Does anyone have experience in using Ophena stirrups? Are they competition legal? I’ve never seen anyone in person use them and on Ophenas website they say they’re legal in USEF and FEI eventing as well as other articles and reviews stating this. I emailed USEF to make sure and they said that per FEI rule book they are not competition legal? Soooo anyone know what the deal is???
I use them. I have even fallen off in them and they did the job of releasing my feet.
The reason they aren’t USEF legal is because of the magnets. If you use them without the magnets then they are legal. The magnets are nice, but not necessary to use.
I would disagree about the magnets being optional.
Looking at USEF Jumping Rule Book, on page 9, section 6:
“Tied Stirrups. Any rider competing with their stirrup, stirrup leather or foot tied and/or secured in any manner, will automatically be eliminated from that class.”
So it all hinges on if you consider using magnets as “securing”.
I can’t find anything in the FEI Jumping Rule Book that talks about “securing” your foot to the stirrup.
I wasn’t saying they could use the magnets in competition; actually I was saying the opposite. You have to remove them before competition.
However some people worry that without the magnets they will loose the stirrups. I was saying that I have ridden in them without the magnets and it’s a non-issue.
I believe they are only legal in showjumping, but they do not mention if they’re legal in eventing. I don’t think they are legal in USDF, and it looks like most other organizations only allow it in show jumping and not eventing/dressage, so I wouldn’t hold my breath.
That is fascinating that you used them without magnets.
Sometimes I wear the wrong boots to the barn 
It’s not a bid deal riding without the magnets. There’s a lip on the side of the stirrup so it works just fine to hold my feet in.
The magnets are nice since you basically can’t loose a stirrup, but definitely not necessary.
