Some riders don’t give much thought to the type of stirrups they ride in,
concerned only with proper length (if that) and adapting themselves to
whatever’s attached to the saddle they’re using. But the right stirrup can make
a world of difference when it comes to your comfort, your form and
effectiveness, the long-term impact riding has on your body and, most
importantly, your safety.
How do you determine which type of stirrup might be right for you? Stirrup
selection is a surprisingly complex topic. As tack technology has evolved,
stirrup design — including the size, shape, materials and purpose of various
models — has become increasingly confusing. In addition, not all manufacturers’
claims and professional endorsements are as informative as they could be.
To help you sort out your options, we’re going to look at the types of
stirrups you’re likely to come across, their features and typical usage, and
some examples of various products in each category.
Younger, smaller riders often do well with peacock stirrups (inset), an English safety stirrup with an outside rubber side designed to pop off and free the foot in the case of a fall.
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Zeroing In The broadest distinction between stirrup types is made at the level of
functionality. What type of riding is the stirrup designed for? If
you’re a team
roper, you’ll be looking at Western stirrups that are
deep and stable. If you’re
riding dressage, your search will be
narrowed to various types of English
stirrup irons.
The best starting point is with your discipline or activity. From there, you
can begin to consider the range of styles that fit within that
category. For
example, if you ride English, do you want
flexible
stirrups, offset-eye
stirrups, standard stainless
steel fillis irons or
maybe brass? You’ll probably
decide
based on a particular feature or
quality (safety, joint comfort,
tradition) or maybe just personal
preference — it looks right
or just feels
better to you — and, of
course, price.
To make this discussion a bit more manageable, we’ll divide stirrups into
Western, English and specialty stirrups and accessories. We’ve tried to
include
average pricing for the example products, but, of
course, cost
is going to vary.
| Stirrup Tip |
| No matter what stirrup you choose, it’s important to wear boots or shoes with
a heel to help prevent your foot from sliding through the stirrup. No
one thinks
that’s going to happen to them, but if the horse moves
suddenly, hands and feet
extend away from the body to help balance it,
and a foot can slip through the
stirrup.
Also allow enough room for your foot to slide easily into and out of the
stirrup. People often make the mistake of buying stirrups that fit
their dress
boots, but don’t allow enough room for work boots or snow
boots.
Even though this stirrup has a grip pad, it’s unsafe to
wear flat-soled sneakers.
|
Stirrups and Safety
Some types of stirrups are inherently safer than others. For example,
flexible stirrups such as the Sprenger 4F System models have enough
play in them
to help release your foot in a fall. With an unyielding
standard fillis stirrup
iron, your foot could slide through and get
caught. Other types of stirrups,
such as the English peacock fillis
irons, are designed specifically with safety
in mind. Here are a few
additional models:
-
Quick-release stirrup irons. Fillis stirrups with a hinge on the
outside edge that’s designed to pop open and free the foot, if weight
comes
against it in a fall. One popular model is Kwik-Out, available
for around
$95.
-
Breakaway stirrups. Designed for Western riders, STI’s Breakaway
stirrups have a release mechanism that detaches the stirrup if the
rider’s foot
rotates it 45 degrees forward or 72 degrees backward.
Models include oxbow,
roper, visalia and bell, and the cost ranges from
$305 to $385.
(www.breakawaystirrups.com).
-
Australian-pattern, or S-curved stirrups. This type of stirrup
has a wide curve to the outside edge that’s designed to help the foot
slide out
of it in a fall, although some riders have reported that
they’ve gotten a foot
caught in this type of stirrup. Products include
Double S Safety stirrups (which
also have an offset eye) and Foot Free.
Prices run about $40.
-
Western safety oxbow stirrups. The Western counterpart of the
Australian-pattern stirrups, these aluminum oxbows have a curve that’s
designed
to allow your foot to slip out if you’re falling. They’re also
priced in the $40
range.
-
A number of covers, or "cages," are available that attach to the
stirrup and block the foot from sliding through. Some stirrups come
with them
already attached, but you can also buy them separately.
Products include Toe
Stoppers (www.toestoppers.com/product.html),
available for English and Western
tack (about $54), and various styles
of tapaderos or hoods, which offer the
added benefit of providing
warmth and protecting against snow and brush on the
trail.
Sizing Up Your Stirrups
As if you didn’t have your hands full trying to decide what stirrup style
works best for you, you must also figure out what size suits your feet.
The
wrong size can be awkward, uncomfortable, distracting and painful —
and it can
certainly compromise your safety.
As a general rule, you should have a finger’s width of room on each side of
your foot in an English stirrup. This will give you enough play and
freedom of
movement without forcing your foot to chase a too-large iron
to try to maintain
position.
The same finger-width rule applies to Western stirrups, although some riders
or circumstances call for a little less or a good bit more. For
example, cutting
and barrel riders may want stirrups that are snugger;
ropers may want a little
more room. Endurance riders may opt for
extra-wide stirrups, such as EZ Ride,
which are specially designed for
maximum weight distribution.
Sizing Up Your Stirrups As if you didn’t have your hands full trying to decide what stirrup style
works best for you, you must also figure out what size suits your feet.
The
wrong size can be awkward, uncomfortable, distracting and
painful —
and it can
certainly compromise your safety.
As a general rule, you should have a finger’s width of room on each side of
your foot in an English stirrup. This will give you enough play and
freedom of
movement without forcing your foot to chase a
too-large iron
to try to maintain
position.
The same finger-width rule applies to Western stirrups, although some riders
or circumstances call for a little less or a good bit more. For
example, cutting
and barrel riders may want stirrups that are
snugger;
ropers may want a little
more room. Endurance riders
may opt for
extra-wide stirrups, such as EZ Ride,
which are
specially designed for
maximum weight distribution.
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