Update on the K'Vall Stirrups!

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flyingfeet

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A few people have been bugging me about this, so thought I better get on and do a write up

So for those not in the know I am talking about these weird looking stirrups:
Sans%20titre%20-%201.jpg


The first challenge was to punch so extra holes to make them child length for my stumpy legs!

Then riding was an interesting experience, they use slightly difference muscles as your foot now has a level footbed. I tried in the heels down position, but soon moved to horizontal due to my muscles screaming!

So thus far I have hacked, showjumped, played on our cross county and done a 12mile fun ride in them. I can truly say I'm hooked!

I love these stirrups, they are far more stable than anything I have ever ridden in, and even when the horse leaps sideways due to horse eating pigs behind the hedge, you can stay in the plate much easier.

Now I'm a terrible toes down heels up type person, especially jumping, and these babies have cured that and your lower leg doesn't swing back. Interestingly as you are more stable, it eliminates that need to pivot on your knees too.

For cross country they are marvellous! I did our trakenner and ski jumps and was completely stable and everything becomes easy. Encouraging enough to think about doing more XC from a committed sj'ing person!

Now here comes the bad news, getting these babies approved for competitions is going to be a nightmare. You can use them for FFE disciplines in France, but that's about it!

British Showjumping refused their use without a doctors letter. However couldn't provide a reason why. So guessing its because they think they are ugly as there is no sound argument presented!

BE are thinking about it and I haven't approached anyone else yet.

I did moan at the manufacturers, as they really ought to be doing this leg work, not me.

Here is a pic of them in use at the fun ride:
CFP28.3.10-%20201.jpg
 
Interesting! Shame about not getting them approved for competition... my only concern would be what would happen if you fell off?! Can you fall out of them easily? :)
 
Strange that BS dont allow them. Only rule I can find relating to stirrups is

102.11 -
In the interests of safety, the stirrup iron and the stirrup leather (this also applies to safety
stirrups) must hang freely from the bar of the saddle and the outside of the flap. There must
be no other restrictions or attachments of any kind. The rider must not directly or indirectly
tie or attach any part of his/her body to the saddlery.

Cant see how these contravene this rule? :confused:
 
Yes I probably should have just used them and not asked permission !

The response was:

The new design of stirrup you queried as to whether would be OK to use in affiliated show jumping competitions, I would advise the matter was discussed at a meeting of our full Board yesterday.

From their discussion it was agreed that this type of stirrup would not be acceptable for use in affiliated competitions unless it was for a medical reason and then dispensation would have to be applied for.

Reason : None given
 
Very interesting, I love the idea of them but agree they do look rather ugly, not that that's a good reason for not allowing them in competition. :confused:

What is it like switching back to regular stirrups after using them?
 
They are looking for UK distributors, as that's how I found them at BETA. Although until they are accepted in competitions I cannot see any point in stocking them.

However you can buy them direct for €154.62 delivered to the UK (includes leather stirrup leathers)
 
They're accepted for endurance comps - the reason I got mine. Haven't competed in them yet and the jury is still out TBH. One good thing is that the rear straps do come off when you get chucked off - as I found out last week! Definitely no chance of getting a foot hung up - they worked exactly as they claim, pin comes out and you're free in a split second. The bad thing is that when horse starts to bronc survival instinct tells you to put legs forward and heels down but you can't do that in these stirrups... hence me hitting the dirt. Good and bad points from me but I need to do a decent length ride in them (25 miles +) before I decide for sure.
 
Thank you for posting and good to know that the stirrups do work when you fall off - I hadn't been to keen on testing this.:D

I haven't had a problem when my horse bucked riding in mine, however my stirrups are very short in my usual jumping length. I'm guessing you are probably riding longer as you don't need to jump for endurance?

Could be worth putting them up one or two if that is comfortable for long distance.
 
I have just emailled them as they advertise free trials on the website and they have offered them to me at 95 euros...

do I or dont I ??
 
JunoXV said:
Strange that BS dont allow them. Only rule I can find relating to stirrups is

102.11 -
In the interests of safety, the stirrup iron and the stirrup leather (this also applies to safety
stirrups) must hang freely from the bar of the saddle and the outside of the flap. There must
be no other restrictions or attachments of any kind. The rider must not directly or indirectly
tie or attach any part of his/her body to the saddlery.

Cant see how these contravene this rule? :confused:
Click to expand...

What are those other stirrups, Tim Gredley uses them, which seem clamp to the foot? They have no outside edge to them....eeep I'm not describing them well am I?

They are probably more restrictive in design and technically you're more "fixed" to them than the K'vall ones.
 
I am not convinced, yeh they dont look nice but i think you could get used to them, they are just so weird to have your foot on a flat surface. hmmmm i dont know, i think i would need to test them and see how they affect my riding. Really not sure at all!
 
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