Do stirrups make a difference?

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Anna*

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A friend of mine has just ordered some Freejump stirrups. This got me wondering, what difference to these 'high end' stirrups make? I've only ever had the cheap bog-standard irons. Tell me what I'm missing out on!
 
I use flexible stirrups and they help enormously with concussion to joints. I don't think I could ride for any length of time in normal stirrups anymore.
 
Sprengers for me as well but I too have leg issues....knackered the ligaments in both knees. I didn't believe the hype so borrowed some and was really surprised to see what a difference it makes. I would like someone to explain to me just HOW they work because a cheaper pair look the same, it's just my knees which tell me there is a difference
 
I use flexible stirrups as I was having trouble with my feet getting really cold when hacking out, and even going dead. I was having to take my feet out of the stirrups for long periods of time, circle my feet etc. all the time. No idea why, it started happening when I started riding again after a pregnancy, but the flexible stirrups sorted it out and I haven't had a problem since.
 
I like aluminium stirrups with a wide tread. Nice and lightweight. Mine are just cheapo jobbys as I only hack & dressage now. I like the comfort and stability from the wide flat tread, riding with old-fangled stirrups makes my feet hurt now :)
 
gunnergundog said:
Having broken both my ankles many years ago and no longer having 90 degrees at the ankle, the above enable me to stay out hunting until second horses or to do a full one horse day.
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Gunnergundog, do you mind me asking how and both at once or seperately?

I use flexi stirrups for the same reason, I broke both ankles coming off my tb and they are now fussed so have very little movement and flexi stirrups make a huge difference to pain levels, I simply can't ride in normal stirrups. But the ones I use were only £20 from ebay and have done 6/7 years now so you don't have to be really expensive
 
Don't know exactly what are on my saddle but rode in RS saddle & irons last week for the 1st time in a few years only to find that your normal RS irons are just sooooo uncomfortable! Was only on for 30mins and thank goodness for that!
 
mynutmeg said:
Gunnergundog, do you mind me asking how and both at once or seperately?
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I fell off a horse on the XC phase and stupidly landed on my feet; this was at the end of a hot summer in August with hard ground and resulted in avulsion fractures in both ankles.

This was getting on for twenty years ago, so am now riddled with osteoarthritis/osteophytes which mean that I can plantarflex but have no dorsiflexion whatsoever, and not even 90 degrees as I said earlier.
 
I had the misfortune to end up with a broken back and reconstructed knee and mashed up leg and a hip replacement .
I was really really struggling with my riding my saddler persuaded me to buy the bow balance stirrups they really makes a difference .
 
I like wider treads on my stirrups, i hate peacock stirrups with a passion! really uncomfortable and I don't really want the sides to ping off... I use fairly cheap flexi stirrups atm (compared to sprengers) they cost about £40 I think, I hate riding in "normal" stirrups now as they just feel horrid, rigid and sharp on my feet. I have ridden in sprengers bow balance and they positioned my feet better, I would buy them if I could justify the price !
 
I recently got royal riders (lightweight really wide treds) and I immediately noticed a real difference - my lower leg feels a lot more stable and my feet don't move in the stirrups at all
 
gunnergundog said:
I fell off a horse on the XC phase and stupidly landed on my feet; this was at the end of a hot summer in August with hard ground and resulted in avulsion fractures in both ankles.

This was getting on for twenty years ago, so am now riddled with osteoarthritis/osteophytes which mean that I can plantarflex but have no dorsiflexion whatsoever, and not even 90 degrees as I said earlier.
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might be worth going for a surgical opinion as they can remove the osteophytes and depending on exactly which joint a fusion may give you more function with less pain. I have both fused tibia/talus so have very little platarflexion or dorsiflexion but they're at about 90 degrees so can walk without limp (they still hurt a fair amount but thats partly due to the soft tissue damage I sustained).
I initially had lots of problems with osteophytes restricting movement and the surgery to remove them isn't very big, I wasn't even non-weight bearing and made a big difference to movement
 
I use endurance irons and genuinely could not ride in anything else. I have a dodgy right knee from being fully dislocated and rotated as a teenager couple with uneven and slightly rotated pelvis combined with fusion of two vertebrae in my spine from a nasty fall down the stairs, compression of the vertebrae in my neck after landing on my head xcountry and nerve damage in my right arm from a car accident which gives me serious pins and burning needles pain without warning. My endurance. Stirrups are wide and keep my feet secure with no risk of my feet getting caught in a fall. I also ride in a saddle with set back stirrup bar position so my legs stay where they should. Riding in anything else is just pure agony.
 
