Ever got your foot caught in the stirrup?

[Gingersmum]

So which safety stirrups are the best ? The rubber band on the side style, foot cage, the ones which bend on both sides, or bend on one side ? Which do people prefer ?

 

[redmone]

So which safety stirrups are the best ? The rubber band on the side style, foot cage, the ones which bend on both sides, or bend on one side ? Which do people prefer ?

Exactly what I was about to ask!

Currently have bent leg stirrups but leaning towards the rubber band ones for daughter.

What does everyone think?

 

[Kizzy2004]

Happened to me when i was 9 (20 years ago now), fell off my pony and one foot got caught in the stirrup and i got dragged the length of the school. Ended up with a broken femur and was in traction for 2 months, wheelchair for 3 months then crutches for 6 months. Didn't stop me riding and when i could got back on same pony and kept it for a couple of years after.

I have bent leg stirrups and have fallen off several times in those and foot has come straight out. It does still worry me now when i fall off that it will happen again and always look at my feet as I'm falling to make sure they are clear.

 

[fatpiggy]

Years ago, riding as a teenager on a 12.2hh. I can't remember exactly what happened or why my foot got stuck as I was in proper long boots and always rode on my toes, but he dragged me on my back across one field, then across his paddock and stopped at the fence. I reached up, released my foot and went to remount ( he used to dump me so frequently I wasn't put off!) and the bl***dy stirrup leather fell out of the bar - grrrr!

 

[lilaclomax]

My youngest did last summer whilst cantering around the school... she bounced a little bit too high, dropped the reins, next bounce onto Timmy's bum and the third off the side... Timmy slammed on the brakes and just stood there looking at this little person hanging off the side! I quickly released her and popped her back on - since then she falls off every time in canter???

The stirrups were the rubber safety ones, her boot got caught on the knob that hold the bottom piece of leather!

 

[catdragon]

Yes, me... Had owned my mare all of 7 weeks, we were having our first lesson. Literally towards the end of the lesson we were walking up the long side, my hands were below her wither (as instructed as mare liked to go around in a llama position...so low hands and soft contact were to introduce her to working into the bridle) and she spooked, at what, we don't know. Took off up the long side, dragging my hand along the top rail, despite asking her to move away from the fence with my leg...as she was ignoring stop ! My hand got trapped behind "M" resulting in my being pulled off the saddle (mare was walking). Fell on floor, my hand hurting like stink thinking thank goodness, until mare continued to walk and then trot away dragging me... I was wearing Ariat boots (like telluride's - the earlier version) and I have bent iron safety stirrups. What saved me was that my leathers were well soaped- they slid off the bar.

My instructor was not impressed, and neither was I !! Apart from the hand - broken finger, dislocated little finger and lacerations, not much damage done -and what a good little mare not to have kicked out at me...

 

[LaurenB]

I have a pair of these, very good but quite heavy!
http://media.robinsonsequestrian.co...8eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/3/7/37039-01.jpg

 

[jendie]

Happened to me when I was a child, many moons ago. Fell off a just ckipped 17h riding school horse when he bolted on a forest ride. Luckily the stirrup leather came off too,otherwise it could have been nasty.

 

[jumbyjack]

I'm another fan of the Barnes Buckles but they are hard to find now.

 

[noodle_]

no

i have a pair of safety irons as this is one of my worst fears!!


they have only snapped once trying to teach the idiot to canter

 

[EquiGal92]

Not happened to me (touch wood), but did witness it happen in a group lesson and looked absolutely scary, everybody was fine though.

 

[Mythical]

Only ever while still mounted, but those bent leg safety stirrups always seem to get stuck on my feet. I know I've got big feet, but that's just ridiculous!
Normal stirrups don't do it, and neither do ones with peacock rings. Wierd!

 

[soulfull]

I haven't BUT I have seen it several times both with normal and bent iron ones

I now use the cages with sprenger irons so I still get the help for my ankles etc but there is no way my feet can get stuck!!

personally I think the cages are the safest and I would never let a child I know ride without them. Some don't like them as they can't get their foot in enough well too me that means they have their feet too far into the stirrup anyway

 

[sarelis]

Not happened to me personally, but I had a bit of a heart-in-throat moment at work a couple of weeks ago while taking out a ride at work. There were 5 riders (including me) with a little girl on a pony at the back of the ride, who was supposed to be on the lead rein. We all set off for a trot, & as I usually do I twisted in the saddle to check everything was going ok behind me, only to see the girl who was riding the pony lying on the floor, foot stuck through stirrup, leader nowhere to be seen! I shouted for everyone to halt & jumped off my horse, threw the reins at someone & ran to her as I had visions of the pony bolting off & dragging her through the woods. Thankfully he actually lived up to his name of Star (for once!) & just stood there quietly until I freed her & legged her back up. A b*llocking for the inept leader, but thankfully everyone was fine.

 

[indie999]

Yes got dragged/injured up side down etc and I got some safety stirrups the old fashioned ones(with the elastic bit on side) there have been posts on here saying they are for a certain weight but I never had any problems falling off whilst using these. I came off thereafter in one go. Size 6 feet.

I dont care what they look like as long as I came off cleanly.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Fortunately, no! If it happened on my mare I think I would be in a lot of trouble though as once I go off the side she panics and really kicks out and charges off usually! :-/

I use the bent leg safety stirrups. I've come off Belle... 9 times I think and fortunately never had my foot stuck. I've been spooked off both sides, fallen off as I got on and she span, come off the back when she reared and been bucked off 3 times. So I like to think I've tested the stirrups in falls of all directions!

 

[dorito]

no, but it's one of my nightmare scenarios. have used the bent leg irons for years but don't really trust them.

 

[Jesstickle]

I'm another fan of the Barnes Buckles but they are hard to find now.

Me too. I actually don't use anything atm but if I were doing anything high risk these would be my choice