I am thinking about getting some new irons. My BF bought me irons with little purple gem stones on the side a few years back, and I think I should get something a little more professional for shows. :lol:
So what kind of stirrups does everybody use? I was thinking about getting some of the jointed stirrups, but I am kind of confused as to what exactly they do. Does the bottom part just flex downwards?
I use plain old fashioned irons that I've had um...."for a while (snicker)" which I used to use for showing but now they need new pads... I am also thinking of getting the peacock irons for working Cinny since my trainer and I area still labeling him as "unpredictable green" lol. I've never used them before or the jointed. I don't "get" how the jointed work either but my trainer doesn't like them.
They have made all the difference for me. Prior to having them my hips and knees would hurt me so bad after just 10 minutes of riding. Now I can ride with out pain.
Other people have had the opposite experience with them. They find riding in them painful.
I suggest you try a pair prior to buying them.
I have no idea what the 4-ways it flexes are really. The base tilts some. I think the jointed fitting gives some shock absorber affect.
I have the 2-way, but they're now making 4 and even 6-way jointed. I'm a little skeptical about the additional joints, because I'm wary of a stirrup that's too flexible.
The 2-way flexes downward, so your knees and ankles aren't taking a pounding like you do with a regular iron. Riding with regular irons, I could only stay in the saddle several hours before the pain became unendurable. With the flexible ones, I can ride much longer.
I've even seen young riders with the flexible irons, and I applaud their decision. Their joints will thank them, and they're less likely to have knee and ankle pain later on in their lives. I wish the jointed stirrups had been around when I first started riding.
I won't ever go back to hard irons, and I'm even reluctant to ride in anyone else's tack unless I can put my stirrups on their saddle.
As far as price, HS aren't the only ones out there, and you can find others for more reasonable amounts. No way am I paying $200.00 for a pair of stirrups!
I tend to stick with Metalab, but Dover and even State Line Tack have their own brands. I've tried them all, including the HS, and haven't really found there to be a significant difference in the high dollar versus the more reasonably priced ones.
Yeah, I was thinking about the flexible ones because I have a bad knee that will start to hurt after a few hours in the saddle. Riding in longer stirrups and a dressage saddle have helped a lot, but I still get that aching pain after a couple hours.
Do you know anything about the Intec brand flexible irons? I saw a couple pair of them for around 40 bucks on ebay. I too refuse to pay an arm and a leg for a pair of irons.
And another question, has anybody ever ridden in those irons that you can turn to a 45 or 90 degree angle? Did they improve your leg position at all? Or was it just a convenience to not have to search for your iron...
I have ridden in jointed irons and hated them. I don't know if ya'll have seen me ride but seriously I went from having a stable leg to having to shorten my stirrups two holes to keep my legs on the horse. They can make your leg very unstable and I do not recommend them at all for dressage.
For jumping I find that they do help my knees, but I far prefer the 1 way swivel irons (http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/user_resources/Image/prod_large/p3040122-01_2.jpg) because they not only look 100 times better, but I find them way more comfortable.
My coach rides with the turny ones, but she doesn't turn them. I think it depends on how long your leg is, I know they would probably help me on a bigger horse, but on my horse I like how my stirrup leathers lay across my boot to help keep my leg more stable. On a bigger horse I would probably want less between me and the horse and I might have some horse-side to lay my leg on. It all depends, but I think they are a nice option to have just incase you're riding something you might need them on.
I have my 4-ways on my jumping saddle and LOVE them! You will have to shorten your leathers though, because they stretch down. They're nice to have out on XC because they help with the shock aborbsion. Posted via Mobile Device
I had peacock stirrups for about four years (saved me more than once) Then a few weeks ago the knob got caught on the fence and streched the whole thing wide open. I had bought a pair of "tilters" for 10.00$ used without pads, but I never got to use them because I gave them to a friend. Now I use:
They sell new for 75.00$ I got mine in perfect condition "used" for 15.00$ what a steal, my mom was wondering why I was buying used stirrups when I could get new ones for the same price...not those ones!
I like the way they bend better than the "tilters" though, those ones just kind of "tilt" in a loose, jiggly fasion (hence my calling them tilters) but the other ones kind of...bend? They have a more solid feel, if course, I never got to try my "tilters" so I can't say if they feel any different on my feet.
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