FreeJump Stirrups More Bad Than Good?

[Alexa_L]

Hello!

I saw some used Freejump Soft Up Pro stirrups on ebay and purchased them for a good price. I was excited because of the reviews and blogs I have read about them online (I understand that many blogs are really paid advertisements).

However, when I brought them to my barn my trainer says she HATES them because they do more bad than good. Namely that they change your foot position.

I wasn’t able to find this concern when I searched on online, so I was wondering if anyone had heard of this before and agree that I should re-sell them on ebay.

Thanks!!

[trubandloki]

Does your trainer not want you to try them at all?

I have found that stirrups are a very personal thing. One person loves a certain style and the next person hates that style.
If they are not dangerous for you to ride in I see no reason for you to not try them and see if they work for you.

[Alexa_L]

Yes, she is concerned they will change my foot position/muscle memory - but you are right, I think I will at a minimum give them a hack before re-selling them!

[fordtraktor]

I don’t find that true at all. I love my FreeJump stirrups.

[trubandloki]

@Alexa_L

Yes, she is concerned they will change my foot position/muscle memory - but you are right, I think I will at a minimum give them a hack before re-selling them!

I doubt simply trying them is going to do any long term harm to your foot position or your muscle memory.

[Jealoushe]

I think it really depends on your body shape etc . People swear by them and rave about them, so I got a pair to try and I hated them sooooo so much. My leg has always been super solid and with the free jumps my leg swung back like crazy over fences and I couldn’t get up out of the saddle the way I normally could. For me, Lorenzinis are the BOMB. I broke my leg severly a few years ago and Lorenzinis are the only thing that I can really comfortably jump in now.

My biggest gripe with FreeJumps is there are now, multiple occasions of them breaking. If there is one thing your stirrup shouldn’t do, it’s break. I would stay away from them based on that alone.

[mouseinlux]

I had a pair, I never noticed any difference in my leg from my previous stirrups. BUT they broke a few months ago during a flat ride and now actively try to avoid riding in them. I just don’t trust them any more.
That being said, I replaced mine with a pair of tech Venice stirrups and HATED the things. They’re now my daughters!

[outside_leg]

I love mine. I have a bad knee and bad ankle, and they’re the first stirrups I’ve used that don’t cause me pain and actually help me keep my bad leg in the right position.

[ComingAttraction]

I don’t feel that they change your foot position because they are designed like all other stirrups but… I think they are cheap and I’ve found that they break easily in cold weather. Who needs that hassle for the exorbitant cost? For eventers doing CC maybe but honestly how many get a foot stuck in a stirrup? If you do then these maybe you could also just ride in the peacock stirrups? Not a fan. Cheaper options out there that do a far better job and their parts are easier to replace.

[anon510129]

Funny, I went through the same conversation with my trainer this past week. I had a bad fall and broke my arm and injured my knee & just started riding again 2.5 months later. I thought I should invest in a pair of FreeJumps because now I am overly cautious.

I test-rode in a pair of the Sof’t Up Pros and loved them. My trainer said she thought they would change my leg position & shove my leg into a chair position. She watched me ride & didn’t notice that they changed my position. My feedback was my leg felt significantly more secure, although I didn’t feel much, if any, change in my knee comfort (although I was riding a different horse for the first time).

I ended up buying the classics because I like the look of them better, & they should arrive this week. I have several friends (at least 10) who LOVE their FreeJumps. I’m really excited to see how I like them in the long run.

I agree everyone has a different body, their own confirmation & way(s) of riding, so I think the stirrups help people differently.

[aekowner]

My trainer and people I clinic with have a general rule on stirrups like this: wear them at shows, not in training. The wider foot on Freejumps, and other stirrups will weaken your ankle and change foot position. Also, Freejumps can be faulty. So, for shows when you’re competing fast and high, I want a release stirrup. But for at home training, probably worth having ‘normal’ stirrups.

[Bogie]

But the whole point of safety stirrups is that you need to be safe for every ride, so I wouldn’t buy something just to use at shows. Two years ago my mare fell with me when she slipped in the snow. I broke my left ankle, my left collarbone and my right knee. I’m pretty sure the knee injury was caused because my foot didn’t come out of the stirrup easily/fast enough. I decided that I would always ride in safety stirrups going forward. I passed on the Freejump because of reports the stirrups broke. I ride in SafeStyle stirrups and also have a pair of the Acavallo Arena stirrups. I prefer the SafeStyle which are surprisingly simple and traditional in appearance. My accident occurred at home, trotting in an arena. It’s the worst fall I’ve ever had. It’s not just shows that are dangerous.

[Foitin]

Seems like people have some strong feelings about stirrups! I have Free Jumps, I find them fine in terms of my position, but I am an amateur doing hunters, not equitation, so I am not scrutinizing it really, just want to stay out of the way so my horse can jump well. I also have the Free Jump paddock boots and half chaps, and the wide stirrup leathers too. In my experience, all of it looks lovely out of the box, but 1) the leathers have stretched quite a lot in 2 months, they are very thin 2) the stirrups are plastic-y and make a hollow sounds when you tap on them (does not inspire confidence, also scratches a lot) 3) After 5 wears the leather had worn away on front of the half chap where it met the paddock boots designed to be worn with the half chaps. They literally look shredded now and I ride 1 horse 3/4 times a week max.