I’ve had my Bow Balance now for about 4 years. I’ve had them on my Baines…couldn’t never find my balance in that saddle. Got my old Courbette fixed and started with just regular old fillis stirrups. AHHH, it was like an old shoe. So yesterday I put my Bow Balance Stirrups back on and immediately started having the same issues that I had in the Baines…basically swimming around looking for balance. So damn, I’m beginning to think it’s the stirrups and not the saddle. Switching back tomorrow to see if that makes a difference.
I personally don’t like the more expensive flexible stirrups of any brand I’ve tried. They all have way too much movement for my liking. I like my cheap Sta-Brite ones on my jumping saddle. They don’t have much movement to them, but its enough to make my knees much happier than without them.
My bow balance allow me to ride
or at least walk after I ride. I love them. When I ride in regular Fillis, I am very unhappy.
different strokes for different folks.
I was having terrible balance and position problems when I was using flexible stirrups, which I thought would be much kinder to my arthritic knees. I also was using cheese-grater pads to help me keep my stirrups.
At my trainer’s behest I switched to plain ole Fillis irons. Massive improvement. The steadiness of the stirrup (I think) helps me control all my other parts better.
Knees still suck but that’s not a function of stirrups or riding, and I don’t see any difference in comfort (or discomfort, as it were). :lol:
you shouldn’t be using your stirrups for balance, but that’s a different story.
i don’t think fancy stirrups are any help in dressage (other than the offset eye ones like this http://www.vrtack.com/product_info.php?products_id=1088)
if anything, i think the bow balance stirrups will make it more difficult for you. if you’re balancing from your stirrups, you should want more stability, as opposed to the flexibility of the foothold that moves as you ride (especially if you’re posting out of your stirrups). have you tried moving the stirrup bar on the Baines?
Ok…went back to the fillis stirrups today and viola…no trouble with balance. Bad news is, my lower back was sore when I finished.
As for keeping stirrups for balance…I ride without stirrups quite a bit as well. 
Baines is out on trial…I will actually just try the good ole fillis stirrups if it comes back.
