Safety Stirrups that aren't ridiculous money (ie under £50)

[Neddie123]

After witnessing a horrible accident involving someone getting dragged by their foot I have decided to get some safety stirrups.

The price of stirrups and claims to 'improve lower leg stability/position' etc is ridiculous. I have always used the most basic, non-flexi stirrups and been quite happy with them.

Can anyone tell me if the bendy flexy stirrups are safer as they claim to be? I cant see how they are safer?

Or recommend some safety stirrups that don't cost the earth? I want some for jumping and hacking. The freejumps look great but I nearly choked on my tea when I saw the price!

 

[Auslander]

For your budget, you've really only got old school peacock ring safety stirrups, or bent leg stirrups, which give your feet a bit more room to come out. As far a I know, there is a weight limit for peacock rings, but i\ couldn't tell you what it is!

 

[TPO]

For your budget, you've really only got old school peacock ring safety stirrups, or bent leg stirrups, which give your feet a bit more room to come out. As far a I know, there is a weight limit for peacock rings, but i\ couldn't tell you what it is!

I've got 8st in my head for peacocks but could be totally wrong.

Would putting a toe cage (no idea of actual name!) on your current irons be an option and/or endurance stirrups? That way your foot cant physically go through the irons and get stuck

 

[criso]

I've got 8st in my head for peacocks but could be totally wrong.

Don't know why but I had 8 1/2 in my head but yes about that.

Knowing of accidents where stirrups have snapped, I wouldn't want to try and buy cheaper stirrups, especially for jumping. That's when the accidents I know of happened. Reins, leathers and stirrups are things I'll spend a bit more on.

It's also worth making sure the safety catch on the stirrup bar is always down when you're riding and your leathers aren't so tight in there that the leathers won't come off if there's a problem.

 

[Shay]

The safe weight limit on a peacock stirrup is a maximum 80 kilos - they really are only for children.

The only option you have at that price point is a bent leg / australian stirrup. A caged stirrup won't prevent you being caught if you wear a riding boot. They will only catch you if you are riding in sneakers or something else with no heel. If you have a heel you may still catch.

Are the expensive flexi stirrups worth it? I don't know. What price do you put on your life? The thing is there is absolutely no way to know unless you are in that type of fall and then you are either critically injured or you are not. Is the injury to do with the stirrups? Who knows. Every single fall is so unique.

All I can offer is that as a pony club official I have spent a lot of time with kids getting thrown and getting caught. Number 1 is to make sure the stirrup fits your boot correctly. 1/4 inch clearence each side. If you are not in a caged stirrup never ever ride in a welli or mucker. Put proper boots on. If you can't afford the decent chain stirrups stick to bent legs. The chains rust and break on the cheaper ones.

Free jumps? Well they are pretty colours. I'm not personally a fan of that type of side release because of the risk of injury on the projecting section - but that probably depends on what you do. SJ or dressage its probably fine. But eventing , hunting etc the risk of the horse also coming down on you is greater and I wouldn't want a dagger like peice of metal free around the horse for him or me.

Stirrups are safety kit. If you don't want that element of safety - ride without them. No-one got caught in the stirrup riding bareback or on a pad. And I am not being flippant in that- my daughter (adult) usually rides bareback to school and will hack- and even hunt - on a pad without stirrups.

If you do want to be safe - buy the absolute best you can afford. Your family, your loved ones, deserve that.

 

[teddypops]

I've got 8st in my head for peacocks but could be totally wrong.

Would putting a toe cage (no idea of actual name!) on your current irons be an option and/or endurance stirrups? That way your foot cant physically go through the irons and get stuck

I always thought 7 stone. Whatever it is, they’re for kids and very light adults.

 

[blodwyn1]

I got dragged and seriously injured. It was probably caused by the tred on my country boots jamming. I don't know why th leathers didn't come off the bars on the saddle as they were set correctly. I now use the caged endurance stirrups.

 

[ycbm]

After witnessing a horrible accident involving someone getting dragged by their foot I have decided to get some safety stirrups.

The price of stirrups and claims to 'improve lower leg stability/position' etc is ridiculous. I have always used the most basic, non-flexi stirrups and been quite happy with them.

Can anyone tell me if the bendy flexy stirrups are safer as they claim to be? I cant see how they are safer?

Or recommend some safety stirrups that don't cost the earth? I want some for jumping and hacking. The freejumps look great but I nearly choked on my tea when I saw the price!

I use forward facing double bent leg to hack.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Double-B...-/114347896718?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

 

[pansymouse]

I always use cages - I routinely ride fast over roughish ground and they allow me to dig my feet in more that it would be safe to do so in regular stirrups.

 

[Marigold4]

So many people ride in boots with big treads - not a good idea at all

 

[Mule]

I had a very fresh horse start bucking and alternately doing smallish rears and throwing itself around recently. I could feel one of my feet being too far in my stirrup for my liking so took my feet out. It definitely made me think about safety stirrups.

 

[Neddie123]

The safe weight limit on a peacock stirrup is a maximum 80 kilos - they really are only for children.

The only option you have at that price point is a bent leg / australian stirrup. A caged stirrup won't prevent you being caught if you wear a riding boot. They will only catch you if you are riding in sneakers or something else with no heel. If you have a heel you may still catch.

Are the expensive flexi stirrups worth it? I don't know. What price do you put on your life? The thing is there is absolutely no way to know unless you are in that type of fall and then you are either critically injured or you are not. Is the injury to do with the stirrups? Who knows. Every single fall is so unique.

All I can offer is that as a pony club official I have spent a lot of time with kids getting thrown and getting caught. Number 1 is to make sure the stirrup fits your boot correctly. 1/4 inch clearence each side. If you are not in a caged stirrup never ever ride in a welli or mucker. Put proper boots on. If you can't afford the decent chain stirrups stick to bent legs. The chains rust and break on the cheaper ones.

