What stirrups do you use?

[SpringArising]

I stupidly sold my Barnes Buckles a while ago which I'd had for years and years and they were fantastic. They seem to be discontinued now as I can't find them anywhere, but they were essentially metal buckles that clipped onto most stirrups and un-popped in an 'emergency' meaning you would never be dragged.

I use bog-standard plastic stirrups now which came with new horse but after having the peace of mind of the Barnes Buckles, don't like knowing that I could be dragged. I've found these: http://www.dreamteamproducts.com/shop/swissclip which look basically the same as the Barnes ones, but don't particularly like the way they look.

I've been thinking of getting these: https://www.naylors.com/freejump-so...MI8dKV9Yr21wIVwbDtCh1LhQQOEAQYASABEgKEB_D_BwE or these: https://www.kramer.co.uk/Safety-Sti...kraemer-pferdesport.47-GB&pi=280040&ci=262660 (have ridden in these before for a while and they were lovely, but never came off to test)

Does anyone have any of these or use anything else that has been tried and tested?

I'm not a fan of the old-style Peacock stirrups with rubber/elastic on one side (seen for myself that they don't work) or the bent-leg ones (think there's too much potential for entire foot to get jammed in).

 

[MouseInLux]

I have the freejump stirrups, I find them really comfortable. I came off this weekend with them but I don’t know if they made any difference.

 

[Fiona]

My son has venice tech safety stirrups and we are very happy with them...

Fiona

 

[teapot]

Ride in normal irons most of the time but also rate the Sprengers. Have flatted in Acavallo (sp) Opera a couple of times and my god was I impressed. Worth it despite how ugly they are!

 

[attheponies]

I'm a bit paranoid about falling off and getting a foot stuck so I treated myself to Sprenger flexi stirrups as they claim to be the safest there are.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

I currently ride in the plastic composti stirrups, but I really like the look of these http://www.horsehealth.co.uk/new/new-accessories/arena-alupro-safety-stirrup and I'm hoping to get a proper look at some at Olympia next week, and if they're good might invest for my jumping saddle! I've also heard very good things about the acavallo opera stirrups, but prefer the look of these.

I've heard a few stories about the side of freejumps snapping whilst jumping and other times when it shouldn't, and causing accidents/people having to retire from the round, so that's why I've been very torn about those. I also have heard that the sprenger/flexi stirrups can make your lower leg very unstable, my instructor hates them for that reason (and when I've ridden in them I've found that to be true).

 

[Midwychequestrain]

We use tech Venice on all our saddles

 

[Mrs B]

I've honestly never thought about them, as long as there's been somewhere flat to rest my feet!

I've simply ridden with whatever's on the saddle of whatever horse I'm on at the time for whatever discipline; from polo to dressage to hunting to hunter trials to hacking.

My current saddle has the ones with the rubber bands - safety ones? It arrived that way. Although I have to say the bands are perishing rather badly!

My only personal rule about stirrups over the years is that they 'safety latch' is never, ever, EVER put in the 'up' position. I have always failed to understand why saddles have them? Surely, if you snag a stirrup, the first thing that should happen is that it comes away from the saddle?

I've seen a couple of really bad accidents when a leather hasn't come free, when the angle of the leather against the bar has prevented the leather coming off, so why would you want to lock it in place?

If there's a good explanation I'd welcome hearing it, as it's always puzzled me.

 

[Asha]

I use free jumps, have done for a few years now. Find them really grippy and sturdy.
Highly recommend them

 

[SpringArising]

Thanks for this - I think it looks like the Venice Tech ones or the Free Jumps are the way to go!

 

[Notimetoride]

Mountain Horse safety stirrups - wouldn't be without them !

 

[SpringArising]

Mountain Horse safety stirrups - wouldn't be without them !

Ooh, thanks for this recommendation. These are the nicest looking IMO. Have you ever come off in them?

 

[Pippity]

Mountain Horse safety stirrups - wouldn't be without them !

They just look like the Peacocks but with a fancier rubber band? Is there anything more to them? (I'm also looking at safety stirrups, after coming off a few months ago and taking the stirrup leather with me. I feel sick if I think about what would have happened if I'd been on a saddle where the leather didn't come off so easily.)

 

[Equi]

I've honestly never thought about them, as long as there's been somewhere flat to rest my feet!

I've simply ridden with whatever's on the saddle of whatever horse I'm on at the time for whatever discipline; from polo to dressage to hunting to hunter trials to hacking.

My current saddle has the ones with the rubber bands - safety ones? It arrived that way. Although I have to say the bands are perishing rather badly!

My only personal rule about stirrups over the years is that they 'safety latch' is never, ever, EVER put in the 'up' position. I have always failed to understand why saddles have them? Surely, if you snag a stirrup, the first thing that should happen is that it comes away from the saddle?

I've seen a couple of really bad accidents when a leather hasn't come free, when the angle of the leather against the bar has prevented the leather coming off, so why would you want to lock it in place?

If there's a good explanation I'd welcome hearing it, as it's always puzzled me.

They are there for use when you are either jumping quite high and the angle means the stirrup may slip off, or going up steep banks etc and again they are in danger of slipping off. Technically they should be free enough to ping back down should anyone fall off - it was intended as a safety thing but didn’t really work very well.

As for stirrups my gp has cheapish flexi type stirrups, as it’s the most used saddle. My dressage which to be fair gets used at least once or twice a week has just a pair of normal ones. Not into fancy stirrups as I don’t think they make much difference and I couldn’t justify paying 200£ for a place to rest my foot.

 

[dixie]

I have a Barnes buckle which I use on one saddle - you never see them around nowadays though which is a shame. I also find they don't seem to fit the modern stirrups.

