Sprenger bow balance - or other flexible stirrups..

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Ranyhyn

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Are they worth the money? Does anyone use any other brands with good effect? Do you use them for everything, or only for one discipline? Lots of questions from a novice :D
 
I think a lot depends on the type of cheaper ones. Have a look and feel of both,,, Feel how the sprenger bend backwards, forwards and slightly sideways. If you find some cheaper ones that bend the same then buy those

I use my sprengers for everything
 
Well I have one dodgy ankle and to be honest I don't mind spending a bit if hey are going to help with that! Its true (i got my hands on the sprengers vs other brands yesterday @ badders) that they don't move the same way, the sprengers had a lot more 360 feeling flexibility.

I have another novicey question, I assume they help you keep your heel down etc - do you ever have issues with them making it harder for you to keep your feet in the stirrups?
 
I use some bow balances for jumping. I'm pretty conflicted about them though - on the one hand, they're lovely to jump in, very springy and stick to my feet like glue. On the other hand I worry that I have to change the way I ride to accommodate them - I have to be less springy to avoid an ejector button effect, and I don't think the way they stay on my feet really reflects my lower leg stability, so may in fact be hiding flaws in my position.
Best thing I think is to borrow some and see what you think!
 
I l ove mine - I use them for everything, and have done for nearly 8 years. I find my knees, ankles & hips alot less painful, and I keep my hyperflexible ankles much straighter than in standard stirrups.

My friend started using them, and she found if she didn't soften her leg (she tended to grip up) then she did loose her stirrups, but by relaxing she didn't.
 
I use sprengers because I have dodgy knees. If I ride in normal stirrups I am in agony in a short period of time. I would be interested to see what people think of "normal" sprengers versus the bow balance ones though
 
I think I might branch out into a pair then! Once or twice I have gotten off and my legs have gone completely underneath me, I'm not as young as I used to be!! :D
 
I’ve got a set of spregner on jumping saddle and a set of flexi ones on dressage, to be honest I cant really tell which are the sprenger, mine were about £100, and the other set were about £25, depends if you’ve got the money to spend! I defiantly wouldn’t go back to ordinary irons now though!
 
I might be wierd but I find that my ankles hurt when I ride my friend's horse with flexible stirrups but in my normal cheap and cheerful ones they are fine.
 
I use the cheaper type flexible ones, as I have knee and ankle problems - they do help with the pain and I find I loose them less than ususal ones.

My daughter was telling me about the Sprenger Bow ones and they sound great, I would love to hear any opinions on them too. :)
 
I've got the cheap ones.....and to be honest, at the time, didn't really notice any difference. However, as soon as I went back to 'normal' stirrups I really suffered and could feel the difference straight away (I also kept loosing my stirrups in the normal ones!!!!).
 
I swear by my Sprenger flexi stirrups! They are the "normal" ones, not the Bow Balance though. Just bought a 2nd pair (2nd hand in great condition for £50, bargain!) to save me constantly swapping back and forward from jump to dressage saddle!

I team them up with the Mountain Horse SCS3 treads/boots and find the two combined really help my lower leg stability and I lose my stirrups much less than without.

Find the flexi stirrups great for prevent achey knees after long hacks/riding short for XC.

Never tried the cheaper versions, I'm sure some are more similar than others.
 
I got mine given to me free - the sprenger ones. My friend had them but struggled to keep her feet in the same position in the stirrups. I've only ridden in them once but my SJ instructor was thrilled I finally got a pair :) They did feel a little springy - but I didn't notice a massive difference, it must be said
 
Love, love, looooooooooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvve them :D :D :D

I have the normal Sprenger ones, D1 has the bow ones :D

Use them for everything.

No more horrible acheynesses!

Did I mention that I looooooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvve them?

:D
 
I'm thinking of investing in these because of this thread now! Damnit!
I have hypermobile joints and find long rides painful in that knees and ankles get stiff and feet numb - if these are going to help at all I'll be very interested! I wonder if people could post links to the cheaper ones too as I'd like a set of Sprengers on my dressage saddle but cheaper ones for hacking etc. :)
 
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