested, so far.

 

[Dustygirl]

I have the le mieux ones and love them and yes I have tested the safety feature and can confirm they released me!!

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

I swear by mine, never lost a stirrup since using them. They also saved my skin releasing my feet when my horse fell on the road, I'd have been under him otherwise!

 

[SpotsandBays]

I really like mine and haven’t noticed any aches with them. I used the Compositi ones for a long time and after a while I had to switch from those as I wasn’t a fan.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I don’t think it’s actually compositi ones I’m saying I love, more that using them temporarily the past month has made my feet stop getting achy, going back to the Acavallo they started again.
I changed my boots, tried sports socks, folder tight over my ankles to support but feel like I have to admit defeat here.
I really liked them. I never lost stirrups anyway so didn’t notice any difference there. (I mean I have lots and lots of other flaws)
I did feel safer in the back of my head bug the riding I do isn’t exactly high risk and I always wear correct boots.

Set for sale I think if anyone’s looking?!

 

[poiuytrewq]

@sbloom was it you that’s mentioned these before?

 

[greenbean10]

I have them and really like them. But I can’t get on with free jumps, they make my ankles really ache! So I’m sure it must just be personal preference / where your specific weaknesses are etc!

 

[chaps89]

Funnily enough these are the only ‘posh’ stirrups I’ve tried which I like! Money is tight at the moment else I’d offer to buy yours off you OP I don’t like the sprenger at all and I’m not mad keen on the flexons. Horses for courses I suppose!

 

[webble]

Interestingly I am about to sell my le mieux ones because I didnt find them stable enough or that supportive, it really is different strokes for different folks. I can confirm the release feature works well though!

 

[sbloom]

I bought these last year and thought I liked them!
My foot aches and feels like I’m putting my weight on the outside of my foot, feeling less stable in my ankle.

Just recently I swapped back to some compositi plastic irons because the Alupro’s scratched my old saddle and didn’t want to risk my new one, in the meantime ordered some fleece covers.

Covers arrived and I’ve put them back on the saddle and instantly gone back to the unstable feeling and achy feet (I think that’s me trying to force them right!)

Has anyone else had this?
I think I’ve read about them not being great since but didn’t take a lot of notice at the time.
I may be reverting to cheap old basics and keep my fingers x’d I don’t get dragged

Different saddles will have a different effect on how the leg and therefore the foot hangs, as well as on different horses EVEN in the same saddle, as the ribcage shape also has a big effect. Sometimes even widening or narrowing the saddle (when correct to do so and fitting it in balance) and of course having the saddle out of balance, will have this effect too.

@sbloom was it you that’s mentioned these before?

No, not these. Safestyle are the ones I've mentioned a few times, they work really well for some but it's a very individual thing as you probably gathered from my answer above

Equimech (NI based Equipilates type coach that I work with) will be looking into foot function and stirrups, well worth a follow on FB, we have a LOT to learn about the feet and stirrups. We've taken away most of our normal proprioception that we get through our feet (our bums aren't designed to be sat on much, certainly not in movement!) so having the best-suited stirrups, often with a decent tread width, can be transformative in stabilising the whole leg and therefore also the body.

 

[Jambarissa]

Thinline sell a stirrup wrap to add some cushioning to your usual stirrups, I haven't really looked at it and can't imagine how it would work without making them slippy but might be worth looking into.

 

[maya2008]

We have Alupros. Have released for the friend who recommended them to us, and for my son so far. Hate them in the Thorowgood saddle, make no difference in my treeless on my mare but were perfect and really helpful on my husband’s cob. So…horse and saddle dependent I would say. Well, except for jumping in. Both my son and I love them for jumping. Really secure and keep your heels where they belong!

 

[Bobthecob15]

We actually had a pair of Tech Stirrups for a while, yes they opened really easily so cannot fault the safety. BUT they are SO heavy, they weigh a tonne!! Adds loads of weight to your saddle, I also thought they just looked absolutely massive on a saddle! We sold ours on.

 

[SpotsandBays]

I don’t think it’s actually compositi ones I’m saying I love, more that using them temporarily the past month has made my feet stop getting achy, going back to the Acavallo they started again.
I changed my boots, tried sports socks, folder tight over my ankles to support but feel like I have to admit defeat here.
I really liked them. I never lost stirrups anyway so didn’t notice any difference there. (I mean I have lots and lots of other flaws)
I did feel safer in the back of my head bug the riding I do isn’t exactly high risk and I always wear correct boots.

Set for sale I think if anyone’s looking?!

How much are you wanting for them? I’m tentatively looking for another pair of Alupros (or other safety type stirrups!) but have a relatively low budget at the moment

 

[Squeak]

I've got them and like them but it does sound a bit like it varies between horses and saddles. I have fallen off in them but no idea if they released or not.