Dangers of grippy stirrups

[Elno]

I ride during spring-autumn in Acavallo Arena. They are amazing. Very good grip, but when pressure is put on the outside of the stirrup the mechanism opens up (like when your TB is having a major hissy fit and you end up chewing sand ?).

The only downside is that they are very cold in the winter because of the metal foot plate.

I would love to have a pair of Ophena's (the magnetic ones showed earlier). They are designed by people at Chalmers which is a rather famous school of engineering in Sweden, but since I have a youngster who sometimes is very impatient I fear I wouldn't be able to get off her if I had them ?

Oh, and I can't have ordinary stirrups since my knees are messed up after playing badminton as a kid.

 

[eggs]

I’ve been riding with Flex-ons for a couple of years now as I can ride pain free with them. I only ever ride in riding boots and have not had a problem with getting my foot stuck to the foot bed.

 

[dreamcometrue]

If your foot did get stuck in a stirrup iron wouldn’t your foot slip out of your boot? I’m wary of very tightly fitting boots for this reason.

 

[ycbm]

If your foot did get stuck in a stirrup iron wouldn’t your foot slip out of your boot? I’m wary of very tightly fitting boots for this reason.

I had a loose fitting thin, flexible, smooth soled rubbet boot on the only time I got dragged and I could not get the damn thing to slide off my foot.
.

 

[Kaylum]

Your feet should be able to easily slide out of any stirrup. They need to have a big enough tread so you can do that. Also footwear should not have big grooves and should be quite smooth.

The baine of my life was kids riding in wellies. One of the unsafest things ever.

 

[Roxylola]

If your foot did get stuck in a stirrup iron wouldn’t your foot slip out of your boot? I’m wary of very tightly fitting boots for this reason.

I have very high arches, I go up a size at least in boots and often still struggle getting them on and off. I doubt even short boots would slide off if I were stuck.

 

[milliepops]

I have very high arches, I go up a size at least in boots and often still struggle getting them on and off. I doubt even short boots would slide off if I were stuck.

yeah no way my boots would slip off same shape feet and I can only ride in tight boots. i think my leathers would come off the bar before my boots would budge a mm

 

[teapot]

yeah no way my boots would slip off same shape feet and I can only ride in tight boots. i think my leathers would come off the bar before my boots would budge a mm

Stirrup bar design is a whole other can of worms these days...

 

[milliepops]

Stirrup bar design is a whole other can of worms these days...

mine are pretty loose (equipe). i take my stirrups off every ride so I know how easily they slide off, though there's probably a fair bit of physics about angles etc to determine whether that would happen in the event of a fall.

 

[teapot]

mine are pretty loose (equipe). i take my stirrups off every ride so I know how easily they slide off, though there's probably a fair bit of physics about angles etc to determine whether that would happen in the event of a fall.

Definitely depends on saddle brand. I'm still wondering re Harry Meade's fall.

 

[bouncing_ball]

Sorry, I forgot to measure them this morning. The website says 4 3/4" for the Balance ones but isn't clear if that's depth or width. I would assume depth, because that wouldn't be very wide for an adult boot.

that’s standard adult stirrup width.

 

[Kat]

that’s standard adult stirrup width.

And that in itself is a major issue. It simply isn't big enough to be safe for many boots. Mountain Horse High Riders in larger sizes for example, any country boot style boots would be the same problem. 5" irons are difficult to get hold of.

 

[Leandy]

And that in itself is a major issue. It simply isn't big enough to be safe for many boots. Mountain Horse High Riders in larger sizes for example, any country boot style boots would be the same problem. 5" irons are difficult to get hold of.

Then the boots are too big and chunky to be riding in. I don't understand the trend to deem "country boots" suitable for riding. Really, most are not, the sole is too thick and grippy. Riding boots should be close fitting and smooth so you can feel what you are doing and to minimise the risk of getting caught in a fall or indeed in passing bushes etc. And the conversation up thread about it being safer if your foot could slip out of the boot if trapped. Err no way would I ride in something so floppy that would happen.

 

[milliepops]

MH high riders are fairly normal casual riding boots though, i would say they differ to slouchy country boots quite a bit. i have also found MH boots to be fairly wide compared to other brands.