Flexi stirrups- a warning and any recommendations?

B

buzzles

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I have a pair of flexi stirrups, they were a show special last year and no brand name and I find them really comfortable and good at preventing stiffness, especially as I could ride for up to 5 hours a day. Anyway had one of my youngsters at a competition yesterday over a derby style track and was coming down a hill after the 5th jump towards the steps when I felt something give way and realised stirrup had broken! I finished the round with one stirrup and my little horse was really genuine and honest to jump a super clear over a tricky and spooky course, particularly with me not giving him much help as I was just trying to stay in balance and not interfere too much!! The chain link of the flexi part had come off, despite me checking them regularly. I was also very glad I was on this particular youngster who is pretty sensible as I dread to think what could have happened if I was on my other youngster who is tense and sharp at the best of times and it could have ended in disaster, especially as it happened going down a pretty steep hill!!!

So just a warning to anyone with flexi stirrups as having looked at other forums, this is a common enough occurence, particularly with cheaper, no name stirrups.

Also I still want to use flexi stirrups but this time will be paying for a better quality one, I've been looking at Sprenger ones and these ones
http://www.triequestrian.ie/our-pro...-stirrups.html?pop=0&keyword=poly+pad&sef=hfp

Has anyone tried these or have any other recommendations?

Thanks
 
I have Sprenger (2 pairs) and mine are now 4 years old and show no sign of wear. Quite a few other people converted and I have never heard of any problems. You can always keep an eye out on ebay as well.
 
Argh! What a horrid thing to happen! I have thorowgood T6's which I don't think are made anymore, but they are fantastic, and have lasted me years with no probs... the only others I would buy are the sprenger bow balance ones... not a fan of plastic stirrups as they are too light really, and can struggle to get your foot back in hem if you loose one!!
 
I have Sprenger ones and love them! I've had them for going on 10 years now and they still look almost brand new. Would definitely recommend them :)
 
The sprenger bow balance were the ones I was looking at so will prob go for them.
Kat B I hadn't thouhgt of that with plastic being harder to get back, although I don't lose my stirrups that often. The little horse was great, initially shot off like a rocket with the stirrup banging his side but then wasn't bothered and the jumps came up pretty fast so didn't have time to cross it! Was def a "oh ****" moment, i did think should I pull up and would have done with the other horse (although prob would have fallen off him as he shoots off if you put your leg on too sharply, god knows what he would have done with stirrup banging on his side!!) but had driven 2.5 hrs so thought the hell with it, keep going and he was really great although wasn't the most stylish round and we lost marks for rhythm and balance!
 
I have had my Sprenger original 4way for 8 years now .
http://www.equinesource.com/hermsprenger4waystirrupiron.aspx

To be honest while they are expensive I wouldn't take a chance on any of the cheaper ones . I remember reading a good few reports of the cheaper ones breaking but could never find out which ones maybe because like yours they weren't marked.

That must have been quite scarey for you.
 
I have Sprenger System 4's - they were my 16th birthday present, and I am 24 next month - they look like new still. Just get dunked in a bucket of water periodically.

I'll be buying a 2nd pair when my youngster is backed.
 
i've got 3 pairs of Sprengers some of which are getting on now (i've just checked back in photos and was using them at a 3-day in 2003, and they weren't new then) and they are all still as new.
i would not trust my neck (literally) to a cheap make. glad to hear you coped okay with such a major equipment failure, can't have been fun though.
 
I had a very near incident last year showjumping when i fell off and got my foot caught in the stirrup. Thankfully my mare stood perfectly still straight away with me hanging off her side while i pushed the stirrup off with my other foot.

Since then i have bought two pairs of Sprengers - one pair of bow balance and one of the standard four way flex - i love them, they have been faultless and other people (trainers) always comment on how great they feel if they hop on. Most importantly i feel completely safe! I would strongly recommend them!
 
The same thing happened to me! I turned a corner and my stirrup snapped. I carried on and was 2 jumps from the end of the course, jumped a fence and my horse went one way and I went the other - head first into the kickboards. Definately wouldnt have any again.
 
What a horrible thing to happen, well done for carrying on! I have the Sprengers and love them, have had them a while now and they show no sign of wear :)
 
I had a cheaper pair and they snapped whilst I was riding a very bouncy youngster in canter!!! I now have Spenger ones and have not had any trouble with these.....probably a case of you pay for what you get! And I certainly learnt from that one!!:D:D
 
Glad to hear the Sprenger ones come with good reviews - just got a pair of Bow Balance ones for a birthday present, collected them today.
I think there are some things you can go cheap on but for me Stirrups (and leathers) which take your weight I prefer to buy a make. The other thing I'll spend extra on is reins.
 
Tbh they weren't that cheap even reduced as a show special though maybe I should have been wary as there was no brand name. Anyhow have decided to go for the sprenger ones, just looking on ebay for any deals!!
 
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