Stirrup irons

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Lucy_Ally

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I have some very old irons but was bought a lovley pair of calfskin leathers and have noticed that the old irons are marking them. So I need a new pair but I am confused by the choice!
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So I am toying with the bent leg ones or the flexi ones. What are people's preferences? Pros and cons of either? I want to be able to do dressage, jump and general hacking/riding. I will only be buying one pair so they need to be good for everything. Any tips on brands to buy or avoid?
I am also hoping to get the mountain horse stirrup control boots for my birthday in October, I will probably get the treads to go with them - will these fit in any irons?

Also what size to get?! I have size 6 1/2 feet that are not overly wide but I do ride in mountain horse boots which are quite chunky.

Any advice appreciated!
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Get the thorowgood flexi irons, they are as good as the sprengers but cheaper. Love them. The mountain horse treads should fit any stirrups without a prob, and re. size, stand on a tape measure to measure the width of your boots and add about half an inch. 4.75" is normal I think!
 
I'm a size 5 and with 4.75" irons its very snug. You might need 5" to accomodate the rubber on the side.

Having free rein of the tack shop, I have flexi, spring, forward facing and bent leg.

I'm now jumping 1.10m and have gone back to my bent leg irons. The springs are great for knees, but I now hate them. The flexi ones I didn't find much of a difference, but I keep having to change irons for dad as he cannot put his feet in a 4.75" flexi iron, but is fine in the bent leg ones.

I am also using the bent leg with super wide treads, which gives me a secure platform and stops the iron creeping bacl.
 
Hmm, my 4.75" irons are quite roomy? I have size 6/7feet, and ride in the Mark todd jod boots and they are about right...? What is the "normal" size?!
 
i love the Sprenger flexi-side ones. they're silly money over here though (about £90) so, if there's any chance you know anyone in Germany, get them to get them for you, cos they cost about £40 over there!
i've heard that the cheaper copies don't have chain under the rubber, for strength, and can snap.
 
Depends on the iron - I am normally a 4.5 to 4.75", but the flexi rubber sides on the irons are not taken into account when they measure them.

I think Sprengers are not so bad, but certainly shires, metalab, mark todd and funnell range all have quite thick rubber that reduces the space quite a lot.

I thought it was worth mentioning especially if you ever have a bloke riding on your saddle. It seems to lose 0.25" of an inch in sizing.
 
Cool, fair enough!
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I ahve some cheapo flexi ones which are smaller, but on my dressage saddle. The T6's seem to be quite generous though, definitely had the rubber taken into acct I thing, was worried about them being too big for a while!!
 
CotswoldSJ can you shed any light on whether the cheaper flxi stirrups are reinforced under the rubber? Was originally going for bent leg ones but have to admit I have been swayed by the fashion for flexis! Although not buying sprengers as too expensive and don't want to risk an accident if the cheaper ones may break?

Bloomin' heck who would have thought it would be so hard - you only had a choice of sizes and colour of tread when I bought my last pair!!!
 
Yeh I have to say that the Sprengers are far better than any other versions. The Throughgood ones have just one bendy joint, whereas the Sprengers have four. I think they are expensive but worth it ultimately... I have had mine two + years now and love them.
 
The cheapy flexi ones are near enough hinged so just bend the one way. This is also why the rubber tends to be thicker on the single joint.

Sprenger T4 have 2 joints in them so they move in 4 directions

The Thorowgood T6 irons have 3 joints in them so they move in 6 directions

The metalab air and shock variety have springs so move all over the shop.
 
Sorry forgot to add, the cheaper ones are likely to be as strong, if not stronger than Sprenger as less moving parts(they are all made in China!)

Cannot say I've heard of one breaking recently - in fact tends to be the old nickel irons that are the most lethal for breaking.
 
Never ridden in flexi irons so i cant comment on them really, I imagine them to be really comfy on your knees and ankles.
I howver wont ride without safety irons. I've never been dragged but its one of my worst nightmares! I use the bent leg ones normally for hacking, dressage and jumping george, always have. With twig my 4yo tb im having to do the totally embarassing and use my old peacock safety irons from my younger days (ones with rubber bands) but i'd rather do that than be dragged, get hurt r end up frightening twig if i got stuck coming off!
 
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i've heard that the cheaper copies don't have chain under the rubber, for strength, and can snap.

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Not true! I've got the Sprenger and some cheapo ones and I peeked under the rubber and they've both got links like bicycle chain but the Sprenger have one more link than the cheapos.
 
Can recommend the Mountain horse safety irons. I have the mountain horse sc3 boots as well and i love them!! You may find that on other irons the mountain horse treads fit.......but not as well as in the mountain horse irons so may feel a little unstable.

however i cant comment on the flexi irons as i have never had them!
 
Had the sprengers (till someone at work borrowed them then got made redundant and didn't return them!
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) but TBH I bought them after I dislocated my knee and apart from when my knee was painful mounting didn't find any difference.

I now ride in standard irons with wedge treads

Oh - I'm a size 6 (always ride in Regali Ricchi long boots) and use a 4.75 iron
 
I just bought some cheapy flexi stirrups as my knees used to click really badly, there a lot better since I bought them. I find it strange riding in others now! you mostly feel the difference at faster paces
 
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