Free jumps? Well they are pretty colours. I'm not personally a fan of that type of side release because of the risk of injury on the projecting section - but that probably depends on what you do. SJ or dressage its probably fine. But eventing , hunting etc the risk of the horse also coming down on you is greater and I wouldn't want a dagger like peice of metal free around the horse for him or me.

Stirrups are safety kit. If you don't want that element of safety - ride without them. No-one got caught in the stirrup riding bareback or on a pad. And I am not being flippant in that- my daughter (adult) usually rides bareback to school and will hack- and even hunt - on a pad without stirrups.

If you do want to be safe - buy the absolute best you can afford. Your family, your loved ones, deserve that.

Thank you, you make some very valid points here that I had not considered. I had not even thought about the freejumps becoming dagger-like in the event of a horse falling. I will up my budget. Can I ask what you mean by chain stirrups though?

 

[asmp]

I just managed to get a pair of Acavallo Arena AluPro safety stirrups for under £90 as Country and Stable had 25% off their website. Although the offer has finished now (was a Black Friday deal) they may bring it back after Xmas so keep an eye out. I was about to buy the Acavallo Opera stirrups but these were only a few pounds more.

 

[QuantockHills]

Thank you, you make some very valid points here that I had not considered. I had not even thought about the freejumps becoming dagger-like in the event of a horse falling. I will up my budget. Can I ask what you mean by chain stirrups though?

message me if you want some sprenger bow balance ones..... they're great but i've just bought some new ones. so i have a pair spare...

 

[criso]

Thank you, you make some very valid points here that I had not considered. I had not even thought about the freejumps becoming dagger-like in the event of a horse falling. I will up my budget. Can I ask what you mean by chain stirrups though?

Chain stirrups are like the Bow Balance ones that have flexible links under the rubber bit at the bottom. There are cheaper versions of these and the links can be a weak point. What doesn't help is as they are covered in rubber, you wouldn't be able to see if there was any corrosion or wear, not that you would necessarily see anything that would give you a warning. So worth spending a bit more and getting the quality ones like Sprenger.

 

[SpotsandBays]

I just managed to get a pair of Acavallo Arena AluPro safety stirrups for under £90 as Country and Stable had 25% off their website. Although the offer has finished now (was a Black Friday deal) they may bring it back after Xmas so keep an eye out. I was about to buy the Acavallo Opera stirrups but these were only a few pounds more.

I love the look of the Alupros! How are you finding them? I tried the operas and they were lovely too

 

[Neddie123]

Chain stirrups are like the Bow Balance ones that have flexible links under the rubber bit at the bottom. There are cheaper versions of these and the links can be a weak point. What doesn't help is as they are covered in rubber, you wouldn't be able to see if there was any corrosion or wear, not that you would necessarily see anything that would give you a warning. So worth spending a bit more and getting the quality ones like Sprenger.

Thank you for explaining this. I had no idea these had a chain in them!

 

[criso]

Thank you for explaining this. I had no idea these had a chain in them!

I think sometimes it's just a single link making them flexible but there will be some sort of joint making them flexi and unless really well made it will be a weak point.

 

[palo1]

The cheapest safety option would definately be to have riding boots without an aggressive tread and to use toe cages which are about £15. I use toe cages all the time in fast work and across rough and difficult going on a hot and athletic horse. I feel pretty comfortable with the toe cages from a safety point of view if not an aesthetic one! The safest system is probably not quite identifiable but you would definately be better off with top quality and evidence of testing for whatever stirrup you felt most comfortable with. The way in which some safety stirrups could result in a 'dagger' type accident is definately worth considering.

 

[Kizzy2004]

I have the bent leg stirrups. Having been dragged myself and being badly injured I won’t ride in standard stirrups now

 

[Andrew657]

I ride in the Escape stirrups - which are £75 (just over your original budget). I am confident that the mechanism would release - although have been fortunate enough to remain untested.

If you just want a basic stirrup that will release without the comfort benefits of flex stirrups etc - are worth considering.

https://www.smartriderukstirrups.com/product-page/escape-safety-stirrups

 

[blodwyn1]

I was warned that some of the side release stirrups could allow the foot to go right through the stirrup and still allow the rider to be dragged.

 

[Gloi]

I have some Kwik out ones which weren't too expensive

 

[Neddie123]

I ride in the Escape stirrups - which are £75 (just over your original budget). I am confident that the mechanism would release - although have been fortunate enough to remain untested.

If you just want a basic stirrup that will release without the comfort benefits of flex stirrups etc - are worth considering.

https://www.smartriderukstirrups.com/product-page/escape-safety-stirrups

These look very good - esp as they can be used as a sort of ladder - I'm small and horse is 17hh!

 

[Andrew657]

These look very good - esp as they can be used as a sort of ladder - I'm small and horse is 17hh!

Wouldn't recommend relying on them as a ladder - can only just open them with both hands - no way could set in a ladder position and keep hold of a horse at the same time. Another thought I meant to add (and especially relevant if you're small) is because the stirrups are taller than standard - you effectively need to have the leathers about three holes shorter. I needed to buy shorter leathers (couldn't make holes as T-bar) as wouldn't go up short enough.

 

[Neddie123]

Wouldn't recommend relying on them as a ladder - can only just open them with both hands - no way could set in a ladder position and keep hold of a horse at the same time. Another thought I meant to add (and especially relevant if you're small) is because the stirrups are taller than standard - you effectively need to have the leathers about three holes shorter. I needed to buy shorter leathers (couldn't make holes as T-bar) as wouldn't go up short enough.

Thanks that's really useful to know. I ride very short and my tb rarely stands still to mount so maybe they won't help as a ladder....