Courtesy of COTH’s “What to Expect at the USHJA Annual Meeting,” here is the rule proposal: https://www.usef.org/documents/ruleChanges/2015/Proposals/267-15.pdf
I know several barns whose policy it is to use peacock irons for small children to decrease the risk of a foot getting caught in the stirrup iron should the rider fall. The logic is that it reduces the risk of a rider falling and being dragged.
Does the risk of a laceration outweigh this risk? I thought it an interesting proposal.
I kind of thought they were too rounded and covered on the end with leather to do that.
I think I started riding as a kid before these were a thing, but isn’t the risk of a kid-sized regular iron (without the rubber strap) proportionate to an adult-sized stirrup iron? Meaning, if the kid stirrups are sized for kid feet the same way adult stirrups are sized for adult feet, why is there the need for a release strap? Unless the strap further decreases the risk and adults just don’t like it, which is why adults don’t ride in the peacock stirrups?
How long have peacock stirrups been around? As long as I can remember, anyway, so quite a number of years. And in all that time, I can’t recall ever hearing of anyone getting hooked on one like the rule change describes. I have, however, witnessed a couple of people hooked by full cheek bits, so maybe that is something we should target with a rule change. :rolleyes:
I actually had an adult rider get caught on one of these stirrups at an IHSA show as she dismounted. Never had that happen before but maybe the stirrups are being made a different way these days. The angle on the one that caught her was strange - might be the issue.
Interesting. I never rode in them as a JR (I don’t even think they were around?), however, my child rides with them. I think the pros outweigh the cons (speaking of little people, who are typically the target user).
I am not a huge fan of the USEF right now (not renewing yearly, definitely not getting my lifetime which was business budgeted this year) so I’m neutral on to whatever rules they come up with because I am just assuming most proposals in some way benefit the big-time trainer 
[sarcasm font]
I think the stirrups with the “S” shaped outside bar seem safer than peacock stirrups.or,like somebody mentioned,proper size stirrups.
I still remember when I was about 6 years old at a 4-H meeting. A kid riding western on a pony fell and his foot got through be the stirrup. He was dragged several times around the arena at a full run. I don’t know the outcome but he didn’t have a helmet ( early 70s) and he looked like he had some horrific facial injuries.
[QUOTE=Tackpud;8428953]
I actually had an adult rider get caught on one of these stirrups at an IHSA show as she dismounted. [/QUOTE]
An IHSA show was also the site of the only adverse experience I’ve ever had with peacock irons. The host farm had child sized peacock irons on one saddle. My size 9 women’s boot wasn’t going to fit into that, so I was riding on my toe. The rubber band popped off of it, which is exactly what it’s supposed to do when enough pressure is applied, and the stirrup came off of my foot, which is also exactly what it’s supposed to do. Jumping without irons wasn’t part of the test that day, I’m afraid, but the stirrup served its intended purpose.
I also know a couple of young riders whose bacon was saved by the rubber bands releasing at an opportune moment. Correctly sized irons facilitate the foot slipping out, but especially for a young rider whose balance isn’t the best and may be changing with growth, and who doesn’t know how to fall, I think these irons are a common sense safety measure.
If you’re coming down on the stirrup as you dismount, you are dismounting too close to the horse. I also can’t see how they’d cause a laceration, although certainly you could give yourself a pretty solid bruise of a variety male riders in particular would find difficult.
I was there in person and saw the child in question injured last year, as a result my trainer took ALL rubber-band irons away immediately. Horrifying. And this wasn’t the first time, apparently.
I don’t want to make light of an injured child and I certainly don’t want information shared about that child if it is sensitive, but Alterrain, I’m having a hard time figuring out how the rounded edge of a peacock iron could cause such an injury. Do you feel comfortable sharing what happened, if you know?
[QUOTE=Alterrain;8429580]
I was there in person and saw the child in question injured last year, as a result my trainer took ALL rubber-band irons away immediately. Horrifying. And this wasn’t the first time, apparently.[/QUOTE]
What exactly happened? Did she fall or did it happen during a dismount?
