safety stirrups

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SDH

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So yesterday i popped to a small unaffiliated SJ comp, where I managed to fall off, get my foot stuck in stirrup and then my horse panicked and reversed around the arena at speed dragging me with him, until someone managed to catch him and release me!

So with this in mind, I'm going to be purchasing some safety stirrups. I don't know anything about them / never used them ....

Please share your knowledge ......
 
Oh no - that is my worst nightmare, really. Are you OK? What a horrible thing to happen.

I don't know much about safety stirrups either, except for those ones (Australian pattern??) that have a bulge on the outside of the stirrup so that its easier for your foot to be released. I was always told that the ones with a rubber band on the side (Peacock) are not safe for adults.
 
Well i'm feeling a bit battered & some impressive bruising now coming up on my leg...
And NO I think the jods are ruined
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but could have been worse - he could have stood on me!
 
I gosh what a nightmare! So glad you didn't get seriously hurt!

There are a few safety stirrups on the market a quick run down of the ones I have come acrss:

Rubber band side - they ping of at the most in appropraite moment! The problem being the safety mechanism is on the outside of the stirrup where alot of people lean.

Swan neck stirrup - basically the outside of the stirrup curves away so your foot would come out easily, used these and you do get used to them, don't loose the stirrups to easily.

Cages (various on the market) can't get your toe through the cage so your foot will never end up through the stirrup BUT you can still get a bit stuck if you foot twisted, unlikely to be stuck enough that you would drag. I use Flexi-Ride stirrups for this reason. I would say they are noticable though for competing.

New to the market and my new love (I haven't got them yet but pay day is just round the conrer!)

http://www.bitlessbridle.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=383
 
Thanks for those.
I guess those cages stop your foot moving so that stirrup iron is too far back. But interestingly the bruise I have across my toes implies that my foot was in the correct place!
 
I use the sprenger type, I believe they are meant to let the foot come out more easily, haven't had to try them for that purpose so can't say.
 
You can have your foot in the perfect position and it can still get stuck! Esp if the horse twists away as you fall.

I ride in cages because I used ride in trainers and have never replaced them now I use long boots (I changed mainly due to my new girl have a liking to running my leg along fence posts etc) they were never used to stop my foot getting caught just to stop my foot going right through.

The once I linked look perfect, I believe they are used in Holland to ride the (crazed) young WB. Then again the dutch have a better lower leg than many of us Brits so you might have problems keeping the stirrup.

I have vowed to buy them and let MrsMozart know how I get on with them, will keep you posted too!
 
If you go for the bent leg type make sure they are not too big. I have seen someone with their foot get stuck in them, possibly because the stirrup was too big so the foot slipped through and got wedged.
It depends on how heavy you are as to whether you can use the peacock type. You need to get some with a good thick metal bottom part, thin cheap ones bend. I weigh 91/2 stone and have ridden in them for years. I dont care that people think they shouldnt be used for adults, i would rather be safe than vain! I have never had the rubbers ping off either, ever. Thats going hunting, xc, flatwork, everything.
 
I have always had a 'thing' about this happening since it happened to me when i was about 14. When i got Brooke and she was a bit nutty, i got peacocks and never had a problem with them. i only found out recently, that adults aren't meant to ride with them. (so why make them in adult sizes?). I am currently looking for something to replace them with and found these ones which i quite fancy.
http://www.royal-rider.com/en_staffa_ev80.htm
either that or the sprengers.
eta i have only had to replace 1 band on the peacocks in 6 years and that was because we had squeezed thro a gate and it got caught.
 
I have some "Barnes buckles". You clip them onto the top of normal stirrups, then thread the leather through the buckle. If you fall off, the altered angle of the stirrup forces the buckle to release. I was bucked off last year, and sat up to find my stirrup on the floor beside me. I use them all the time for hacking now.
 
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