What stirrups do you ride in?

AFlapjack

AFlapjack

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 March 2010
Messages
1,346
Location
Devon, UK
Visit site
I am looking to buy a new pair of stirrups as my current ones are too small but I'm umming and ahhing about which type to get!

I have always ridden in peacock stirrups and only want to buy safety stirrups but I don't know anything about the other types.

I do a mixture of showing and eventing so want something that is suitable for both.

What stirrups do you ride in and what would you recommend?

TIA x
 
Sprenger Bow Balance for hacking mine, and the horses I ride in lessons (flat) generally have the normal Sprengers. I love them, SO much more comfortable and easier to keep hold of than "normal" irons! :)
 
Alice Flapjack - thank you so much for posting this as I ride in peacock stirrups too (much to my daughter's embarrassment!) and would also like to purchase some safety stirrups but despite research can't seem to find an affordable pair that I like.
 
I thought peacock irons weren't safe for adults.......

When I was having lessons all the school horses had bent leg irons as they are safety irons suitable for all weights and not too expensive. Never had a problem with them.

However when we bought our horse she came with a saddle, when we tried her it had some lovely lightweight showjumping irons on, the cheesegrater type. The owner told us she couldn't let us have those as she used them on her other horses, we were going to buy some irons but she found a pair she didn't use to send with the saddle and I love them. They are flexible ones with a hinge type thing covered in rubber. Sooooo comfy, easy to keep a secure lower leg and easy to keep your feet in. Also easy on the knee and ankle on long hacks.

A lot of the liveries on our yard have endurance irons and swear by them though.
 
Silmarillion said:
Sprenger Bow Balance for hacking mine, and the horses I ride in lessons (flat) generally have the normal Sprengers. I love them, SO much more comfortable and easier to keep hold of than "normal" irons! :)
Click to expand...

blood_magik said:
sprenger bow balance for jumping and 'normal' safety stirrups for flatwork and showing.
have to admit I love my sprengers - worth the ££
Click to expand...

Thank you both, have had a look at them but they're so expensive :o Good job my birthday's coming up soon :D ;)

attheponies said:
Alice Flapjack - thank you so much for posting this as I ride in peacock stirrups too (much to my daughter's embarrassment!) and would also like to purchase some safety stirrups but despite research can't seem to find an affordable pair that I like.
Click to expand...

Haha no problem! :p

ECRider said:
I love these stirrups you get comfort and discreet safety One of the many things on my shopping list :D
http://www.equinecompare.co.uk/equestrianProducts.php?order=rel&query=mountain+horse+quick+release&x=0&y=0&new=1&site_id=&from=&to=
Click to expand...

Oooh they look interesting, similar to the peacock style. Thanks!

RubysGold said:
I dont know what exactly they are, as they came with the horse when I bought her.
but a quick google shows me some that look the same http://www.farmway.co.uk/equine-2/saddlery-23/leatherwork-36/cottage-bentleg-safety-stirrup-4516.htm

I like them and now I tend to feel 'trapped' if I use normal stirrups
Click to expand...

BobbyMondeo said:
I ride in these http://www.equestrianclearance.com/weatherbeeta/safety_stirrup_irons/

I find them very good never had my foot stuck in them yet! (in about 6 years)
Click to expand...

I've seen a lot of people riding in these too and cheaper than other types! Hmmm decisions!

KristmasKatt said:
I thought peacock irons weren't safe for adults.......

When I was having lessons all the school horses had bent leg irons as they are safety irons suitable for all weights and not too expensive. Never had a problem with them.

However when we bought our horse she came with a saddle, when we tried her it had some lovely lightweight showjumping irons on, the cheesegrater type. The owner told us she couldn't let us have those as she used them on her other horses, we were going to buy some irons but she found a pair she didn't use to send with the saddle and I love them. They are flexible ones with a hinge type thing covered in rubber. Sooooo comfy, easy to keep a secure lower leg and easy to keep your feet in. Also easy on the knee and ankle on long hacks.

A lot of the liveries on our yard have endurance irons and swear by them though.
Click to expand...

