Safety Stirrups

[DawnAL]

I’m looking for some feedback: I’ve always ridden in Kwik-Out safety stirrups and I’ve been a big fan of them for years. I like that they don’t look like safety stirrups until you get up close. The one thing that I’m not in love with is the foot grip… honestly, it’s kind of like Velcro… not grippy and it gets filled with arena footing.

I’ve been looking at some of the newer safety stirrups out there. Samshield has the new (pricey but beautiful) ‘Rup stirrups.
Tech has a new break-away safety stirrup. Acavallo Alupro is another new one.

So my question is has anyone tried these other safety stirrups and what is your experience with them? Do you like them?
I know dressage people don’t often think about this aspect of safety gear but I’m hoping some of you have some thoughts for me.

[conniemary]

I have used the Tech Venice and Acavallo Alupro. I prefer the footbed and feel of the Acavallos, and they are cheaper, but the Techs are prettier and easier to clean a muddy footbed. The Acavallos look pretty cool in plain black, but I don’t like the silver/black or coloured/black ones.

[nzrider]

I moved from the Kwik Outs to the BR Tech safety stirrups. Much prefer the Techs, lighter and better tread

[x]

OK. I am wondering why everyone wants a lighter stirrup–the thinking used to be that a heavy stirrup made it easier to pick back up your stirrup if you lost it as it wasn’t light and flying around!

[Rackonteur]

@x

OK. I am wondering why everyone wants a lighter stirrup–the thinking used to be that a heavy stirrup made it easier to pick back up your stirrup if you lost it as it wasn’t light and flying around!

This.

[outerbanks77]

I have had a pair of the SafeStyle irons for several years and like them. It is easy to lose a stirrup, but they now offer a flexible “branch” that goes on the open side to help prevent that. I switched over to MDC irons on my regular dressage saddle, but you can bet I’ll be using the SafeStyle irons when I start my baby this fall! (need to look into getting the rubber branches for them)

The other drawback is that they don’t run up very well. I usually end up tying the leather around the stirrup branch, but even then, something more is needed to keep them up when lunging a rambunctious horse.

I have some really light composite irons with cheesegrater treads, and they scare me because they will go right along with your foot unless you’re really careful to kick out when dismounting.

[DawnAL]

I had never heard of the SafeStyle irons before. Interesting design. It’s good to gather every type of safety iron info before making the giant leap to new gear. They look a bit like the FreeJump stirrups. Do you think the MDC design is really a safety stirrup? I’ve been wondering. I know they talk about the design be safe but they don’t “break away” so I was curious. The adjustable top is super interesting though.

LOL! I’ve been wondering about the current trend for “lightweight” too. I’ve thought the exact thing about a heavier stirrup being easier to pick up… balance and all that. I have NO idea why “lightweight” is a thing.

I’ve also found a safety stirrup called “Footsaver Safety Stirrup” from the UK. It appears to work on a magnet with a flexible bar. Has anyone ever seen these?

[DawnAL]

Well that edit thing didn’t work the way I thought it would… :P.

Thank you Outerbanks for mentioning that the cheese grater tread is sticky. I wouldn’t have thought of that on my own and I’m really glad you mentioned it. I know some of the stirrups being marketed toward jumpers have almost nail beds. That sounds like another safety issue to me.

ConnieMary, that’s exactly the kind of comparison I was hoping to hear. Thank you

[DawnAL]

NZrider, thank you for telling me that you moved from Kwik-Outs to Tech and are happy with them. That’s exactly what I wanted to know.

[sascha]

http://www.dreamteamproducts.com/shop/swissclip

These are my favourites, but they are hard to find. They work beautifully with any normal stirrup and last forever. They work exactly as advertised releasing the entire stirrup from the stirrup leather.

I used to use Kwik Outs, but hated the foot bed and the hinge and the way that when they released (and as they aged sometimes they’d release if you fluffed out your leg sharply) there was that somewhat pointy stirrup branch just looking to find something to poke.

[Raincityrider]

I have a pair of the Footsaver stirrups. They are a neat design with a substantial magnet holding the spring branch in place. There is also a small pvc sleeve over the junction as well. I haven’t had any issues with the branches clacking together during use but I have heard some people have had this problem. Unlike the Kwik-outs which stay open after and involuntary dismount the branch of the foot saver springs back into place and can’t catch on something or worse, impale someone.

They are substantial stirrups though, heavy which I prefer, but also just thick looking overall. If you are looking for low profile these are not for you. I would probably switch them out for a lighter style safety stirrup if I could find one that looks as traditional.

[PossumHorse]

I use these
https://www.doversaddlery.com/foot-free-stirrup-irons/p/X1-0702/
They have the same weight and feel as regular filis irons and don’t look much different (the curvy bit goes on the outside). I got them when riding a horse that tended to have panic attacks (rear, spin, attempt to bolt) at shows. Since his issues were exacerbated by a tense rider, this was one worry to remove from my brain in an attempt break the cycle of tension.

[outerbanks77]

I do not consider the MDCs to be a safety stirrup, which is why I used the SafeStyles with my mare when she was 4-5. Of course, she has pulled a couple things since then that have made me consider switching back However, not having the branches, I was having issue dropping my iron when I made the transition to stiff boots (not an issue now, just an adjustment period).

There are claims that the jointed irons are less likely to trap your foot in a fall, but I think any benefit from that is negligible.

