Composite v. Heavy stirrups

[EquineRider]

Hey guys.
I'm looking into buying new stirrups. I love the look of the black stirrup with cheese grater pads but I'm stuck between composite or the heavier metal stirrups. I don't have any problems with pain so I don't *need* the lightweight stirrup, but what other benefits do they have? I'm worried that if I lose a stirrup, it will be hard to regain it back being so lightweight.

What do YOU like?
What are the pros and cons to each?

[MCarverS]

I had the same reservation that you did, if I were to lose a stirrup, I wouldn't be able to get it back. Sure enough, I rode in my friend's saddle, who has the lighter stirrups and found it very difficult to find my stirrups again! Just my experience. I have had my Herm Sprenger jointed stirrups for 8 years now and love them!

[indygirl2560]

I have the Royal Rider flexible stirrups(very lightweight) and I love them! When I do lose a stirrup(which is rare with the cheese grater pads) they are very easy to pick back up. I definitely prefer those to a heavy weight.

[VA_Hunter_Aside]

Well I wouldn't show in black stirrups so I wouldn't buy them. I'm for the traditional heavy weight.

[Come Shine]

iirc: GM said at a clinic that one of the issues with the light stirrups (in addition to being difficult to pick up) are that they are more likely to fly up and conk you in the nose.

[MCarverS]

I have the Royal Rider flexible stirrups(very lightweight) and I love them! When I do lose a stirrup(which is rare with the cheese grater pads) they are very easy to pick back up. I definitely prefer those to a heavy weight.

I was going to ask people about these Cheese grater stirrups, do they ruin the soles of your boots? I wanted to get some, but that was my own only reservation.

[Come Shine]

I love my cheese grater pads. I haven't noticed any problems with the soles of my boots.

[hollyhorse2000]

I had the Royal Riders. I personally disliked them and went back to my HS flexible (heavy) ones. Am toying with a different foot pad, though, maybe cheesegrater?

[watson16]

iirc: GM said at a clinic that one of the issues with the light stirrups (in addition to being difficult to pick up) are that they are more likely to fly up and conk you in the nose.
That happened to me. I felt so bad! Poor pony was like "What was that for?"

[KateKat]

love cheese graters. I haven't noticed much more wear on my boots, but I am not in the saddle that often. Also, another vote for heavier stirrups only because I suck at picking up my stirrups. Why make it any harder for myself? ;)

[ExJumper]

I'm getting cheesegraters. (Have them, actually, but haven't put them in yet.) I'm hoping that it will help me apply my spur more -- how shall I put this -- VIGOROUSLY without losing my stirrups.

[anabug]

I love my bow balance (HS) stirrups with cheese grater pads. They're heavy, I can pick them up easily at a canter or posting trot, and the pads help me keep them. Wussy stirrups FTW.

[indygirl2560]

I was going to ask people about these Cheese grater stirrups, do they ruin the soles of your boots? I wanted to get some, but that was my own only reservation.
I haven't noticed any wear on my boots and I've had the stirrups since February and I ride a lot.

[Calvincrowe]

I have the Royal Riders (due to foot pain--need the wide foot bed) and disliked the flexible metal stirrups I replaced with these--lost them constantly. I think you need to try them, as with everything, something might work great for you, not so much for others. I don't show on the Great Big A Circuit, so black composite is perfectly acceptable.

No wear on my boots (I ride in them 3x week), and I haven't found them to "fly up and hit my nose" nor anyone else's. They are super comfortable and I have no problem picking them up when I drop my stirrups for a rest, or to do stirrupless work under saddle.

[Ready2Ride]

sorry to hijack.... but those who use cheesegraters, have you ever had them somehow snag your breeches or clothes or scratch yourself on them? like while mounting or running your stirrup up etc?

i have some but have never put them in the stirrups because I was worried my daughter might mess up her clothes or scratch herself etc. trying to mount or dismount.... she's 9 and we share the same saddle.

also do you use them all the time or only for shows or only for schooling? thanks

[WorthTheWait95]

Traditional. I hate lightweight stirrups. I have trouble picking them up when I drop them while flatting so I'm too scared to try and use them on course at a show in case it happened accidentally.

I use cheesegraters in my fillis irons though and haven't had any issues although I did hurt my hand pulling them down a few times when I first got them. You have to remember to pull them by the side bar and not the foot pad. I use them all the time on both my saddles, no reason to trade out pads.

[ExJumper]

sorry to hijack.... but those who use cheesegraters, have you ever had them somehow snag your breeches or clothes or scratch yourself on them? like while mounting or running your stirrup up etc?

i have some but have never put them in the stirrups because I was worried my daughter might mess up her clothes or scratch herself etc. trying to mount or dismount.... she's 9 and we share the same saddle.

also do you use them all the time or only for shows or only for schooling? thanks

Although I plan on using them, I haven't put them in yet, so the closest I've gotten to them was when I helped out a friend at a horse show and SHE had them.

The first time I went to pull down her stirrups I grated the hell out of my hand. But I learned quickly after that!

The only other thing you would have to pay attention to is that when you're running up your stirrups, if you run the stirrups up the back leather and then pull the loop through the stirrup (I'm making this sound more complicated that it is -- I'm just talking about running up the stirrup the "normal" way) it is pretty easy to scratch up your leathers. It would be hard to scratch your actual SADDLE, but it is easy to scratch your leathers if you aren't paying attention.

[sisu27]

I have the Royal Riders, flexi with cheese graters and love them. I also don't show in the hunter ring anymore so appearance is not an issue. I like a classic fillis, heavy stirrup but feel safer in these. Love the grip of the cheese graters, haven't noticed any wear on my boots. I also love how much lighter my saddle is to lug around. I did scrape the heck out of my leathers a few times but now run them up with my gloved hand wrapped around the foot pad....no problem. Haven't had a problem with picking up a dropped stirrup but you are less likely to drop one with those cheese graters anyways.

[indygirl2560]

sorry to hijack.... but those who use cheesegraters, have you ever had them somehow snag your breeches or clothes or scratch yourself on them? like while mounting or running your stirrup up etc?

i have some but have never put them in the stirrups because I was worried my daughter might mess up her clothes or scratch herself etc. trying to mount or dismount.... she's 9 and we share the same saddle.

also do you use them all the time or only for shows or only for schooling? thanks
I've never scratched myself or my clothes! I do have to be careful with my leathers when I put my stirrups up after riding, because they might get a slight scratch if I don't. And as far as showing the A circuit goes, I've never had issues about placing because of my stirrups. Basically my whole barn rides in these, including my trainer's daughter who shows in every ring and cleans up, and I haven't noticed any mark down because of the stirrups.

[Kenike]

I tried some RR's and hated them. I felt flimsy (not them, me) in them. I'm sticking with my traditional old weighted fillis for now. I am on the young side (33), but I also have been found to have some pretty heavy arthritis, so I may reevaluate down the road. By then, though, I'm sure something newer and greater will come about.

[Lori]

I ride with traditional fillis irons. I tried the flexible HS, but my leg was not as secure. Even though I have chronic pain I need the support of the regular iron.
I don't even like the idea of lighweight composite stirrups. I did not like the nickel irons I rode in as a child as they were hard to pick back up if you lost one.
I have not tried cheesegrater pads yet. I use the black HS pads in my regular fillis. They are great qualtiy that don't get slick with use like the white pads do.

[Pirateer]

I had the Prestige Elite stirrups (super lightweight). Yes, if you lose one they are hard to get back, but I never had that problem...they tended to stay right where I put my feet in. I used the summer tread they came with.