Enlighten Me On these Stirrups!

[One_Two_Three]

I was given a pair of these irons for free
http://www.acklandclark.co.uk/xthumb.php,qfile=1518,asize=200.pagespeed.ic.RduhLCJ8kS.jpg

A little bit of google work has me thinking that these are considered “plain hunting irons”…

I didn’t even realize the subtle difference until I went to find pads for them. The typical fillis style white pads don’t fit because the little cut outs on either end aren’t wide enough to fit around the thick part of the iron.

The tack shop had “hunt pads” which are these
http://pk.b5z.net/i/u/2187104/i/2585_ezr2.jpg

but I couldn’t get them to fit into my irons in the shop, it seemed the part of the pad that goes through the iron hole was too thick.

Right now I’m just frustrated and am thinking about just buying a new pair of irons with pads to avoid trying to figure out where to find pads that fit these things! Right now i’m riding in an old pair of herm springers but they’re going back to the saddle’s previous owner as soon as I figure out my iron issues.

Anybody have any idea??? Are there other types of pads that I’m not finding???

Oh, and I posted this in hunter/jumper and not “hunting” because while the irons in question are allegedly “hunting” irons, I ride hunter/jumper and thought that you all would be well versed enough to suggest whether I’m looking at the wrong pads or if these irons are not what I think they are.

argh

One more thing!

Measuring Irons…they aren’t marked with a size.
Do you measure inside of each post??
I measured these things three times. The first time was on the footbed. 4 3/4". Second time was inside of each bar. 4 1/2". Third Time I did a diagonal (like you measure a TV…I know, creative. But really? Who teaches you how to measure a dang iron???)

Thanks

[nycequestrian]

You might consider trying the wrap around pads. They are black and cost about 30$ from Dover.

http://www.doversaddlery.com/super-comfort-pads/p/X1-0752/?ids=pfiro2trhmujbao1sfb2wtbu

They should fit your stirrups (just make sure you get the correct size for your irons) and as they wrap around, you won’t have to worry about fitting the middle part. If you are not sure what size the irons are, you can always take them in and ask someone in the tack store to help you. That is what I did the first time I bought pads for my stirrups (I inherited my irons from my mom and we weren’t sure what size they were) so I took the irons in and the tack store worker fitted pads to the iron and I walked out with the pads in the irons. Hope that helps!

[222orchids]

[QUOTE=nycequestrian;7839965]
You might consider trying the wrap around pads. They are black and cost about 30$ from Dover.

http://www.doversaddlery.com/super-comfort-pads/p/X1-0752/?ids=pfiro2trhmujbao1sfb2wtbu

THESE ARE GREAT!!!

[One_Two_Three]

ah ha!!! THANKS GUYS!

[lachelle]

I will second that the Super Comfort Grip pads that wrap around the irons are my absolute favorite. They’ve helped tremendously with my ankle/shin pain when riding.

[One_Two_Three]

I’m glad to see that they help with pain. Going from herm springer jointed stirrups back to the classic style has me apprehensive about pain. I have hip and knee pain after schooling my mare as it is, so it seems like these would be the ideal choice!

[Eilsel]

I love those pads too… I’ve had mine for 10 years!

[twobits]

Best. Pads. Ever. The end! They are excellent for riding in the pooring rain too!

[Jackie_Cochran]

Those stirrups are the old Prussian sided stirrups. You can ride them without pads, unlike the Fillis stirrups that will crucify your foot without a pad.

I get Peacock stirrup pads for my Prussian sided stirrups. Just make sure that the pads are not for the Fillis Peacock stirrups! The Fillis pads have a cutout on each side for the branch of the stirrup, the pads for the Prussian sided stirrups do not have these cut-outs.

I try to avoid Fillis stirrups because they hurt the balls of my feet A LOT. I nearly quit riding until I found a pair of the old fashioned Prussian sided stirrups and could ride in comfort again.