spray paint your shock absorbers–how about white? how about white stirrup leathers? how about white riding boots to match your white pants? then they will want to forbid all that white stuff on a white horse. where does it stop?
I was watching a video where Victoria Colvin riding World time was using peacock irons… those rubber bands were black… would those be considered black stirrups? I wonder if they would prohibit those? I think it would be really bad if they did… I like the everything white idea… LOL…
This is one of the “best” slippery slope arguments I’ve seen in a long time. 
[QUOTE=feather river;6840893]
spray paint your shock absorbers–how about white? how about white stirrup leathers? how about white riding boots to match your white pants? then they will want to forbid all that white stuff on a white horse. where does it stop?[/QUOTE]
The prestige silk stirrups come in graphite (dark grey). I’m not sure how different they look from black though. You can also get aluminum stirrups with the wider footbed, but they are more expensive. Such as the Wildkart Jin.
http://equestrianimports.com/shop/new-saddles/prestige-silk-stirrup-irons/1026.html
Here’s a picture of the graphite.
http://www.dragonflysaddlery.co.uk/largeimages2/prestige-irons.2L.jpg
[QUOTE=akhunterrider;6841647]
The prestige silk stirrups come in graphite (dark grey). I’m not sure how different they look from black though. You can also get aluminum stirrups with the wider footbed, but they are more expensive. Such as the Wildkart Jin.
http://equestrianimports.com/shop/new-saddles/prestige-silk-stirrup-irons/1026.html[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=doublesstable;6841357]
I was watching a video where Victoria Colvin riding World time was using peacock irons… those rubber bands were black… would those be considered black stirrups? I wonder if they would prohibit those? I think it would be really bad if they did… I like the everything white idea… LOL…[/QUOTE]
The rule is for equitation. In hunters you can still wear black if you want to.
[QUOTE=PonyPenny;6841954]
The rule is for equitation. In hunters you can still wear black if you want to.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, Victoria rides hunters but what about those that ride Eq in peacock stirrups? Like in the pony classes etc. I have actually thought about riding in them for safety reasons… so how could they prohibit those? Just sayin.
It seems a bit extreme to be automatic elimination. I think they should have left the judges some discretion, especially if a class wouldn’t fill without the eliminated riders. Better to knock their scores down than to penalize the entire class.
[QUOTE=GaMare;6842486]
It seems a bit extreme to be automatic elimination. I think they should have left the judges some discretion, especially if a class wouldn’t fill without the eliminated riders. Better to knock their scores down than to penalize the entire class.[/QUOTE]
The rule was approved in January. It doesn’t become effective until December 1st. Riders who show in the equitation have plenty of time to get their stirrup irons in compliance. I am sure it will be discussed more come Fall & as the Dec 1st deadline approaches.
[QUOTE=doublesstable;6841960]
Yeah, Victoria rides hunters but what about those that ride Eq in peacock stirrups? Like in the pony classes etc. I have actually thought about riding in them for safety reasons… so how could they prohibit those? Just sayin. :)[/QUOTE]
What about them?
The Peacock stirrups I’ve seen are not black.
The rubber band may or may not be black. I’ve seen the band in brown and black.
I doubt the color of the rubber band is an issue but if black rubber bands turns out to be a problem then use brown.
Or is there another issue that you have in mind concerning peacocks?
The brown bands certainly aren’t difficult to find. 
[QUOTE=PINE TREE FARM SC;6842821]
What about them?
The Peacock stirrups I’ve seen are not black.
The rubber band may or may not be black. I’ve seen the band in brown and black.
I doubt the color of the rubber band is an issue but if black rubber bands turns out to be a problem then use brown.
Or is there another issue that you have in mind concerning peacocks?[/QUOTE]
Doesn’t look much different to me than a black stirrup… especially from a distance you cannot see the stirrup - the REASON for the rule change…
The footbed is not black.
The rest of the stirrup is not black.
Buy brown bands if you are worried about it.
[QUOTE=doublesstable;6842874]
Doesn’t look much different to me than a black stirrup… especially from a distance you cannot see the stirrup - the REASON for the rule change…
[QUOTE=Elkie;6949843]
New Royal Rider Gray Stirrups pic.twitter.com/B1AUKSyjAc[/QUOTE]
Nice stirrups and all but what a ridiculous little mini-ad… they just look weird propped up on top of a Porsche. Maybe next time they should put them on, I don’t know, a saddle?
As it turn out - this actually really is the Royal Rider of Italy owner’s Porsche and he picked the new Gray color to match. He is just trying to supply you what is being asked for.
[QUOTE=Elkie;6950370]
As it turn out - this actually really is the Royal Rider of Italy owner’s Porsche and he picked the new Gray color to match. He is just trying to supply you what is being asked for.[/QUOTE]
OOOhhhh cool… I’ll take an order of the stirrups and the car to match
I’ve seen the jointed stirrups in grey.
And, I’m pretty sure that if this rule passes, Herm Sprenger will be debuting the new grey line about a minute later. Probably at a slightly higher cost 
Rule Enforcement
In reading all of these posts, I would like to bring a few items up for thought in how this rule is worded and enforcement is going to be difficult. This is one of the many rules which USEF believes is a good thing, but does not think it clear through.
The rule reads: The use of black stirrups is not permitted in any Equitation class. The use of black stirrups will automatically result in elimination
Now it could be argued that a stirrup which is jointed (with the joint being covered in black) which is silver on top is not a black stirrup. Read the rule as it reads, do not add your words to it or your impressions. It states “black stirrups” - it does not say all black or the stirrup cannot not have any black on it. From a TD standpoint, a stirrup with silver and black is not a black stirrup.
Next, the reason for the request of the rule additions is: Black stirrups are not part of traditional attire and hide rider position flaws, making it difficult for the judges to clearly see the
rider’s leg position. (copied from www.usef.org/documents/ruleChanges/174-12.pdf)
Black stirrups are not part of traditional attire? Really? At one point wearing rust colored breeches were “traditional”, they are no longer.
Hide rider position flaws, making it difficult for the judges to clearly see the rider’s leg position. Hmmm… how often do our trainers make us ride without stirrups to get our leg where it is suppose to be?
It does not state a THING in the justifications about the foot which is where the entire debate is over. Seeing the foot in the stirrup - black boot, black stirrup, dark horse.
So, this could be one of the many other useless rules which has been put in the rule book which cannot be well enforced due to poor wording.
New Gray Royal Rider Sport Non-Flex/ available in “T3” model - Flex due in June 1.800.800.4261 http://www.royalriderstirrup.com pic.twitter.com/yVVKSyIgBc