I’ve never seen anyone injured on those stirrups, but they weren’t around when I rode as a kid.
[QUOTE=Alterrain;8429580]
I was there in person and saw the child in question injured last year, as a result my trainer took ALL rubber-band irons away immediately. Horrifying. And this wasn’t the first time, apparently.[/QUOTE]
I’m sure it was horrifying seeing an injured child. But 1 incident with 1 child vs all the kids with whom the rubber band has broken and released the foot and saved a child from being dragged/drug? Not being there and witnessing it, I can’t imagine that if the child properly dismounted etc, this would be an issue- I’m not flaming the child, I am just wondering how this came about (over what seems to be 1 incident?) Strange.
I’m sure strange incidents happen over various equipment that are one-offs.
[QUOTE=RileysMom;8428844]
I think I started riding as a kid before these were a thing, but isn’t the risk of a kid-sized regular iron (without the rubber strap) proportionate to an adult-sized stirrup iron? Meaning, if the kid stirrups are sized for kid feet the same way adult stirrups are sized for adult feet, why is there the need for a release strap? Unless the strap further decreases the risk and adults just don’t like it, which is why adults don’t ride in the peacock stirrups?[/QUOTE]
Since there is only one branch supporting the rider’s weight there are weight limits on the peacock stirrups. I know a few adult beginners/reriders that are smaller that ride in them. I think most people expect to graduate from them like graduating from jodphers/paddock boots to breeches/tall boots.
Every lesson saddle my trainer had was fitted with these stirrups and I can not recall there ever being an issue as described in that rule change.
To me they seem to do more good than bad, and like everything else in life you have to look at that balance.
Ughghghgh. Next it will be all riders must show completely wrapped in bubble wrap, because not having adequate protection is dangerous if you decide to start punching yourself.
If you’re worried about getting caught up on your iron dismounting, just cross it over before you dismount. Easy peasy. If you choose not to do that, that’s OK, we all make our choices and take our chances.
I don’t feel comfortable sharing too much information
You know how really little kids slide down the side of the pony instead of pushing themselves away and jumping? Well, the hook on the iron got “hooked” in a private area and gravity kept the child kept sliding down to the ground. Hours of reconstructive surgery later, and the child’s reproductive future will remain unknown until tested.
Thank you Alterrain, I understand now how this injury came about. I feel for the kid. It sounds very painful and the potential lifelong consequences are very sad.
Please understand that I’m not unsympathetic to a young rider with an injury, but while this sounds horrible and I in no way want to minimize what happened to this kid, it sounds like this was a horrible accident that like some other horrible accidents could have been avoided with safety precautions. As you said, kids often slide down the side of the pony when it is safer to jump down and push themselves away. I’m not blaming anyone surrounding the child or the child him/herself. I think, as I’m sure those responsible for the rule proposal also think, that accidents like this one can be learned from and that we can and should think about how to avoid them in future.
So I’m going to repeat the question that prompted me to start this thread in the first place- does the risk of laceration from these irons outweigh the risk of being dragged in a fall if the rider cannot kick free of the stirrup?
My personal opinion is that such a laceration is preventable with education (and the aid of a wide mounting block for a little kid on a big pony to step down onto if he or she isn’t coordinated enough yet to jump safely down and away from the horse) but the risk of falling and being dragged may not be.
To me, that sort of accident is mostly preventable just by telling kids to make sure they stay away from the saddle when dismounting or by crossing the stirrup over to dismount. I’ve never seen anyone have an issue with them, but I have seen the rubber band fly off when needed.
I’m ambivalent.
Honestly, just looking at images of peacock stirrups right now, the hook seems kind of menacing.
As a kid, I always rode with the “foot free” stirrup and don’t really have experience with peacocks, good or bad.
While it’s annoying when things are banned left and right, this doesn’t really seem like a big deal to me. Especially because the alternative is pretty easy and affordable. And IMO looks better.
All of our littel kids ride in these. I’d think the number of kids who have been “freed” versus dragged far outweighs those who have gotten hung up on them. I rode in them myself for a bit after an injury where I didn’t want to risk getting my foot caught in any way.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
