Sprenger -v- fakes?

MrsHutt

MrsHutt

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I'm sure this has been posted before, but we have been considering Sprenger 'wobbly' stirrups for my friend who broke her leg (just got back in the saddle after 18 months!) and is finding it a bit painful! (she does have half a ton of metal in her leg!!) I thought they might be good for my poor old knees too! :D

The Sprengers are so expensive, though! I have seen some 'fakes' on ebay - less than half the price. Does anyone have any experience of either?
 
Can't comment about the fakes, but the real things are worth it.

My knees don't hurt and my toes don't go numb since starting to use them.
 
I used the fakes for years and thought they were good until I got some sprengers. Sprengers are worth the extra IMO.
 
I have some fakes, definitely made riding more comfortable :). I have old knee and ankle ligament injuries and have noticed that I can do a lot more riding (particularly noticeable when doing gallop work) before my ankle starts to ache :)
 
Had fakes after I dislcoated my knee - were excellent . Lent them to a lady at work to try, she has them 6 weeks, until hers she had bought 2 days after having mine turned up. She got made redundant and put on garden leave - never saw my stirrups again :0(
 
My concern was the safety, really. I seem to think I had heard of the 'fakes' snapping. But as I don't do more than schooling and hacking (not much risk of me going hunting - unfortunately!) I wonder if we'll be ok? My friend is just now returning - she has had 2 lessons so far! So I think it will be a while before she joins the Old Surrey and Burstow! Another friend has the genuine article and says we can borrow them to 'try before we buy'!!

I have noticed Rhingold (heard of) and JHL, FSS and Castle (not heard of) - any comments? They range from about £10 - £35 (as opposed to over £120 for the Sprengers)
 
I have Cottage Craft Flexi Irons- well.. acquired them. :p
They really help my knee's I have HMS(hypermobility) which means I get a lot of joint pain, especially in my knees! I have found them fabulous! :D
They are showing no signs whatsoever of wear, and they have been "around" for about 5 years I'd think, been hunted in- show jumped in and recently have really been through the rough and tumble breaking a little sod :rolleyes:
 
I have 2 pairs of fakes, a pair of the black normal sprengers and a pair of the bow balance stirrups (yeah I'm greedy :p - got 1st pair of fakes as first pair of stirrups when I bought my first horse, 2nd pair of fakes I was given with my saddle, bought the 2 pairs of sprengers) and honestly, I'd rather ride in sprengers anyday. No contest.

Fakes are better than normal metal irons, but sprengers are in a class of their own.
 
I don't know enough to know if the cheap ones as a good BUT as regards safety I think the problem is they snap inside the rubber cover, so while the rest of the stirrup looks fine, you can't easily see underneath it

I am wary of the cheap ones as even if you look underneath and it seems fine, are the links made as strong as the sprenger?? I honestly don't know

I have seen a couple of pairs break, one in a dressage test the other SJ, it was actually the DR rider who fell the SJ stayed on
 
I've got the cheaper ones, and since riding in them - I often hack out for 4 hours if not more on a sunday - my ankles and knees are sooo much happier! The thought of riding in non bendy stirrups makes me cringe!!
 
I think I hear a resounding 'sold!!' I think what I'll do is get some cheaper ones (probably a make I have actually heard of!) and my friend can borrow them for her lessons. If she feels the benefit, she can make the decision on what to spend. I will wait a bit, perhaps 'till the summer holidays when we tend to go for longer hacks if I'm going to invest in the Sprengers, as I have had a few horsey 'extras' this month already (blame the 'rug wrecker'! )

Thanks for your input, everyone!
 
Thoroughgoods are great but were very heavy. Adds a lot to your saddle. I didn't think about this until saddler pointed it out when we took them off. Now use royal rider plastic stirrups with shock absorbing footbed. Just something to consider
 
I've had the system 4's and the bow balance Sprengers and wouldn't have anything else. When you consider that ride in them every day, that they save your joints from agony, does it really matter that they cost £125?

Yes, they are worth it.:D
 
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