So I was recently diagnosed with a partial medial ligament tear in my knee. I’m in PT once a week and work on those exercises religiously. I ride currently in jointed Herm Sprengers. I switched my cheese grater pads to the black wrap around comfort pads and that helped some. If I’m only on for a hack/light school, I’m normally okay pain wise. But I ride longer than an hour it’s pretty bad. I would just ride for shorter time periods, but I’m also a whip for a foxhunting club so that’s not really an option. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions. The Royal Rider Sport Flex irons were recommended to me. Need some input before I drop another $200. Thanks!
I have the MDC Classic S and they make a big difference for me. Not a lot of experience with the royal riders.
I love my Royal Riders. Can you find a barn mate that has them and put them on your saddle to try first? That’s what I did before buying some.
Or you can call Royal Riders and see if they would return them if you didn’t like them? Most places will let you do this as long as the item is in new condition.
Another idea they will sell very quickly on Ebay if you don’t like them. I tried to buy some on Ebay and it was a bidding war… 
I ended up buying new ones.
MDC Ultimate stirrups felt really good on my ankles and knees.
I bought a pair from SmartPak to try, and returned them after having them more than a month (still in new condition, tried for several rides and decided I preferred to stick with the Sprengers), so I’d suggest trying SmartPark if you don’t have a friend you can borrow from. To some degree I think it is personal preference.
I can’t stand jointed stirrups - the extra flex makes my knees and ankles hurt worse. I used to have MDC Ultimate’s - didn’t help.
I now have the MDC S Classic, and I love them! I’ve also ridden in Royal Rider T3’s, and liked those, too.
Alright. Well I’ll probably try the Royal Riders or the MDC’s. I love Smartpak so I will call and verify I can ride in them and send them back if I don’t care for them.
Have to say, my knee and ankle are MUCH happier in good old fashion fillis irons after breaking my leg and having surgery. They like the solid base the fillis irons give, versus the uber flexible base any flex iron gives. Just food for thought. You may want to try those, as well, before committing to a pricey set of irons that may or may not help.
I am back in the saddle again after a bad fall where I tore my ACL, MCL, and my meniscus. I got the Composite Reflex Wide Track stirrups and they have been good for my knee. I feel secure yet supported in them and they are very reasonably priced.
http://www.adamshorsesupplies.com/Composite-REFLEX-Wide-Track-Stirrup-Iron-P350.aspx
I have horrible knees. Always had pain when I rode. Flex stirrups made them hurt worse, however the Royal Rider Flex leaves me with NO pain! My Dr. is amazed that riding is one of the only things that does not make my knees hurt anymore
I have the Royal Rider classic flex and I adore them. It’s quite a stiff flex which I find much more stable and supportive than my old Sprengers, but a bit kinder to my joints than regular stainless steel stirrups. The wider tread helps me a lot too. But as with a lot of things, it comes down to personal preference. Hope you find something that works for you
Has anyone tried the Sprenger Bow Balance Stirrups? Thoughts on those?
I currently ride in the cheap flex stirrups and have less pain compared to regular fillis stirrups.
[QUOTE=GrumpyMare;7821649]
I am back in the saddle again after a bad fall where I tore my ACL, MCL, and my meniscus. I got the Composite Reflex Wide Track stirrups and they have been good for my knee. I feel secure yet supported in them and they are very reasonably priced.
http://www.adamshorsesupplies.com/Composite-REFLEX-Wide-Track-Stirrup-Iron-P350.aspx[/QUOTE]
I have these exact pair and they made a world of difference for me. I like you after an hour in the saddle start having some sharp knee pain. I did the jointed stirrups but they almost made it worse. So I tried a pair of these and in the 2 years since NEVER had pain after hours of riding. They are super great. The width gives you more stability but the shock absorbent layer of the stirrup provides plenty of give and flexion so your knees aren’t locked in an uncomfortable position for hours.
Your first ride will feel a bit difference but once you get use to them you will love them! Plus as GrumpyMare points out definitively reasonably priced!
Composite Wide Track $40 stirrups are the best for me! The HS Bow Balance and other flexible ones hurt me worse. $40 composite wife tracks are a miracle in my book!
I never thought that standard stirrups vs the flex kind would be better. That’s something I’ll try. I guess the wide footbeds help more with stabilization and weight distribution? Also, since they don’t flex, it probably helps your knee be more stabilized as well. Now…time to do some shopping. 
I have injured both knees and one ankle. I switched to the herm sprenger jointed stirrups after the last injury and they made a huge difference in pain level while I’m riding.
The wide footbed paired with the lightweight makes a huge difference. Amazing how just that little but if extra weight torquing on your knee makes a difference. I’m a total convert!
I could’t do the jointed stirrups - too much movement for me. The RR being a plastic base has a bit of give with support but the wide foot bed with the cheese grater pads gives me a lot of stability but with some flexibility. (I don’t have the jointed RRs) I tried them but didn’t like them. I found myself curling my toes around them as they moved… LOL
I will do some Eq classes and you cannot show in black or dark stirrups (new rule) I so I have some chrome type stirrups with wide foot beds but those hurt my knees. And they are way too heavy.
RR came out with a silver stirrup but it’s still too dark. At this point I haven’t shown for a while so this dilemma has not been a issue. I thought about either painting the RR’s or putting some chrome tape on them to see if that works. Or hope some company comes along and makes a more silver color…
I was wondering too about the HS Bow Balance. The MDC S stirrup with flex might be another to try.
My Royal Riders flex changed my life. I messed up my hip and went from being able to barely trot around the arena once to a twenty minute workout. I also got some chiropractic work done and that helped me bump up the time more. It was the best $200 I have ever spent horse related.
I also bought from smartpak in the chance that if they didn’t work I would return them.
