Stirrup irons and leathers for adult beginner

[freddo.frog]

I’ve had the Freejumps for a year now, I initially bought them after I broke my ankle and they’ve been great for keeping my feet and ankles stable and comfortable. I’ve been using them with regular leathers with no issue.

However - in that time I’ve had 2 incidents now where my foot slipped forward and got stuck in the stirrup. Both times it happened when my horse bucked/acted up and I lost my balance momentarily, and both times once we were back under control I had to stop and reach down to physically pull the stirrup off my boot. I hate to think what would have happened if I’d fallen off either time. My feet are a fairly standard size, too.

I’m now looking into alternatives and I’ve pretty much decided on the Tech Venice stirrups. They look stable (my ankle hates anything that flexes) and with a good base of support, and the safety features in particular appeal to me.

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[Ceffyl_Dwr]

I have the MDC classics and Millbrook leathers. The MDCs are fantastic. I do feel a bit like I’m cheating, but then again, who cares. I ride to enjoy my time outdoors. The Millbrook leathers certainly provide stability. They have the odd ability
to be stiff as a board yet stretch immensely. I also noticed they were beginning to lose stain after just a few rides. I wouldn’t buy them again.

[J-Lu]

I ride with Wintec stirrup leathers because they are flat under your leg. I’ve also loved hinged stirrups. I have Domino, which I don’t think is made anymore. I so love these leathers and stirrups, and have fixed the broken plastic around the stirrups with black duct tape. No BNT has noticed this.

[exploding_pony]

I do not own safety stirrups but I have found that jointed stirrups like the herm sprenger have made a huge difference with my knees and back. That said, anything that has “give” is going to make you less stable. I’m not sure it is a great idea for a beginner to be riding in a jointed stirrup until you get you seat and let stable. I’m somewhat curious if a safety stirrup could actually have flexibility to absorb shock - I’m thinking no because they would be unstable but now I’m rather curious!

[Gamma]

My ankles are pretty tight and I tend to roll to the outside of my foot (especially on the right leg) and end up with sore ankles. Hinged stirrups and stirrups where the foot bed is slanted backwards towards the heels make my ankles hurt worse. Stirrups with a slope where the outside is slightly higher than the inside can sometimes help, if it is just right. Everything else is neutral. Stirrup leathers have never made any difference, except that the nylon core kind can separate and become difficult to adjust.

Knees are a function of getting the length of the stirrup leather just right (for me).

Hips are usually related to the exact saddle (for me).

For a beginner, I’m always recommending that people wait as long as they possibly can for any investment (unless you are loaded, haha). You change so much in your first couple of years, more balance and more weight into your thighs, less into your stirrups. And you can try to find chances to borrow/test other people’s stuff and find out what actually works for you.

Also, if you can spend some time working without stirrups every ride…it gives your ankles a break and if you get used to it early on then it’s nothing.

[Equibrit]

Seen these ?

https://www.flex-on.fr/etrier-flex-on/?lang=en

[Horsecentric]

Late to the party, but I have these and love them.
Flex On Safe On Review