I've also got the Tech safety stirrups which I really like. I had the Mountain Horse ones which I also liked but they are a much heavier stirrup and so switched to the Tech.

 

[DappleDown]

I have a Barnes buckle which I use on one saddle - you never see them around nowadays though which is a shame. I also find they don't seem to fit the modern stirrups.

I've bought a packet of Barnes Buckles as a stocking filler gift, crikey, hope they do fit. I've never used them myself - so another thought - are they ok for jumping?

For me, I use FreeJumps. Have ridden in hundreds of saddles over the years and I never knew that a stirrup could feel so good. Love them.

The problems re FreeJumps breaking whilst jumping I believe were a particular batch some years ago. I can't remember the last time I went to an event and didn't see literally every rider using them.

 

[MissGee]

I use bow balance - love them to ride in, had a couple of nasty falls and always been safe. Although I have to admit, I don't really like the look of them.

 

[SpringArising]

I've bought a packet of Barnes Buckles as a stocking filler gift, crikey, hope they do fit. I've never used them myself - so another thought - are they ok for jumping?

For me, I use FreeJumps. Have ridden in hundreds of saddles over the years and I never knew that a stirrup could feel so good. Love them.

The problems re FreeJumps breaking whilst jumping I believe were a particular batch some years ago. I can't remember the last time I went to an event and didn't see literally every rider using them.

Where did you find them? And yes they’re absolutely fine to do everything in. I had them on various horses for about ten years doing everything from dressage to XC and they only ever came into play when I fell off. Really great they are.

The only thing with them is that I found they only fitted on metal stirrups, not plastic ones.

 

[AFB]

They are there for use when you are either jumping quite high and the angle means the stirrup may slip off, or going up steep banks etc and again they are in danger of slipping off. Technically they should be free enough to ping back down should anyone fall off - it was intended as a safety thing but didn’t really work very well.

Thanks Equi - this has always puzzled me too!

Stirrup wise I stick with Jins, they're not safety stirrups but I feel SO secure in them and my lower leg is much better behaved these days

 

[HufflyPuffly]

I use the Acavello Opera ones, love them!

However, I wouldn't trust plastic stirrups jumping or for fast work (look how many reports there have been for the free jumps :eek3.

So I bought these:

However I currently have a loss at what blooming make they are, but they are without doubt the best stirrups I've owned .

 

[Notimetoride]

Ooh, thanks for this recommendation. These are the nicest looking IMO. Have you ever come off in them?

Yes. Nothing to report tbh - it was pretty uneventful. I can't remember if the rubber popped off or not, but I came of cleanly and didn't get stuck

 

[Notimetoride]

They just look like the Peacocks but with a fancier rubber band? Is there anything more to them? (I'm also looking at safety stirrups, after coming off a few months ago and taking the stirrup leather with me. I feel sick if I think about what would have happened if I'd been on a saddle where the leather didn't come off so easily.)

They are far nicer than peacock stirrups. It's not an elastic band, but a black 'hose' which is the same profile as the stirrup so isn't an obvious safety stirrup. I also have the treads and the Mountain Horse SCS boots which interlock with the treads. All works rather well and I always feel safe and secure.

 

[DappleDown]

Where did you find them? And yes they’re absolutely fine to do everything in. I had them on various horses for about ten years doing everything from dressage to XC and they only ever came into play when I fell off. Really great they are.

The only thing with them is that I found they only fitted on metal stirrups, not plastic ones.

They were an unopened and unwanted packet that someone just happened to have for sale. Sounds like I was lucky to find them - and phew, the person I bought them for only uses metal stirrups.

 

[Pippity]

They are far nicer than peacock stirrups. It's not an elastic band, but a black 'hose' which is the same profile as the stirrup so isn't an obvious safety stirrup. I also have the treads and the Mountain Horse SCS boots which interlock with the treads. All works rather well and I always feel safe and secure.

Do they avoid the weight limit that the Peacocks have? I'm a fair bit over 9 stone!

 

[Embo]

Another Freejumps fan over here! I really love them. Comfy to ride in, nice and secure... I've fallen off a couple of times riding in them and feet have always come away clear.

The issue with the breaking stirrups was investigated by Freejump. It was found the be the original MK1 stirrups, so the first ever batch, suffering from micro-cracks in the plastic. These cracks were caused by hard use, having being used hours per day, every day, for years.

I don't think mine are MK1, but they certainly don't work that hard so I'm not worried.

 

[pansymouse]

I use Heather Moffett wide tread stirrups with Compositi cages. I had to adjust the cages to fit the irons but the set up works well for me. I ride over rough ground at reason speed on a horse prion to spooking; they make me feel much more secure than regular stirrups. I'm always surprised that more people don't use cages, they're probably the cheapest avoiding a foot through the stirrup option available and are very comfortable.

 

[nikkimariet]

Love my Jins.

 

[Andrew657]

I use the escape safety stirrups - I like the idea that they would separate if horse and I were to part company.

Only issue when putting on the saddle was needing shorter leathers - and seem to ride like normal stirrups.

 

[ihatework]

Cheap flexi stirrups, sprenger knock offs from eBay. I’m a bit OMG at the price of some of these fancy stirrups, do they really make that much of a difference?!

 

[attheponies]

Cheap flexi stirrups, sprenger knock offs from eBay. I’m a bit OMG at the price of some of these fancy stirrups, do they really make that much of a difference?!

I think it's a case of you get what you pay for. Although a friend has used copies off ebay for years with no incident, when I was researching stirrups I came across stories of these breaking (but I appreciate when searching the internet you will always find good & bad reports on anything!).