I compound fractured my ankle ten years ago, destroying all of the soft tissue in the process. I can’t ride in jointed stirrups, and find the most comfort in traditional fillis irons with the super grip pads.
[QUOTE=ACMEeventing;7625101]
Royal Rider.
Flexible stirrups made everything worse for my ankles (3 surgeries on one foot from a horse rollover, 6 weeks in a nwb cast on the other from an unrelated horse accident)[/QUOTE]
This thread popped up at the right time for me as I injured my achilles this Summer. Riding doesn’t seem to make any worse, but it does hurt when I ride in jumping length stirrups. Between your recommendation and the glowing reviews given these stirrups, I’ve decided to give the Royal Riders a try. Pricey, but sounds like they’re worth it. As a side benefit, it sounds like I will be less likely to lose a stirrup while riding in these.
I rode in my new Bow Balance stirrups today and really like them. My ankles are much more relaxed while I’m riding, which is something we have been working on, especially with dressage. My ankle was no more painful than it has been all day and no twerks while riding so that’s a good thing. My lower leg did move on my bum ankle side a little more forward than normal during downward transitions, but I think that’s just getting used to it (and maybe I was bracing against the stirrups more than I thought, these won’t let you which is a good thing, at least for me). so it just really focused me using my inner upper calf and seat the way I should be doing anyways. Another good thing I noticed is for my right leg (which is a tad bit longer than the left) typically rotates out (starting from the hip joint), and these stirrups helped get the correct rotation starting from the hip down which was great and helped with the uber sensitive former DQ horse that I’m currently riding. So as of right now, they have been worth the money (especially if it will delay possible surgery longer- finally see an ankle specialist next week). I haven’t jumped with these stirrups (and might be a little bit before I do, only because I"m trying to decrease the amount of jumping the horse I"m leasing is doing- the owner likes to jump a lot). But I think they will work well for it, I don’t see or feel any reason why they won’t. And i really hope it’s true because I’m just not yet ready to give up jumping (even though the first surgeon that operated on the ankle 16 years ago said I probably should) yet and only do dressage.
I’ve broken one ankle and tore the ligaments in the other ankle. Keeping my stirrups became a challenge.
I’m glad you bought the bow balance. I have them myself and don’t like riding without them. The wider foot pad makes a difference for me and I haven’t had any issues with my ankles while riding since I finished PT.
I rode in my new Royal Rider stirrups for the first time tonight and I have to say that I’m in love! Jumping didn’t hurt my ankle and my foot stayed put in the stirrups. The ankle was such a non-issue that I didn’t even remember to think about it until I was dismounting. Thanks for the recommendation!
I have the Equi Wing (which are like Royal Rider knock offs) and although I like the wide foot bed, I really dislike how lightweight they are. My leg feels loose and I feel less secure with them.
