What are your favourite stirrups?

catembi

catembi

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I haven’t bothered keeping up with developments in stirrups as there was no earthly point while doing groundwork or 20 minutes’ traipsing around the arena in walk. Now that I have a new partner in crime, I feel that new stirrups are deserved but OMG too much choice! I quite like the ones that hang sideways, but beyond that…there are so many! Must be BS/BD legal. Picture of the new boy. Yes, he’s 17hh. Yes I am 5 ft 1. But as soon as I got on him, I thought, ‘you’re my horse’.
 

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I like sideways too, so have acavallo opera stirrups for flat work but don’t trust plastic for fast/ jumping work so have some mega metal ones that I can’t remember the name of and imported fro Italy. So super unhelpful sorry!

Mum had some wide tread cheese grater types but they can mark your saddle if you don’t use covers on them…
 
I use double bent forward facing from eBay at about £19 a pair. They are very light and compensate for heavy WOW saddles.
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catembi said:
Oh thank you - that's def worth knowing re covers. My current pair are unmatched stainless steel old school!
Click to expand...

I think it depends on what your after?

Wide grippy tread can help in keeping your stirrups.

Angled sideways mean your leathers are always straight and not twisted.

The springy/ rubber sided ones can relieve stiff/sore ankles/ arthritic joints.

Plastic is lighter, metal more robust ??‍♀️ It’s an absolute mine field!!!
 
I've just started using flex on, so far they are nice, wide foot plate and light which is what I was looking for, I was previously using podium caged stirrups(i do endurance) and they were too heavy for my liking.
 
Sprenger Bow Balance for me too.

I like that they are heavy enough to hang down if you lose them. I also like that, although the rubber tread isn't slippery, my feel can slide out if there is a whoopsie.

I like the bendy aspect for my knees and ankles, but not super bendy so as to feel unstable. I also like that, if there is a whoopsie, the bendy aspect helps the foot to come out and not wedge.
 
I’ve got the Le Mieux vector balance stirrups. I find them really comfortable and can confirm my foot released easily when I had an unplanned dismount a couple of months ago.
 
My advice would be to see what friends have and have a go. We tried some more modern types of stirrup a few years ago and couldn’t get on with any of the ones we tried. So definitely worth trying before you buy!
 
Definitely 90 degree stirrups, I had MDCs (without hinges, I hate those on any stirrups) and would still recommend them, but haven't ridden in the myriad new designs available now!
 
Sprenger - the classic straight ones. They feel like normal stirrups but are also safety stirrups. I am an elderly rider who hacks and my knowledgeable RI who used them herself, told me that in the long run they would be better for my joints. I guess that having them has affected my riding too. I cantered without a care trusting that if my foot shifted forward in the stirrup, it would not be caught in a fall. And when I was belted off with this week, I once again fell free.
 
Wow, so many recommendations! I will have a good nosey at all of them. I came across the facing forward ones at the dealer's when trying my boy, which made me wonder wtf I haven't moved with the times! They were also snazzy & about as far removed from my ancient classic stainless ones as it's possible to get!
 
Acavallo Arena in rose gold - a recent present to myself ?. Was using Sprenger Bow balance as was having some knee issues at one point but they’re not as stable due to the flex so will probably only use for long rides in future if necessary.
 
I have sprenger bow balance - fine for dr - hate them for jumping they are not designed that well and can slip. Luckily I was given them. I was also given freejumps and Equipe lightweight ones - gave the freejumps to a friend as didn’t like. Absolutely LOVE the Equipe. Super lightweight and wide foot with a lot of grip. I don’t want stupid fancy stirrups - I want lightweight for xc, solid wide foot platform and grippy.
If I had to actually buy a pair as the Equipes are not that cheap then would probably get Acavallo Operas. I don’t want stupid safety stirrups because think if people bought the right size stirrup the risks would be minimised and I have massive feet so tend to ride more on my toe anyway.
 
I use the normal sprenger for flatwork but am intrigued by the bow balance. I do find the stirrup leather gets rucked up a bit. This forum is dangerous for my wallet! I have the avacello Alupro for jumping. They have a good grip without being too grippy, are light, and I liked the easy safety mechanism. Some of the expensive ones needed re fitting after a fall.

I feel like I missed your new horse post. Congrats! You actually don’t look that small on him given the relative sizes. I hope he is everything you want him to be.
 
I like the Acavallo alupro ones. They’re much cheaper than other trendy ones and the release mechanism on them is efficient and stays clean. (Found some get clogged with mud)
They look smart and ‘normal’ enough for competition

we had the flex on ones before, fab stirrups but they really are horribly bulky and I’m quite old fashioned
 
This thread is a bad influence ? I’m currently web surfing for aluminium front facing preferably wide tread stirrups ??
How come (cheap) Icelandic stirrups only seem to come in one size ?
 
I had Freejump Air - never again, appalling quality, the plastic bits kept breaking. I now have Acavallo Arena AluPro safety stirrups and I love them. Very comfortable, I have arthritic knees and a metal ankle.
 
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