Favorite Brand of Stirrup Iron?

[houserabbitz]

I am wondering what brand of stirrups people prefer. I myself have the Sprenger 4-F System, but I don't particularly like them. I have a hard time keeping a secure grip in them, and if I lose one, forget about trying to retrieve it. They seem to twist and turn and flop around more than any other stirrups I have ever had. At first I thought it was solely weakness in my legs and the challenge of keeping them secure, but then my trainer asked me if I liked them (she rides my horse in my saddle and has had some issues with the irons as well). What brand do you all use and like?

[merrygoround]

Oh dear! I'm still surviving comfortably with the plain old Fillis stirrup. ;)

[BaroquePony]

I packed my Stubben fillus away for the time being and got a pair of Sprenger 4's. I love them. They are much heavier and are a bit harder to pick up if you loose them, but I think that is only because they hang down straighter due to their weight. I just turn my toes in to pick them up and it works fine. Just a bit different type of action. I actually think it is easier to find them when you loose them because they don't fly around so much as a lighter stirrup does.

I really like the flexion that they give when you have your feet (toe tip) in them over long time periods. That's why I got them in the first place. Haven't had a chance to use them in jumping alot, I might feel differently about picking them up if I loose them over a jump.

[Margaret Freeman]

http://www.stubbennorthamerica.com/stu0305irons.html

#1 at the top. The slanted offset connection for the leather opens the pelvis and brings the leg more under the body. Do not, I repeat, do NOT, get the #2 stirrups, which also have a slanted bottom that jams the heel down. The #2 versions are found in some catalogs. I've only seen the ones with the offset tops on the website.

You have to be careful how you hang them on the leathers. Stubben shows it with the slant on the inside, which brings the knee in and the calf out -- better for jumpers. Putting the slant on the outside relaxes the thigh and brings the calf closer -- better for dressage.

I did a product survey on stirrups a couple years ago for "Horse Journal." I had $2,000 worth of stirrups littering my tack box for months. The Sprenger 4Fs were lovely, as were the Royal Riders (easy to pick up). The MDCs were remarkably versatile. With all these expensive stirrups to choose from, I ended up prefering the least expensive ones. They're all of around $40.

[bip]

I have the MDCs. I certainly never in my life thought that I would pay that much for stirrup irons! I had ridden in the Sprenger and liked them, but in comparison, the MDCs are much more stable while still flexing into a comfortable position, rather than forcing your ankle/leg into position like regular irons.

I actually got them for my jumping saddle because I was feeling so cramped, but as soon as I can justify another $200, I'm getting a pair for my dressage saddle.

[buzz4]

I'll second the MDC irons! They have done wonders for my hips and ankles.

[ESG]

I have the embellished MDC "Smart Stirrups". Loff them. Want another pair. Don't want to spend that much money again. :D

[Coreene]

After an Unplanned Dismount With Ankle Ripping Pirouette in June last year, I bucked up and bought Bow Balance irons. Divine.

[eponacelt]

I'd never go back to regula stirrups now that I have my Royal Rider flexilble sturrips. LOVE THEM. Just the right amount of give, and they come with either regular rubber footpads and the super grippy metal ones. I almost never lose my stirrups and because they're so light, they don't bounce like fillis irons.

[PaddyUK]

After an Unplanned Dismount With Ankle Ripping Pirouette in June last year, I bucked up and bought Bow Balance irons. Divine.

Bought mine after breaking my Fibula and Ankle in 2006, bliss!

Cost me over $200 at the time (£99 plus postage!). But price has come down by £20 ($40).

Paddy

[lstevenson]

I'd never go back to regula stirrups now that I have my Royal Rider flexilble sturrips. LOVE THEM. Just the right amount of give, and they come with either regular rubber footpads and the super grippy metal ones. I almost never lose my stirrups and because they're so light, they don't bounce like fillis irons.


Same here. I just bought a pair and love them.

[CLB15]

I have a pair of Horse-S jointed irons from Dover. They've held up in the 3 or 4 years of beatings. I couldn't stand the regular fillis irons for longer rides, the "regular" 2-way flex stirrups were too floppy, and the 4-way stirrups didn't "support" enough (I always felt like my feet were flying out from under me).
Plus, I couldn't go wrong with the Horse-S's at $35!

[Shenandoah]

HS 4way flex. Have had them for years and love them.

[EvelynJK]

I broke just my left fibula a bit ago and am just getting back to riding. I thought the flexible MDC would be perfect for me. They KILLED me. Oh my god. I really pulled the muscle and may have had microtears of the lateral collateral though, so maybe that's why. I did get the offset eye, just no flex. I suppose that leg is really not flexible. I just felt this awful bounce in that ankle, pain at the knee and strain in the muscle. I think I needed more support to flex and stretch through that leg. Just going counter clockwise, so when I was trying to use my heel, outside rein aid. I do think the offset eye helps me though. I really got them to help with my knee/hip pain, and not the fib fracture problems. Who knew they'd hurt the fib fracture stuff! Never got to know if they would help with my knees/hips/back but hopefully the offset eye will help with some of that. I also love that you can click them back to 180 degrees to roll them up. Thumbs up!

[Dune]

I have the Herm Sprenger flex stirrup irons, I've had them for years and I love them. With two bum ankles, I wouldn't still be riding w/o these irons.:no: