Best safety stirrups that aren't peacocks?

haejilnyeok

haejilnyeok

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I've recently picked up the part loan of a young horse and it's been going really well however I'm finding it really hard to ride in the peacock stirrups on his saddle. It says in my loan agreement that I must ride in safety stirrups but I really can't keep my balance in peacocks so I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for any good safety stirrups that aren't peacocks or swan-necked? I previously rode in Shires Compositi stirrups no problem but they're not safety stirrups so I can't use them anymore. I love riding in Freejumps but they cost an arm and a leg lol so I really need to find a cheaper alternative that'll keep my yard owner happy :)

Thank you! :D
 
I would be asking to renegotiate. Safety stirrups are not going to stop you getting dragged if your foot catches the wrong way, and frankly i would not want to ride a horse the owner thought needed safety stirrups in the contract agreement!

Might also want to point out to YO that peacocks only depend on the elastic being loose enough to come off. If the foot band bends slightly, the elastic stretches and becomes just as firm as a normal stirrup. Freejumps have a sharp point on them that can catch a corner of a jodpur/half chap and the S bend ones only work if you fall out the side door and your foot slips out...none of them work if you fall a certain way. The bent ones can also hinder general balance and security. You dont see the eventers or racers use any of them!
 
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I'd spoken to the yard owner about it before but she was really adamant I ride in safety stirrups after her son was left paralyzed from the neck down in a fall a few years ago so I understand where she's coming from.
 
I'd spoken to the yard owner about it before but she was really adamant I ride in safety stirrups after her son was left paralyzed from the neck down in a fall a few years ago so I understand where she's coming from.
 
See if you an get hold of some Barnes Buckles/Swiss clips. Then you can use whatever stirrups you like, and still have the safety element
 
Peacocks have a weight limit of about 7.5 stones.

You could get flexi stirrups like JW air they are similar to Sprenger but cheaper. I've been using them for a long time without issue.
 
Flexi stirrups are classed as safe. I prefer the offset bow balance type rather than the straight chain type but either will release the foot in pretty much any type of fall. You can get chain type stirrups cheaply - but the chains rust through fairly quickly so if you do opt for this make sure to check the chain often and plan to replace them frequently. The safest stirrups are the cage type used in endurance.
 
I have a pair of these

http://www.smartrideruk.com/

mine are the stainless steel ones so very inconspicuous but I think the black ones are also dressage legal.
I bought mine some years ago and am very happy with them. They've been used 'in anger' once (on a baby pony who moved just at the wrong time when mounting) and they worked well.
 
The Smart Riders have an 80Kg limit too - and are only in children's sizes in the UK. May not be an issue for OP of course!
 
Shay said:
The Smart Riders have an 80Kg limit too - and are only in children's sizes in the UK. May not be an issue for OP of course!
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that's a shame - mine are 4 1/2 inch so def adults, but were bought a few years ago now. The coloured jobbies are still in different weight versions, up to 110kg.
 
Shay said:
The Smart Riders have an 80Kg limit too - and are only in children's sizes in the UK. May not be an issue for OP of course!
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I'm not getting that when I click on it? The coloured ones are saying 5" and upto 17st 4lbs.

OP I use the bent leg safety stirrups, never had a problem with them. I think my feet come out easier in a fall using these.
 
This might be a stupid question but why do you struggle with Peacock stirrups? I barely use any other kind of stirrup and love them! Not a criticism at all, but I can't imagine a stirrup affecting riding that much.

I also had no idea peacocks had a weight limit! Or that they were mostly for kids..

Could you try get some free jumps secondhand? I'll never understand why such funky looking things are so expensive! :p
 
equi said:
The bent ones can also hinder general balance and security. You dont see the eventers or racers use any of them!
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Hate to burst your bubble, but I don't think I have ever seen Tina Cook ride in anything other than bent-leg safety irons...

Eventers absolutely do use safety irons, and given how useless safety stirrup bars are when mounted the modern way (almost flush to the tree) it is eminently sensible to do so, even if they aren't guaranteed to work in every single angle of fall. It's all about reducing risk.

