Safestyle stirrups

[Marigold4]

I've just bought these stirrups. I really like the wedge-shaped tread as it helps me stop turning my toes out. I need a safety stirrup as I ride in a Torsion saddle that has D rings rather than a bar for stirrups so they tick this box too.

Anyone tried these? Will I lose my stirrup more often without an inner side to stirrup? Might horse be hurt by the way the inside of the stirrup ends (it's a lot more rounded than it looks in the image posted)? They come with black rubber sleeves that fit on top of the inside end - what are these sleeves for?

 

[Barton Bounty]

Ive never seen those before, i have flex ons, they have helped my back and hips and knees no end, would struggle to ride with normal ones now ?

 

[Skib]

I started riding late in life so always took an interest in safety. Can you post a link to the brand of these stirrups? Plus any instructions?
Other safety stirrups of this type (e.g. peacock style) are used with the open band on the outside of the rider's foot. I once saw themn used wrongly at a demo and it was corrected before the next day.
Even with a rubber cover it would seem very odd to have a point touching the side of the horse.

I myself use straight Sprenger safey stirrups which can go either side.

 

[Marigold4]

I started riding late in life so always took an interest in safety. Can you post a link to the brand of these stirrups? Plus any instructions?
Other safety stirrups of this type (e.g. peacock style) are used with the open band on the outside of the rider's foot. I once saw themn used wrongly at a demo and it was corrected before the next day.
Even with a rubber cover it would seem very odd to have a point touching the side of the horse.

I myself use straight Sprenger safey stirrups which can go either side.

Here's the link

https://www.bettersaddles.co.uk/shop/safestyle-stirrups

 

[Fastasflames]

LAte to the party here but has anyone else got these?

 

[Miss_Millie]

LAte to the party here but has anyone else got these?

I think @sbloom might stock these?

 

[sbloom]

I do indeed. They work very well for some, I'm still working on what the key factor is! It's why I carry them in the van so people can try them at a fitting.

 

[ycbm]

The open side is to the inside? That seems very odd. And a short rider on a big horse could poke the horse with the bit on the open side?

 

[Fastasflames]

I do indeed. They work very well for some, I'm still working on what the key factor is! It's why I carry them in the van so people can try them at a fitting.

thank you! I have a pair and so far really like them but actually in a saddle fitting the fitter expressed concerns about them opening to the inside ( eg they wouldn’t work in a fall and the point being towards the horse) and thought I had them on the wrong way. She asked me if there was any research to support their design? I do like mine and the alternative (ophenas) are way out of budget. Any thoughts anyone?

 

[sbloom]

The opening to the inside works very well, these stirrups have been around longer than many other safety designs. You can remove the rubber bit if you want to but it's actually very soft and doesn't poke, it's more flexible than any other stirrup I've seen. I don't think the metal "nub" would poke either, but if you do have the issue switching to the other setting should solve it.

 

[Barton Bounty]

The open side is to the inside? That seems very odd. And a short rider on a big horse could poke the horse with the bit on the open side?

I thought they were the other side, I thought they were back to front lol

 

[sbloom]

I would also say that they're not wedged as such, they have a thicker metal part to the outside but it's more to do with weight and balance, they hang low to the outside when your foot isn't in them, as soon as they are weighted they start to come more level, so it's not like wedged treads. They're very clever, but as I say, won't work for everyone.

An illustration of where they can work well, helping with proprioception (critical to our balance and functioning) https://www.facebook.com/stephsaddl...YYo9bJfXZLRoGQiskfwwjCRLzqqveFqWwxdpud9XsLbql

 

[Fastasflames]

I would also say that they're not wedged as such, they have a thicker metal part to the outside but it's more to do with weight and balance, they hang low to the outside when your foot isn't in them, as soon as they are weighted they start to come more level, so it's not like wedged treads. They're very clever, but as I say, won't work for everyone.

An illustration of where they can work well, helping with proprioception (critical to our balance and functioning) https://www.facebook.com/stephsaddl...YYo9bJfXZLRoGQiskfwwjCRLzqqveFqWwxdpud9XsLbql

This is fascinating thank you.

I have always used safety stirrups but a year ago had a nasty non horse related injury and severed a tendon in my foot and also completely severed my Achilles . It’s a long and tedious recovery and after extensive surgery in August whereby I had an anchor and screws in my heel and a donor graft to reconstruct my Achilles, I’m finally back in the saddle. Against physio wishes I might add but I couldn’t stand it any more . I researched which stirrups might help me the most and largely because I don’t have the movement and feel in the bad leg/foot and I wanted something open to safely accommodate a brace. The magnetic ophenas were my first choice but just so expensive and so far as I say,the safe styles are working well for me but I hadn’t even realised about the balance aspect and proprioception is key.

 

[sbloom]

Do consider working with someone like Equimech, a riding/movement specialist, for your continued rehab. A bit more than a physio but will work within any parameters set by your physio.

 

[Barton Bounty]

This is what I thought might help then

 

[sbloom]

Can you explain? I can just about see the stirrup but no idea what it is, and is this to help a particular issue?

 

[Barton Bounty]

Can you explain? I can just about see the stirrup but no idea what it is, and is this to help a particular issue?

No, its just a stirrup with no side on it

 

[ecb89]

Can you explain? I can just about see the stirrup but no idea what it is, and is this to help a particular issue?

I think that’s the ophena stirrup

 

[sbloom]

I'm not convinced that having the stirrup attached to the foot is good for proprioception, would be interesting to work with some riders and compare/contrast. If only there were more days in the week!

 

[Marigold4]

I've had mine for a few months now and am pleased with them. They help me to keep my foot straight - I tend to turn my toes out. And they are not too pricey. I ride without the rubber sleeves and feel confident that the inner edge is so rounded it's not dangerous.