I am treating myself to a new Premium Butet saddle with all the fixings!!! But they don’t offer stirrups. What do you suggest as a good fit for me? I am a bit of a nervous restarting adult…so I do like the wide footbed…and don’t need fancy colors.
If you like the wide footbed there’s tons of great options out there. I have MDC Classics w/ the “S”-top, no flex, that I really like. They look like a traditional iron if you don’t look closely but are much more comfortable for me than “normal” irons (no more numb toes!). I have a pair of Tech Diana stirrups as well, and also like those. They’re slightly less traditional looking but elegant (imo). They’re lighter weight than the MDC’s, and have a gripper footbed, so they do hold your foot better. Tech also makes a nice “breakaway” stirrup that I would strongly consider buying in the future.
Stubben Maxi-grips look similar to the Techs as well. If you don’t care as much about a traditional looking iron, you can look at Royal Riders or other composite stirrups. I haven’t ridden in these but they make them in both solid and “flex” styles, if you like/need that option.
Enjoy your lovely new saddle! So exciting!
I like the MDC S stirrups too. They are heavy which helps me find them if I lose a stirrup.
Im a big fan of the tech safety stirrups. They have the quick release, and a wide, super grippy foot bed. They’re pretty spendy but I think worth it. https://www.techstirrups.com/en/products/safety-stirrups/
Love the MDCs too! I bought a pair for my Butet last year. Love the wide food bed. I got the jumper model that has the flex of the Sprenger’s. I have the Sprenger’s on my other Butet which I love as well…
My two cents, for what it’s worth:
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I personally own Jin stirrups, which I love. They have a wide footbed and have enough “weight” to them that they don’t go flopping around when loose, but aren’t “iron” heavy.
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I tried Lorenzini stirrups (with the metal footbed) when I was shopping, and LOVED them. I hate the way they look, but love the security! Unfortunately I couldn’t find them here in Canada in silver with the metal footbed, or else I would have bought them over the Jins.
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Personally, I found that the TechLite stirrups were too light for my liking. I found that they liked to work their way back on my foot - I have never had that happen before or since, and am pretty sure I keep my heels down. I found that they bounced around a bit too much when I dropped them for no-stirrup work/testing the waters if I were to lose an iron, and were harder to “find” to pick up.
I just got my Butet Premium last year… oh my gosh, it is my heart saddle. Enjoy yours!!
I agree and have had the MDC S-tops on my to buy list for a while. I rode in my trainers saddle that had them and I was surprised how nice they were. I use just a regular filis iron with cheese grater foot beds… the trainers I was riding with prefer the regular filis irons… they don’t like the gimmick stirrups… but the MDC is an exception. I was told and I do feel it; the flex type don’t give me stability I like in the stirrup…
And agree, enjoy your lovely new saddle… Butets are very nice and really comfortable!
