I’m back to my old western saddle because it fits my horse but the stirrups are hard and making my feet hurt. I don’t like the heavy padded endurance stirrups because I slid off one time a my boot stuck to the stirrups. Luckily my horse is small so I could bounce on one leg on the ground while trying to get my foot out of the stirrup which had come with my other leg staying on top of the saddle not letting me go. Threw those away.
So help a wider stirrup might help me but anyone have a favorite comfy stirrup?
Safe is nice also but I can always add a taperdero.
I used to use Cloud stirrups and they were great, but those might fall into the endurance type stirrups that you don’t like. There are wider tread western stirrups that would help. It really is a matter of having a wider platform for your foot, and/or padding it. You could try putting a piece of neoprene on the tread of your stirrup and wrapping it/attaching it by wrapping latex around it. (Lastex, the stuff you can wrap bits with – I did that for years before I got the Clouds.)
I have these stirrup pads on my saddle. Not perfect but they do seem to help.
https://www.horseloverz.com/western-horse-tack/western-stirrups/abetta-stirrup-shock-grip-pads
What are your feet feeling, it may not be a matter of padding… I find that my feet get tender and go numb if I’m using stirrups that are too wide for me. I ride in 2 in bells at the most, 1.5 inch is my go to.
My stirrups are old hard and narrow, i tried a pad but that made it worse. The pad of foot ,ball of foot area gets inflammed from riding even though I never post.Once it gets inflamed it can last a long time. I wear ariat terrains which help some but still need more cushions.
I use 5" wide monels and they’re pretty comfortable.
https://bitterrootsaddleco.com/product/pair-plain-monel-stirrups/
Cashel wide and angled stirrups… great for your feet and your knees! https://www.equestriancollections.com/western-horse-tack-equipment/western-stirrups-accessories/western-stirrups/cashel-slanted-aluminum-stirrups?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&scid=scplp203-179897&sc_intid=203-179897&gclid=Cj0KEQiAk5zEBRD9lfno2dek0tsBEiQAWVKyuLeHRVmjHjWhrimUWhGb-6GcEwzEQIAqmqltQ1iCxdIaAuFy8P8HAQ
Have you tried lengthening your stirrups? Sounds like there’s too much pressure being put on the ball of your foot.
I wonder if a pair of oxbows, paired with smooth soled boots, would make a difference, with the different positioning of the stirrup under the foot?
I’d love to get my hands on some angled stirrups to seeing they’d make a difference in my ability to control my numb leg and reduce the need to overcompensate on the good side.
Surprised that nobody has mentioned Crooked Stirrups. I have knee issues and these stirrups have been amazing for me. I can easily be in the saddle all day on a trail ride or a clinic and not have any knee pain. They also look really good, are durable, and are so far proving very hard to destroy!
I second the suggestion for Crooked Stirrups. Yes, they are called Crooked Stirrups. They are amazing. They helped my friend with hip issues as well. They are easy to keep your feet in and help you hold your leg position.
OMG, HorseInaTARDIS, I LOVE your name!!
I was super skeptical about Crooked Stirrups being all metal, but I have never had any issues with keeping my feet in them. They have helped me not feel crippled after a ride due to my knees.
Thanks! I have found a fellow horse loving Whovian!
I do agree that they are easy to keep your feet in. There may have been a misunderstanding. They do offer rawhide covered ones but they are quite expensive. The metal ones just jangle when I carry my saddle. Everyone at the barn knows when I arrive.:lol:
Does anyone ride in caged stirrups or tapaderos, safety is an issue as a friend was dragged last year ,she ok but it was awful to watch.Frankly I can’t believe the prices on Tucker stirrups or EZ , unreal to me…