To be fair I'm only 19 and weigh 8 stone so don't think I've been riding dangerously? I hope not anyway! :confused:

Thanks for all the replies so far :)
 
Sprenger bow balance.

When I was younger I was dragged by a stirrup. For this reason I will never scrimp on stirrups!! Horse Heaven on ebay or derby house when they are 20% off everything are the cheapest!
 
Always safety cant understand why anyone would not use them, I have been dragged upside down. Would rather have a clean fall
 
Another one for the sprenger bow balance, i love then, they are so secure and i have very dodgey ankles and they have helped so much, i really cannot recommend them enough, completley worth the pennys! :)
 
I ride in standard stirrups but with Barnes buckles attached. If your foot the buckles "snap" & disengage the stirrup from the leather so you don't get dragged. Thankfully even though I've fall off my fair share of times I've not got my foot stuck!

http://www.dragon-equine.co.uk/barnes-buckles-safety-stirrup-buckles-381-p.asp

I could never get on with the bent leg or the bendy ones with chains covered in rubber... my foot kept slipping out :o but I know of a couple of people that do ride in them no problem.. I'm probably just weird lol.
 
Does anyone ride in barnes buckles AND sprenger (or sprenger style) irons? I am considering this option but wondered if having two release mechanisms would somehow "weaken" the whole set-up?
 
I still use peacock stirrups! I grew up using them and have carried on using them and now event at intermediate level! I have noticed that they are not that common any more but one of my friends who had a more "high tech" and more expensive version of saftey stirrups ended up hurting her ankle becuase they did not release. Peacock stirrups are simple, effective safe and not expensive in comparision to others. Thats why I will continue to use them!

In response to the ealier comment amount them not being safe for adults - i have never heard this before? But i wonder how they can not be safe, i presume it may be something to do with the rubber comes off too easily surely its better that way round that it not coming off at all?

Hope that helps and Im sure what ever you chose will keep you safe but dont be embarrsed to use peacock stirrups!
 
In response to the ealier comment amount them not being safe for adults - i have never heard this before? But i wonder how they can not be safe, i presume it may be something to do with the rubber comes off too easily surely its better that way round that it not coming off at all?

Hope that helps and Im sure what ever you chose will keep you safe but dont be embarrsed to use peacock stirrups![/QUOTE]

Yep I use as said earlier mine are nice big ones, they probably dont look trendy and I probably look a bit of a big kid with them but even when the peacock goes I often havent even noticed its missing. I do keep spares but the stirup seems well balanced to me! After a nasty fall and getting caught wouldnt swap them. I dont know why anyone would think they were not safe for adults? Why?
 
I use Sprenger stirrups. Mine have released both times I've come off.

D1 uses Sprenger Bow stirrups. She's not come off (yet!), so no idea how they perform, but bought those for the extra safety factor.

Hate riding in other stirrups now.
 
Peacock stirrups are not designed for adult riders because all the weight of the rider has to be supported by just two pieces of metal that are only joined at one place with only an elastic band providing the third side. With normal stirrups the metal is a complete loop and therefore can support a higher weight. The risk is that the peacock stirrups could bend suddenly and without warning. The manufacturer I used to work for would not recommend them for use for anyone over 8stone.
 
I used bent leg ones for a while until I had a fall, my foot got stuck in the stirrup somehow. The horse took one look at me on the ground and took off, luckily my boot/half chap/spur combo came off and were still hanging in the stirrup when the horse was caught.

Since then I have used Sprenger System 4 and Thorowgood T6 safety stirrups.
 
chessy said:
Thorowgood Tuff stirrups - I love that they are lightweight and find them much easier to ride in than traditional steel irons.
Click to expand...

I have these- used them for years and I really love them.....

BUT...I have a different horse now- I am obviously not planning on falling off but I need to get some safety stirrups.

Can anyone recommened some really lightweight safety stirrups please?
 
poppymoo said:
I have these- used them for years and I really love them.....

BUT...I have a different horse now- I am obviously not planning on falling off but I need to get some safety stirrups.

Can anyone recommened some really lightweight safety stirrups please?
Click to expand...

You could use the same stirrups but attach Barnes buckles to them? They hardly add any extra weight & effectively make them a safety stirrup.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top