Bow Balance v System 4

attheponies

attheponies

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Having spent hours searching the internet without success, I would be so pleased if someone is able to answer the following: As a happy hacker who doesn't jump but does hack in a jumping saddle and who does occasional flatwork, would I be better off with the Sprenger Bow Balance or the original System 4 stirrups. Are they worth the money and how do they prevent your foot getting stuck?

Biscuits for anyone who knows the answer! :)
 
I have the bow balance which i love. Due to loss of confidence i havent jumped in them yet just hacked and schooled and have to say no more sore knees after a long hack. No experience of the system 4 sorry.
 
I had a pair of each but decided that the Bow Balance were just too heavy and cumbersome for me, so I sold them. I have quite little feet and there was just an awful lot of stirrup and I was aware of them being there!

I still use my system 4 ones for everything though.
 
I don't know how they'd stop your feet getting stuck? I love my bow balances though, and I only hack with them. I find they feel very "stable" because they're twisted. I do (as do some other people - I've seen other people's saddles in tack rooms!) however, use them the "wrong" way round. They are marked left and right and I use them the opposite way round otherwise they're twisted all odd!
I also get achey knees and they definitely do help :)
 
I have both, I have the system 4 on my dressage saddle and my bow balance on my gp (jumping, hacking etc). I'd say the main difference between the two are the tread depth, which is greater on the bow balance, and the angle at which the stirrup is made so on the bow balance they're a closer design to the bent iron idea rather than the traditional style of stirrup that is the system4.
 
Silmarillion said:
I don't know how they'd stop your feet getting stuck? I love my bow balances though, and I only hack with them. I find they feel very "stable" because they're twisted. I do (as do some other people - I've seen other people's saddles in tack rooms!) however, use them the "wrong" way round. They are marked left and right and I use them the opposite way round otherwise they're twisted all odd!
I also get achey knees and they definitely do help :)
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This is what worries me - I really want to feel safe and they are meant to be the safest on the market but I'm not sure how your foot would release. Thank you everyone - I guess it's just personal choice at the end of the day :)
 
attheponies said:
This is what worries me - I really want to feel safe and they are meant to be the safest on the market but I'm not sure how your foot would release. Thank you everyone - I guess it's just personal choice at the end of the day :)
Click to expand...

They are twisty like elastic. If you fell they would snap away from you foot by the weight of your body(I guess).
 
They are very flexible so your foot should just ping out. I have the bow balance and use them for everything. Hacking wise the wider tread on them is probably better.
 
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