Safety stirrup recommendations

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lrw0250

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My soon to be 13 year old has asked for new stirrups for her Christmas present. She does some low level BS and arena eventing plus Pony Club activities so I would like something with a safety release which she is happy with. The problem we have is that she already has size 6 feet so junior stirrups are likely to be too small BUT she weighs a bit less than the 40kg required to activate the release on most adult stirrups. Does anyone have any recommendations for stirrups that might tick our boxes please? The alternative is feeding her all my Christmas chocolate next month so she puts on the weight instead of me!
 
If she's being dragged I imagine there will be enough force to open the bar, regardless of her weight (unless she weighs the same as a peanut!). I've tried most of the safety irons and I find the Acavallo ones the most comfortable.
 
www.redpostequestrian.co.uk

Karben Ultra Grip FX Stirrups - Black

Reduce the risk of injury in the event of a fall from your horse with the Karben Ultra Grip FX Stirrups. With a flexible rubber outer arm and aluminium frame, they aim to ensure your foot doesn't get stuck if you come away from the saddle.
www.redpostequestrian.co.uk

What about something like this? The arm is rubber and doesn’t appear to have any mechanics that might not release - just rubber?
(Edited to add - saddle bank has them on sale for just under £100)
 
There are other, longer standing but similar designs, that may be cheaper, that also have a 90 degree offset eye for the stirrup leather, some people will love one, others love the other. That eye angle is one of the biggest factors in whether they're good for someone.
 
I wear Sprenger stirrups. They are expensive but are a conventional shape. I like them because they felt the samer as the conventional RS stirrups which I wore in my school lessons or for dressage.
As with normal stirrups, you need to get the correct width for the boot you are wearing, that is (from memory) half an inch or 1 cm clearance each side of the boot at the ball of your foot. I have two pairs, one for my summer boots and one for my warm lined winter boots. The difference is so small that I tie a red thread on the ones for winter (Father Christmas colour)
 
I have these and really happy with them. The arm is rubber so no weight threshold. They're called Safestyle and made by a Dutch company I think.

1762463019586.jpeg
 
flat3 said:
I have these and really happy with them. The arm is rubber so no weight threshold. They're called Safestyle and made by a Dutch company I think.

View attachment 168907
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I like the design and build of these, apart from the rubber branch being on the inside. To me, that makes it harder for the foot to pull out if you are dragged, and easier for the branch to catch on girth buckles.

We have been using FreeJump Pro's for many years, and really like them:
www.discount-equestrian.co.uk

Freejump Soft'Up Pro +

Discount Equestrian provides a large range of top brand equestrian products at reduced prices. Our product range includes anything from riding boots and breeches, horse boots to horse rugs, riding whips to riding hats. Our team here, all equestrian enthusiasts are always happy to help with any...
www.discount-equestrian.co.uk www.discount-equestrian.co.uk
 
www.horseandhound.co.uk

‘We understand this is controversial’: US equestrian federation bans certain safety stirrups to avoid injuries

US Equestrian (USEF) has announced a ban on certain styles of safety stirrups – a change the federation has described as “controversial”, but aimed at reducing “preventable” injuries. The change is the result of a review of the USEF’s safety data, which noted incidents in which “riders were...
www.horseandhound.co.uk www.horseandhound.co.uk

USA federation bans certain designs of safety stirrups.....worth a read.
 
gunnergundog said:
www.horseandhound.co.uk

‘We understand this is controversial’: US equestrian federation bans certain safety stirrups to avoid injuries

US Equestrian (USEF) has announced a ban on certain styles of safety stirrups – a change the federation has described as “controversial”, but aimed at reducing “preventable” injuries. The change is the result of a review of the USEF’s safety data, which noted incidents in which “riders were...
www.horseandhound.co.uk www.horseandhound.co.uk

USA federation bans certain designs of safety stirrups.....worth a read.
Click to expand...

I hope there will be a rethink and that certainly it doesn't grow internationally although it would.be good if there were figures that compared injuries from feet getting trapped to those from these designs of safety stirrup. None of them are perfect, singling these types out doesn't seem to be helpful. The safest option is cages which aren't allowed in most competitions after all.
 
Thank you to everyone who has shared suggestions.

I saw the latest news about the rule changes I'm the USA and wonder if we will see new designs in the near future to get around them.

I'd be happy with her in peacock stirrups as she is still under the weight limit for those but apparently they are not cool and babyish for competing affiliated.

Our instructor recommended the open sided magnetic ones as her daughter rides in those but they are not PC approved.

I think seeing if we can borrow some different ones to try is the best bet to make sure we get something she likes. She's using Sprenger bow balance dupes at the moment. I'll check the specs for Freejumps because I like the open design better than something with a catch that might not release.
 
lrw0250 said:
Thank you to everyone who has shared suggestions.

I saw the latest news about the rule changes I'm the USA and wonder if we will see new designs in the near future to get around them.

I'd be happy with her in peacock stirrups as she is still under the weight limit for those but apparently they are not cool and babyish for competing affiliated.

Our instructor recommended the open sided magnetic ones as her daughter rides in those but they are not PC approved.

I think seeing if we can borrow some different ones to try is the best bet to make sure we get something she likes. She's using Sprenger bow balance dupes at the moment. I'll check the specs for Freejumps because I like the open design better than something with a catch that might not release.
Click to expand...
Are the stirrup bars on her saddle closed up/ curled upwards, exceptionally recessed, or almost impossible to detach from? Used to be common enough for the entire leather and stirrup to fly off with very little pressure, lose one out hunting, etc.
Alternatively, Australian simplex pattern stirrup - ‘bent leg iron’ - the late Queen always rode in these for safety, and guessing her bodily well being was fairly high priority. These have no sharp projections, no unreliable spring releases, fairly inexpensive stainless steel, unobjectionable appearance.
Of course, copying the Queen possibly not so cool for a teenager!
 
Do all ‘safety’ stirrups have metal grippy foot beds? I still use stirrups with rubber inserts l really don’t think l’d like metal spikes in my hand or anywhere else if l fell off. Maybe I’m old 😆
 
Spiderpig2009 said:
In the old days we used the peacock irons for kids with the rubber band and I don’t think they have a weight limit

Peacock stirrups do have a weight limit. When I was riding ponies it was about 9 stone 7. I was always marginally above that weight
 
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