Looking for recommendations for favorite stirrups before spending the money- needs to be a good fit for hunter and jumper rings
I’ve ridden in Flexon’s and felt great in those but can’t decide if they’ll look okay in the hunter ring, (haven’t seen the hunter one in person) Freejumps I like but feel like they make me more liable to pinch with my knee and saw reviews that MDC people had a hard time keeping over jumps- curious about JIN or Acavallo or any others you love?
Ride in what you like, judges really don’t care.
This,we do not care!! That said, you’d have to pry my Jins out of my cold dead hands
I’ve personally seen and heard a million horrible stories about free jumps. I really think they are bad unsafe stirrups.
I was out of the loop a bit when I saw them for the first time but my mind immediately flashed to all the ways they could get caught in things. The first time I rode in them they got caught in my breastplate. My fault? I mean yes probably but I don’t ride so bad and still…
Another time a friend of mine was walking horse to the mounting block, stirrups rolled up, horse bit at a fly and got their bottom teeth stuck to them and collapsed to the ground before we could get them off. This happened twice actually.
Another time, person was having a hard time getting canter, gave a kick, outside of stirrup caught in fence and got stuck to it. Gave a loud crack when it broke off.
Countless stories of reins getting caught in them.
This story I only know through gossip but kid had a horse fall on her and still stirrup stuck to her foot, got dragged and broke like every bone in her arm.
They are really popular but I think they’re death traps. I’ve pretty much never had an issue with stirrups except free jumps.
Have had both MDC and alpha jumps. For me, I struggled to keep my foot in the MDCs due to low traction. Once it reached a point of distraction, I got the alpha jumps which I love. The traction is amazing (almost too much) and the angle on stirrup has eliminated my ankle pain (from hyperflexion and the reason I looked at wide stirrups to begin with).
I have the FlexOn Hunter H ultra grip. Everyone who has ridden my horse asks what they are and two of the people have bought them. Perfect weight, super grippy. Just perfection.
I have Acavallo Operas on my jump saddle and I really like them. Nice grippy tread that feels secure but still light. I have MDCs on my dressage saddle so not an apples to apples comparison but I feel a lot more secure in the Acavallos. Obviously there are other factors at play with a different saddle and stirrup length but I dont think I’d want to jump in the MDCs.
I think they technically aren’t a safety stirrup (they dont have a branch that totally releases) but the top (where the branches come together) isn’t fixed and opens so I feel confident my foot wouldn’t get stuck. Can’t speak to acceptability in the hunter ring though.
Hey and after I wrote this, I witnessed another person get caught in free jumps 3 days ago.
Was looking at JINS!
That’s crazy! Thanks for sharing- will not be going with those !
I am picky and love my MDC S Classic stirrups. I have not had any issues with losing my stirrups and find them very comfortable.
I tried the MDC and hated them! But thats why there’s 31 flavors, right??
I love my Flexons, and ride in the hunters with hunter version.
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