MDC Stirrups?

[abby0204]

I recently rode in a Bernie Traurig clinic, and he recommended MDC stirrups over and over again. He said that they are very comfortable and have plenty of grip. I have been using just plain old jointed stirrups forever, and wanted to see if anyone had any reviews on them before I took the plunge and tried them!

In particular I am curious if anyone has experienced any pain relief in their feet when using them. I had major foot surgery last year (bunion surgery and they took out the bones that make up the ball of my foot) and I have struggled on days where I am in the saddle a lot. If they help with pain at all I am more than willing to give them a try.

Thanks in advance!

[Jealoushe]

I tried them and they gave me horrible knee pain, this was in a dressage saddle. To the point I could hardly walk after! Not sure if that’s a one off or what.

[sarcam02]

[QUOTE=abby0204;7875989]
I recently rode in a Bernie Traurig clinic, and he recommended MDC stirrups over and over again. He said that they are very comfortable and have plenty of grip. I have been using just plain old jointed stirrups forever, and wanted to see if anyone had any reviews on them before I took the plunge and tried them!

In particular I am curious if anyone has experienced any pain relief in their feet when using them. I had major foot surgery last year (bunion surgery and they took out the bones that make up the ball of my foot) and I have struggled on days where I am in the saddle a lot. If they help with pain at all I am more than willing to give them a try.

Thanks in advance![/QUOTE]

I have both the ultimate and hunter irons and i really like them. Very nice classic looking irons and they feel very good in my opinion

[Indy]

I have the hunter irons and I adore them. A lot. Probably more than one should love a pair of stirrups. They make my bad ankle feel so much better compared to when I used to ride in Herm Sprengers. My ankle still hurts some but it doesn’t keep me up at nights anymore like it used to.
The MDCs have a great wide footbed too, which makes me feel really stable. I like the grippies on the bed that are pointy but not the cheese-grater type. I’m notorious for fussing with my stirrups if I don’t like how they feel when I’m riding and I don’t fuss with my MDCs at all - I put my feet where I want them and there they stay.

[SolarFlare]

I have the classic MDC (non-jointed) and love them. When I tried to ride in regular stirrups my feet went numb.

I did have the jointed ones as well but sold them- apparently jointed stirrups make me do weird things with my body to force it to stabilize when jumping.

I used to get calf rubs from my stirrup leathers, even though my legs weren’t swinging. With the MDCs I do not at all.

[PNWjumper]

I have MDC stirrups on all of my saddles. The regular footbed and non-jointed on all of my younger/non-showing horses, and then the wide-footbed (still non-jointed) on my GP horse. I have a weird quirk where I like to ride with my stirrups backwards (so angled from big toe back towards little toe), though I really only stay that way with one foot, and I’ve found that I’m happier with the stirrups set to a 90 degree angle for that reason. Only downside is that if I lose a stirrup, it bounces like crazy because of the 90 degree angle.

[Tiffani_B]

I have the ultimate stirrups and won’t ride in anything else now. I have hip and knee problems, and my feet would fall asleep. Once I switched stirrups - no more hip or knee pain (unless I go for a really long ride on a super round (i.e. fat) horse LOL), and my feet don’t fall asleep anymore, ever. They are nice and grippy without the “cheese grater” damage to your boot soles.

[Temecula_Jumper]

I have the ultimate stirrups. I don’t use the adjustable positions on them much but have found they really relieve the foot numbness I’ve experienced with other stirrups. Overall, I’m really happy with them.

[ParadoxFarm]

I love me Ultimates. I had ankle surgery this year, and knee surgery a few years back, and I use these stirrups and they help. I do rotate them to the 45 degrees because when I drop a stirrup, it is much easier to pick back up with my bad ankle without having to twist it.

