Safety Irons..

Kenzo

Kenzo

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Do people still buy these?, I know they still sell them but is it me or has the fad of safety irons phased out a bit?

Nobody on our yard uses them, nor do I ever hardly see anyone using them anymore when while out hacking or even at competitions.

I used to use them when I was a whipper snapper or even when I was older on those unpredicable spooky types where there wa more chance of me being dragged etc as there not just for children I know.

It just got me thinking while I was hacking out my youngster this weekend (always a chance of encountering some super star manoover), wouldn't it be common sense to buy a pair?

Taking a tumble off youngster can be a quite a dramatic thing for the horse... let alone you, I know if he spooked or jumped 10 ft in the air at his own shadow and I came a cropper it would certainly panic him and not doubt bolt off...what if my foot didn't come away properly?...the thought it not worth thinking about.

So I think I'm going to be a 'nerd'
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and ride around in safety stirrups just in case, rather than investing in a nice shinny silver pair of blingy one sencrusted with diamonds.
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I still ride in these, tried all sorts, but always came back to them (albeit I have massive treads in them to make them wider!)

I original used them for polo and polocrosse as leaning out of the plate meant you wanted to come loose if you made a mistake!

You could get some super glue and a few bits of diamante if you think they are unfashionable?
 
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ha haa lol hmmm now there's a thought, how to bling up safey irons..?
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, in fact no, dont even get be started!

I think safey is more important anything else, just wondered how many people still use them thats all, perhaps I can create a safety trend down at our yard... dont think it will catch on though.

oh well, trip to shop to spend more money..again.
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I use the safety irons and do not care what others think. I use the bent leg version.

I used to work in a saddlery and there was a very good reason why adults shouldnt use the peacock irons, but cant remember what it was now. I am getting so old.
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I use safety irons still, think they are very important. On one horse's saddle I have the Mountain Horse ones but with different treads in as I can't afford the boots to go with them and on my other horses saddle I have the Barnes Buckle. So the new fashioned type of safety irons but safety none the less !!
 
They should be half the price as they are half the material !!
Not sure I could mentally cope with no sides on though.
 
How is that safe then? Seems to be the opposite if you're actually attached to the iron?

Personally I liked the blue ones advertised as they were very light and they were blue ! But they had no safety features either and were also very expensive.
 
They release in a fall, but otherwise means its impossible to loose your stirrups.

Seems a fairly neat idea, although not sure I'd be too happy screwing something into the sole of my boots!!
 
They look similar to the things that road and mountain bikers wear. The cycling ones do detach in the event of a fall, but only if you twist them as you go I think? I know my dad has fallen over on his bike at a junction before because he couldn't unclip.

Mind you, with the force of falling from a horse, I am pretty sure you would detach from them, although I am sure they are not infallible (if thats the right word??!)

I have the bendy stirrups with the rubber bit on, not safety stirrups technically I don't think, but they would bend if I fell off, and think my foot would come out - haven't had to test it yet thankfully!
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what do you mean about the peacock ones not being strong enough. i got them when i first got my girl and she was unpredictable. i still use them as i have never bothered to change them. got me worried now
 
I use the bent leg ones and have done for years just in case of a fall even when on something as safe as Cairo was. As I use a treeless saddle now, it is essential that I have something that my foot would come out of.
 
The peacock stirrups are meant to be used by children only.

Usually adults are too heavy to be able to use them safely as they could ping off more easily with an adults weight in them.
 
Peacock irons should only be used by people who weigh under 8.5 stone
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I personally dont like the bent ones as IMO they push the riders lower leg forwards.

I use the ones with the springs and black rubber ( cheapy £25 ones not mega expensive ones
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) as i have dodgy knees and the seem to help!
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oh heck i am 10 stone and been riding on them for past 4 years lol. will invest in a new set. saying that, i have never had a problem and jumped etc in them lol. another excuse for retail therapy tho.
 
We use the peacock safety stirrups too. Its a bit scary to realise you've been using something that was designed with kids in mind
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Would the stirrup size not make a difference ? With the smaller ones being for kiddies obviously but the larger ones being for adults?
 
Well its not so much kids as weight.

These irons are not toughend to make them suitable for heavier weight. So the trouble is they may break when you most need them!!
 
i have the flexi stirrups due to pain in my ankle and knee when i ride, i find these help, i think they are supposed to be safety ones at the same time as they are flexible but i am not 100% on that, if the saftey irons came in a flexi style i would get them right away, i have nothing against them and could not give two hoots if someone thought i was sad to use them either
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I have the bendy rubber ones as they stop my knees clicking, my friend has safety irons, the only other horses on my yard who have them are shetlands
 
QR: we use peacock safety stirrups. I have an absolute horror of being dragged. I've never heard of anyone who has actually had one break. They can and do bend and I have seen examples of this - usually for sale on eBay. I have never had one do it to me though.

I was going to change to the bent leg style until I saw a child dragged for several hundred yards round a big area with her foot firmly stuck in the stirrup. We managed to catch the pony before she got free. Stirrups were correct size and fitted the right way round.
 
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