Is it just me...

Persephone

Persephone

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Or is this immensely dangerous?

I have just witnessed a child leaving the yard being led on a pony. Because her legs were too short for the stirrups the parents have used the stirrup leather loop as a stirrup, and put her foot in the leather.

I did say I wouldn't do that because that is just asking to get dragged, but I obviously didn't get my point across adequately.

Am I seeing a danger that is not really there? Does anybody else do this with their kids?

Jo x
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Oh god we used to do this all the time - under both parents' and PC instructors' guidance! I can completely see that it may be perceived as dangerous, but I can remember countless times riding with my feet in the leathers, or with the leathers twisted four or five times around the stirrup to make it short enough. Not right, but that's just what we did...I hope it isnt that unusual!
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I just had visions of her tiny feet going through the leathers. Prolly just a good job I don't have kids then. They would never get out of that huge wad of cotton wool that I would wrap them in!

Jo x
 
i agree it does seem dangerous, however thirty years ago it was commonplace, i remember doing the same for my young cousin when she had a ride on my horse!!
 

I do think there is less excuse for it now though as there are so many options for kiddies leathers. I mean it isn't just expensive showing ones available now, you can get webbing ones which are only £6.00 a pair so it's far less excusable now than it would have been 10/20 years ago.
 
I've been known to have to twist leathers (as an adult!).

What has shocked me just now is watching my neighbour's daughter getting herself and her pony ready to ride and jump. She had hat and back protector on, pony had boots front and rear. She spent some time riding round and jumping then got off the pony, took off her hat and back protector, took off the pony's boots and saddle, hopped back up bareback and hatless and body protector less and proceeded to jump all the jumps she'd just done
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They used to do that all the time when doing pony rides. With so many kids only having 5min ride each it was easier to put the kids feet in the leathers if the stirrups were too long. Saying that these ponies were half dead any way.
 
Me to i still roll my stirrups up if im on a horse that i dont usually ride if they are too long.

I also put my little boy's feet in the leathers if he is having a go on lead rein. What is the difference between getting a foot caught in a leather or in a stirrup???
 
I'm not sure about stirrup twistage, but it makes me cringe with foot in leather!

I would rather them have no stirrups! Let em bounce I say!!!!
 
It is just as dangerous (or perhaps more so) to have irons that are too large. The whole point is that the stirrups should come off relatively easily in the case of a fall. I would worry more about not wearing a properly fitted hat than feet in the leathers of a pony that is being led.

I don't need to twist my leathers, but I am wondering why that is dangerous? I am sure there is a reason why you are all horrified at twisting leathers, but I can't think of any obvious reason!
 
I just thought that a correctly sized stirrup SHOULD stop that happening. I felt it would be far easier for her foot to slip through the leather as there is no "top" to stop her.

Prolly just me being oversensitive.
 
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I'm not sure about stirrup twistage, but it makes me cringe with foot in leather!

I would rather them have no stirrups! Let em bounce I say!!!!

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I was beginning to think it was just me!
 
Used to be very common but with the availabilty of short leathers these days at pretty reasonable prices, why don't they just go and buy some the right length and if needs be, twist them?

Toddy rode round Burghley once with his foot in the leather I seem to remember but then again, that is Toddy
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I have done it, but then again i only jumped on to have short ride round, with just walk and under supervision of parents and alot of other people.
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I wouldn't do it normally though...
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used to do this all the time when we were kids at RS and ran out of kids stirrups and leathers...just used short adults leathers...if anyone came off, theyweren't dragged as the leather would just come away from the saddle...as the leather keeper was, as it should be, never clipped up.
 
I have done this as an adult, hopped on the old mare when she was having the then OH on that she was unsound, it was not worth messing about with the leathers.
 
Hmm, well I will probably get shot down in flames for this.. but a few weeks ago I was riding out for a local trainer and I'd forgotten my exercise saddle and on the first canter I felt so unbalanced and could barely hold one side of the horse...my jerks were on the top hole anyway. Horse wouldn't stand still enough for me to twist the leathers so....I stuck my foot through the leathers above the irons for both the last canters. Held the horse easily and felt far more secure
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Aleka now runs to hide...
 
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I have always been a shorty and would often have my feet above the stirrups when I was a wee munchkin.

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Wot she said!!!
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Even as a fully fledged adult midget now, I still have to remember my own stirrups and leathers when riding for other people because leathers with 4 twists in just don't look right!!
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Yes it is slightly more dangerous, but then would they be sitting their child on a pony that was likely to take off?
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Yes it is slightly more dangerous, but then would they be sitting their child on a pony that was likely to take off?

Don't you believe it! The pony's 13 year old rider won't get on it any more. It buggered off with her, bucked, she fell off and broke her arm.

Totally lost her confidence.

Probably safer on the leading rein on the road?

Like I say good job I don't have kids!

Jo x
 
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Yes it is slightly more dangerous, but then would they be sitting their child on a pony that was likely to take off?

Don't you believe it! The pony's 13 year old rider won't get on it any more. It buggered off with her, bucked, she fell off and broke her arm.

Totally lost her confidence.

Probably safer on the leading rein on the road?

Like I say good job I don't have kids!

Jo x

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Well that puts a whole new slant on things
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I wouldn't put a young one of mine on anything but a near dead plod pony not at that age
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(I'm also didy & have to buy teenagers leathers & stirrups so I know where the rest of the shorties are coming from
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