[SolarFlare]

[QUOTE=PNWjumper;7877031]
I have MDC stirrups on all of my saddles. The regular footbed and non-jointed on all of my younger/non-showing horses, and then the wide-footbed (still non-jointed) on my GP horse. I have a weird quirk where I like to ride with my stirrups backwards (so angled from big toe back towards little toe), though I really only stay that way with one foot, and I’ve found that I’m happier with the stirrups set to a 90 degree angle for that reason. Only downside is that if I lose a stirrup, it bounces like crazy because of the 90 degree angle.[/QUOTE]

Could you angle them “reverse” 45 degrees? I’ve never tried but I think the switch goes both ways, right? Maybe that would help them lie just the way you want and not bounce as much if you drop one. I use mine at the “regular” 45 degrees and they sit just right on my foot.

[PNWjumper]

[QUOTE=SolarFlare;7877095]
Could you angle them “reverse” 45 degrees? I’ve never tried but I think the switch goes both ways, right? Maybe that would help them lie just the way you want and not bounce as much if you drop one. I use mine at the “regular” 45 degrees and they sit just right on my foot.[/QUOTE]

Yes, you can. I’ve done it, but the problem is that I like to start with my stirrups backwards and then end up with them in the right place at one point or another. 90 degrees ends up working best for me. Instead I just try to not ever lose a stirrup

[Inclined]

I had the Ultimates, and they made my knees and ankles feel very good. However, they made my hips hurt. I think I was compensating with my hips for the flexibility/movement of the stirrups. But then, I don’t like cushy gel footbeds in my boots either, as it causes the same problem. My favorite stirrups so far are the cheap black composite ones. They have just enough give, but not too much.

[Cabaret_SK]

I had the Ultimates, and didn’t love them. Realized I don’t like jointed stirrups at all.

I have the S Classics now, and they are the best thing ever. LOVE the wide footbed and the twist in the top. I used to have a lot of knee pain when riding, and these eliminated it.

[Dubarry]

Here is a similar post with some more reviews

http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?392420-MDC-ultimate-stirrups-or-Sprenger-Bow-Balance

[ryansgirl]

Love the MDC Ultimates! They flex just enough to ease my knee pain (from shredded ACL and meniscus) but never feel unstable/loose. MDC does allow you to test their stirrups - contact them as they are super helpful.

[Bristol_Bay]

I have the ones with the wide footbed and the rotating top. They cured my bunion-y foot pain totally. I think they are called the sport classic. I love them :).

[SolarFlare]

[QUOTE=PNWjumper;7877165]
Yes, you can. I’ve done it, but the problem is that I like to start with my stirrups backwards and then end up with them in the right place at one point or another. 90 degrees ends up working best for me. Instead I just try to not ever lose a stirrup ;)[/QUOTE]

If I jumped sticks as big as you I wouldn’t want to lose a stirrup either!

I’ve got the black wrap-around stirrup grip pad thingies on my MDCs and it’s the perfect combination. Stirrups stay put.

[Preposterous_Ponies]

I love my MDCs. I have the ‘S’ (always at 45 degree angle) non-flex wide footbed stirrups. I have horrific ankles as a result of doing an emergency dismount at a gallop, followed by re-tearing the ligaments multiple times after that.

Prior to the MDCs I had regular jointed stirrups. Horsey and I were heading to a 3’9 fence, horse said no because I brought her in terribly, she went left, I went right, the stirrup flexed and my ankle folded as a result. So I won’t ride with flex stirrups.

After that, I couldn’t ride for months without horrific pain in my ankles and my rides were a MAX of 20 minutes. I did my lessons without stirrups.

Since getting the MDCs I have had zero ankle pain while riding. Others who have ridden in my saddle all sing their praises as well.

[DARQHORSE]

Have used these for years and don’t ride without them. Love them! I have 3 different leg problems and these make riding 1000% more comfortable. On the odd occasion that I ride in a saddle with fillis irons, I find that I have significantly more pain.

[horsejuli]

I just ordered some from Smartpak while their sale was on. I’ll let you know what I think after I’ve rode in them.