Bent iron stirrups..following post about being dragged by horse

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LizGooch1

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Has anyone else been dragged by these stirrups? I have just bought a pair thinking they are safer than normal stirrups but I'm not so sure now - anyone?!

Thankies
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I ride sj and xc in them, have only fallen off about twice (in the last 5 years of having them) and can say, touch wood, that i've never come close to getting my foot stuck!
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I started riding again in November and ride in bent leg irons. I have taken a couple of tumbles, once slowly when my foot got caught in a vine (yes I know I should have stopped the horse!) and the second time was my second ever attempt at a jump, where I went forward and over neds shoulder.

First time I landed on my feet, the second my ar.......other bits. No hang ups.

A friend took a major tumble (both horse and rider) at a canter, also in bent leg irons, and did not get tangled.
 
Used them for years with no problems BUT i use them with the lower bend pointing forwards on the outside whereas other people seem to use them with the lower bend pointing backwards (which i was taught was incorrect)
 
i've not fallen off in them, but i do find them harder to get back if they come off my foot for some reason

yes, i thought bendy bit pointing to the front too Land Girl
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i agree - the lower bend should be pointing forwards...
they are safer than ordinary hunter irons, but only if they are the right size for your feet.
they have to have a good 1/4 inch either side of your feet in your biggest boots.... rimfrost riders are bigger than smart calf leather boots.... if you get my meaning.
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I use these on my dressage saddle, but don't like them for jumping as I can't find them very easily if I lose one. They should be fitted with the bend on the outside facing forwards. I have bought the Mountain Horse safety stirrups for my jumping saddle which I love. I'm very paranoid about getting my foot caught, having done so last April & ending up with a hideous broken & dislocated ankle, just come out of hospital after having all the pins & plates removed, & spent this afternoon having physio, so please everyone fit those stirrups correctly!!
 
I use them, and having had several falls over the last year have never got my foot stuck in them. I use them with the bend on the outside facing forwards.
 
Yep i was thrown off while using these stirrups and yes i was dragged, my foot only came loose from the stirrup when my boot slipped from my foot slightly.
Stirrups were fitted correctly and where the right size for my boots, will never use them again!
 
I've never been dragged but have a bit of a hang up about it so I use Barnes Buckles, they fit any stirrup and break free if your foot gets stuck after unscheduled dismount.
 
I've now witnessed two children being dragged with their feet firmly caught in these stirrups and know of a number of other incidents. I do own a pair which came with one of the horses but am actively looking to replace them with the old-fashioned "peacock" stirrups which we use for all our other horses. I'm aware of safety and weight issues with peacock stirrups but have, so far, had no problems.
 
Ah, now I have had two bad incidents with peacock stirrups and heard of two more. My daughter fell off, and the bit sticking up from the base got caught in the elastic of her chaps. Luckily the pony stood like a rock but she was suspended upside down until we could get to her. I changed to bent iron but bought another pony with peacock irons on its saddle and managed to do it again to her.

In another case my friend's child did several laps of the school being dragged screaming (nightmare situation, child never rode again) because the elastic of the chaps got caught in the metal, and a few years ago there was a letter in H&H warning about the problem of the elastic on chaps and peacock irons.

So don't wear chaps with peacock irons.
 
My 10 year old son got dragged using these.It was awful.All i could do was stand and watch.He was lucky to have a body protector on.I will never use these again.
Also,i will never use the peacock safety irons again as when i was galloping across a field out hunting it snapped clean it half,and i stayed on!!I would let my son use them as he is a light weight,but i guess im a bit heavy for them!!
 
Worth pointing out that to work these stirrups have to fit correctly. Children often have stirrups that are too big and allow the entire foot to pass through.

Trouble is its like clothes, you buy them slightly bigger as they will 'grow' into them.
 
Not dragged, but my daughter would have been if the pony hadn't stopped dead immediately she fell off and her foot got stuck in the stirrup somehow. I don't quite know what happened, she came out the side door, whether her foot was too far in the stirrup (not on the ball of her foot if you get me) I have no idea. Pony had the good sense to wait for grown ups to come and sort the two of them out... We're still using them, I think it was just one of those unfortunate things, well she's fallen off quite a lot of times since and it hasn't happened again.
 
The only stirrups I've ever got caught in were my old pair of bent legged ones. I was knocked off by a tree (don't ask) so I don't know if the angle of my fall and the fact that I twisted on the way down contributed to the stuckedness. Luckily my mare just stopped and looked at me.

I use stirrup cages these days.
 
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