Western Covered Stirrups?

[Nes]

Can anyone give me a technical name for the covers they put on stirrups at trail riding places?

They allow you to ride in sneakers because your foot can’t go through the stirrup (this if for short-trail rides for relatives).

Anyone know what I’m talking about?
Or even better, where to find them?

[UrbanHennery]

Tapaderos.

What kind do you want? I use the Goretex Cozy Toe version from Cashel for winter/wet weather trail riding. They’re light, waterproof and easy to put on and off. They also come in an English version.

[Nes]

I have no idea what I want :).

I’ve never ridden western, but we thought a western saddle would be more inviting for non-riders to go on quick trail rides.

I’ll look up the gortex ones! I think it’ll be mostly summer ridding, but I’m not adverse to the idea of getting all bundled up for a good winter ride in the snow!

[Leather]

Toe Stoppers and tapaderos: http://www.american-flex.com/stirrups.htm

Toe Stoppers would probably work better with existing stirrups than tapaderos if the stirrups aren’t very deep.

I have EZ Ride stirrups with cages and love them:

http://www.easycareinc.com/other_products/e-z_ride_stirrups.aspx

[UrbanHennery]

Here’s a link to the western Cozy Toes.
http://www.cashelcompany.com/ProductDetails.aspx?C=7&SC=29&ProductID=10285

I like them because the work on pretty much all western stirrups and they’re not awkward or heavy. Plus, if you do ride on a cold day you can put those hand warmer things in the pockets and your toes stay nice and warm. They’re velcro, so easy on, easy off.

[SarahandSam]

I also use the western Cozy Toes on my western saddle… I am paranoid about getting hung up in the stirrup, and don’t trust any of the breakaway stirrups because I’m at the bottom end of their weight range… so I feel better having my “redneck taps,” as I call them. (; I’m going to have to get real taps when I get my nice new reining saddle though…

The only problem with the Cashel ones is that on trail rides, if I’m going through thorns or burrs, I sometimes end up with a bush worth of burrs attached to them. (;

[Trakehner]

Tapaderos are a safety item. They’re made to ensure your foot doesn’t go too deeply in the stirrup. You fall off, your foot comes out. They’ll also keep your toes warmer.

I used tapaderos on my mule’s western saddle. One problem you’ll find, they don’t always give you enough room for your feet to go into the stirrups deeply enough. Make sure you get wide enough stirrups too with these.

[OveroHunter]

[QUOTE=Trakehner;5819031]
Tapaderos are a safety item. They’re made to ensure your foot doesn’t go too deeply in the stirrup. You fall off, your foot comes out. They’ll also keep your toes warmer.[/QUOTE]

As a recent western rider and long time hunter/jumper, I never thought tapaderos served a purpose other than looks. I learned something today, thanks Trakehner!

[Nes]

:yes: It’s still not a great idea to be riding in sneakers, but I don’t know a lot of non-horse people who own non-steal toe, heeled boots.

Thanks guys, our new-to-us wintec western saddle has wood stirrups :lol:. Not decided but I think we’ll go with the velcro ons & replace the whole things in the future if the saddle is actually being used regularly.

Now we just need one of those rug-things and we’re all set

Actually - is there anything you can use with a western saddle for a typically built TB to make it fit better? (I.e. a sheepskin half-pad) I haven’t tried it on yet so we’ll see how it fits to start with.

[UrbanHennery]

Nes, take pictures of the saddle on the horse and then I’m sure we can all make some suggestions. There are a lot of pad options for Western saddles, but what you need is going to depend on the tree shape/size and horse combination.

[Nes]

:yes: That’s a good idea. I won’t be able to tack him up until later, for now here is the saddle

I have no idea the width of the bars (?) but it seems pretty flexible b/c it’s synthetic, with a pad I’m sure it would fit the rail in our loft just fine :lol:.

[Auventera_Two]

@Nes;5822410

:yes: It’s still not a great idea to be riding in sneakers,

Bologna! I ride with the Easycare stirrup cages, and Nike tennis shoes. I do distance/endurance riding, and when I need to get off and walk or jog, I can’t be wringing my ankles around in paddock boots.

At any given endurance ride, you will see at least 50% of the riders in sneakers. And most of the others use the Ariat riding tennis shoes. Very very few have any type of cowboy, paddock, or “riding” boot on. They just aren’t practical in this discipline.

And you sure don’t see endurance riders hung up and drug to death.

[Nes]

I’ve never ridden endurance, that’s very interesting!

Obviously you really like the cages then?
Any benefit over the cashel?

[PRS]

I have the cashel cozy toes and I wouldn’t wish to bet my life on them as a safety item. They are just fabric, not sturdy at all. They might keep your toes warm if you put one of those hand warmer things in there but I wouldn’t trust them to be a safety item. You can get western ez ride stirrups with cages and be SAFE.