I do love the lightweight, flexi-stirrups on my jumping saddle, but I don’t think I would like them at all on a dressage saddle (I top out just above X-rails, so the safety aspect isn’t as big a deal as if I was doing “real” jumping). I’d rather have something that has some weight to it when I’m riding with less foot/weight in the iron and need it to not stick to my foot or flop around.

[DawnAL]

Raincityrider, thank you. The fact that the Footsaver irons are heavy is appealing and as you say there’s not an open bar if there is an involuntary dismount, like the Kwik-outs.

PossumHorse, have you ever fallen with these stirrups. I’ve seen them and the claims that they release the foot better, but as they’re not “break-away” stirrups, I’ve hesitated with this style.

Outerbanks, I also wonder about the “safety claims for the flexi stirrups”.

Thank you to everyone for your input. I really appreciate you taking the time.

[Ceylon_Star]

A friend of mine is on our national para dressage team and she swears by the Acavallo safety stirrups, both for looks and actually quick release, but also for the wide and supportive tread. I borrowed them for a ride recently to see how my trashed ankle liked them, since it has only tolerated Compositi Reflex irons since I trashed it, and I was pleasantly surprised by how secure and comfortable they felt. I was worried that they would be too light for my tastes (I like a heavy stirrup so it hangs nicely if I lose it), but the tread is heavy enough compared to the lighter upper arch that they hang nicely and I don’t have to go searching for my stirrup if I drop it, which is especially important on my trashed ankle side since I can’t feel that foot anymore.

She says that they are one of the only safety stirrups she’s found that still allow her feet to come out even when she rubber bands her feet to the treads. Other irons she has tried she found that rubber banding her feet prevented the safety mechanism from opening fully, defeating the purpose of a safety stirrup, but if she doesn’t have the rubber bands then her spacticity makes her lose her stirrups constantly.

[Wanderosa]

@outerbanks77

I have had a pair of the SafeStyle irons for several years and like them. It is easy to lose a stirrup, but they now offer a flexible “branch” that goes on the open side to help prevent that. I switched over to MDC irons on my regular dressage saddle, but you can bet I’ll be using the SafeStyle irons when I start my baby this fall! (need to look into getting the rubber branches for them)

The other drawback is that they don’t run up very well. I usually end up tying the leather around the stirrup branch, but even then, something more is needed to keep them up when lunging a rambunctious horse.

I have some really light composite irons with cheesegrater treads, and they scare me because they will go right along with your foot unless you’re really careful to kick out when dismounting.

I love riding with composite irons with cheese grater treads on jumping saddles. They make me nervous dismounting for the same reason you mention, though.
And I get paranoid when I go to run them up on a borrowed saddle. It’s too easy to scratch the stirrup leathers!

[DawnAL]

Thank you Ceylon Star and Wanderosa for joining in. Every little bit helps. Good to hear another vote for the Acavallo stirrups again.

[SuzieQNutter]

I am a dressage rider. I care very much about safety and I don’t care about looks.

There was a rerider on this forum who had ridden all her life and was very experienced. They don’t know if she had a heart attack that happened while she was in the saddle and she was dragged or if the heart attack happened while she was being dragged. She died.

That scared the h### out of me. What happens if you have a stroke or something in the saddle and go limp?

I bought the plastic cage that goes on my English stirrups. You take out the rubber tread off and it fits in there and has its own tread.

With this on the saddle we put the stirrups over the saddle as we can’t run them up.

With this on the stirrups, you don’t have to ride in boots. You can ride in sneakers or bare feet. You are safe. Boots of course are better when handling the horse on the ground.

Rather than trying to hide what they look like I think all riders should ride in them. If good riders started riding in them it would filter down eventually. Safety first.

[Snowdenfarm]

@SuzieQNutter

I am a dressage rider. I care very much about safety and I don’t care about looks.

That scared the h### out of me. What happens if you have a stroke or something in the saddle and go limp?

I bought the plastic cage that goes on my English stirrups. You take out the rubber tread off and it fits in there and has its own tread.

With this on the saddle we put the stirrups over the saddle as we can’t run them up.

Safety first.

I have these as well, but took them off a few years ago when I sold my unpredictable horse and her saddle. Even the most predictable horse can be unpredictable and I am at the age where cardiovascular issues in the saddle are real risks. Thank you SuzieQNutter, I am digging them out and putting them on my current saddle.

[DawnAL]

Just to follow up: I purchased the Acavallo safety stirrups. I’ve only been riding in them for 2 days, but I like them well enough… I have to say, I’m unsure about the “lighter” stirrup iron thing… I’d prefer that they have some weight. However, I love the wider foot pad and I like the the “cheese grater” foot grip well enough to ride in. I’m not sure if that cheese grater thing will destroy my stirrup leathers as I run the stirrups up each time to put the saddle away for storage. I also like the fact that the side opens from the foot area instead of from the upper portion of the stirrup “harp”? (What do you call the arch of the stirrup?). The Kwik-Out’s open from the top close t the eyelet that the leathers run through. I’ve read some safety concerns about the fact that once open, the Kwik-Out irons leave an open “spear” that could cause further damage to horse or rider. The Achavallo stirrups open from close to the foot pad and then a magnet pulls the open branch back. It may take some getting used to the lighter stirrup, but so far so good.

Thank you all for your contributing thoughts and comments!