I ride with the RDA and stirrups really do make a difference if you any joint or soft tissue issues. I find I can use flexible treads and the lightweight composite stirrups but not regular bog standard irons, after just minutes in regular stirrups I am in agony.
 
i've used Royal Rider stirrups for several years now. They really make a difference to old and/or dodgy joints. I wouldn't go back.
 
Shazzababs said:
Another one with knackered ankles and flexi stirrups.

I wouldn't go back to standard ones now.
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And me! I haven't done anything disastrous but rode up to eight hours a day in my 20s and also ran a lot and my ankles seemed to "wear out" first. Find flexi stirrups much more comfortable.
 
I have Freejump stirrups and got them for many reasons. I have an event horse competing at Be100 and won't go cross country without safety stirrups as I've seen too many people get dragged. The peacock stirrups are only suitable for up to 7 1/2 stone and so I had been using bent legs irons for years. These were fine when we were doing smaller courses but I started to find I was literally being jumped out my stirrups and as they were so heavy they were making my job quite hard as well as making the saddle much heavier. The Freejumps did everything I wanted them to- they're light, safety stirrups, good grips and have the added bonus of being flexi and literally sitting in the right place due to them being angled. I have to go back to my bent legs for dressage as you can't compete BE in coloured stirrups and I notice a big difference.
 
I had never heard of free jump stirrups til this thread, I am so behind the times! Love that they have an Icelandic loop to keep them facing the right way. Might have to get a black pair for stress age this summer as caged stirrups might be allowed but they sure are frowned on!
 
kez81 said:
I had never heard of free jump stirrups til this thread, I am so behind the times! Love that they have an Icelandic loop to keep them facing the right way. Might have to get a black pair for stress age this summer as caged stirrups might be allowed but they sure are frowned on!
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I didn't think caged were allowed, I've always asked the judge when I've done any dressage as I use toe cages for safety because my ankles are fussed I can't keep my heels down so my feet tend to slide through stirrups (I've only done unaffiliated tho)
 
mynutmeg said:
I didn't think caged were allowed, I've always asked the judge when I've done any dressage as I use toe cages for safety because my ankles are fussed I can't keep my heels down so my feet tend to slide through stirrups (I've only done unaffiliated tho)
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I had this arguement with a couple of judges at shows, the BD rule book states that "Stirrup leathers and irons are compulsory, are to be attached to the Saddle and used in the conventional way. The rider's boots must not be fixed to the stirrup by mechanical means...."
BRITISH DRESSAGE - RULES HANDBOOK 2014
Section 4 - Competitor Dress and Saddlery
29

Caged stirrups are used in the conventional way as other stirrups, ie fixed with stirrup leather facing forward and dont mechanically fix the foot, merely cover the toe ( the foot is still free to move same as any other standard stirrup) so should technically be allowed. I have been stopped several times from competing in them, had rows with judges about interpretation of the rules book and even had one judge ring up BD and ask for confirmation and then confirm my kids were allowed to compete in them only to be told at the next event they werent!
 
kez81 said:
I had this arguement with a couple of judges at shows, the BD rule book states that "Stirrup leathers and irons are compulsory, are to be attached to the Saddle and used in the conventional way. The rider's boots must not be fixed to the stirrup by mechanical means...."
BRITISH DRESSAGE - RULES HANDBOOK 2014
Section 4 - Competitor Dress and Saddlery
29

Caged stirrups are used in the conventional way as other stirrups, ie fixed with stirrup leather facing forward and dont mechanically fix the foot, merely cover the toe ( the foot is still free to move same as any other standard stirrup) so should technically be allowed. I have been stopped several times from competing in them, had rows with judges about interpretation of the rules book and even had one judge ring up BD and ask for confirmation and then confirm my kids were allowed to compete in them only to be told at the next event they werent!
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mad, esp when they do play a good safety role and don't give any advantage
 
Yes.
I really struggle with knee and hip pain and struggled to dismount without pain.
I invested in some sprengers and my god it's the best thing I did!!
They make such a difference I could ride for hours and not have a problem with my knees or hips and when dismounting it makes such a difference.
I managed to get a pair off eBay second hand and half the price.
 
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