Personally, I'm a fan of bent-leg irons, but not everyone gets along with them, and chain-sided flexi stirrups are a decent alternative that shouldn't break the bank. OP may find it best to talk to someone at their local tack-shop about sensibly priced possibilities (it may even be possible to have a sit on a saddle in the shop to try the feel of them).
 
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pennandh said:
Hate to burst your bubble, but I don't think I have ever seen Tina Cook ride in anything other than bent-leg safety irons...

Eventers absolutely do use safety irons, and given how useless safety stirrup bars are when mounted the modern way (almost flush to the tree) it is eminently sensible to do so, even if they aren't guaranteed to work in every single angle of fall. It's all about reducing risk.

Personally, I'm a fan of bent-leg irons, but not everyone gets along with them, and chain-sided flexi stirrups are a decent alternative that shouldn't break the bank. OP may find it best to talk to someone at their local tack-shop about sensibly priced possibilities (it may even be possible to have a sit on a saddle in the shop to try the feel of them).
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Tina C definitely favours bent leg irons.

I'm not a massive fan of them to the extent that if I can I'll swap them over my own normal pair of stirrups (got a pair of bent legs stuck on the laces of my boots the other month) and actually think they can do more harm than good if a rider has an insecure lower leg/foot position. Why there's a sudden fashion for new type of stirrups is beyond me, give me a standard stainless steel pair that are correctly fitted any day!

tashcat said:
This might be a stupid question but why do you struggle with Peacock stirrups? I barely use any other kind of stirrup and love them! Not a criticism at all, but I can't imagine a stirrup affecting riding that much.

I also had no idea peacocks had a weight limit! Or that they were mostly for kids..
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Max weight is c.nine stone on them because they're weakened down one side. They bend/stretch very quickly.
 
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I have peacocks for my 3.5 year old, I worry she's not heavy enough to ping the elastic. Would toe cages be safer then?

She's on the lead rein, but no pony is completely perfect imho
 
teapot said:
Max weight is c.nine stone on them because they're weakened down one side. They bend/stretch very quickly.
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Thankfully I just fit into that, and never had problems with mine.
Is being over the 9 stone what makes them unbalanced then, and why OP isn't fond? Or is it just the general design?
 
stencilface said:
I have peacocks for my 3.5 year old, I worry she's not heavy enough to ping the elastic. Would toe cages be safer then?
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Worth trying for definite :smile3:

tashcat said:
Thankfully I just fit into that, and never had problems with mine.
Is being over the 9 stone what makes them unbalanced then, and why OP isn't fond? Or is it just the general design?
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Nothing to do with weight of the rider. They're unbalanced because down one side you have a rubber band taking the weight, not steel, hence the weight limits. I've seen bent peacocks and it's eye opening how quick they change shape if you keep a regular eye on them. Some say the weight limit is less than nine stone too.
 
I always thought the weight limit for peacocks was 7 stones and I have seen them snap and bend really badly with several adult riders. I wouldn't use them.
 
These popped up on my news feed. Expensive but interesting

http://techstirrups.it/en/5345-2/

I always thought peacocks were quite dangerous, a big metal hook flailing around ready to impale and drag rider, impale horse, or hook onto an object and cause panic. That's being dramatic of course! But for a supposed safety item they do have their limitations.


I have sprengers. I just have to hope I'll never need to test if they will release! Although my fat bum would probably snap the stirrup leather if in trouble :p
I'll be getting toe cages for my novice kids when they start on the new pony I think.
 
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teapot said:
Max weight is c.nine stone on them because they're weakened down one side. They bend/stretch very quickly.
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Though Mum's are not at least 13 years old and she definitely isn't anywhere near 9 stone :p. I don't like them but it's not something I'm going to boss her about ;)
 
Have you tried bent leg ones? I find them much less unbalancing than peacocks and they're pretty cheap to get hold of. I don't like toe cages - they tend to sit my foot half a cm further back than I like and I have quite small feet.
Having said that, my OH came off last week, foot jammed in the safety stirrup. Luckily the leather slipped off the bars as he was dragged a couple of feet before it disconnected.
 
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