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Who all has the safety stirrups2007-11-24 21:22:56

I do hunters and I am only going up to 2'6" with a bombproof, easy going, gelding, but I know accidents can happen and I don't want to be dragged by my stirrup (although I doubt he'd drag me anywhere, but it could happen). Who uses the stirrups with the safety release bands? I don't, but I want to know how many people are getting them. Do they make you feel safer? Do they always break even if you don't fall off? Any trick of when you fall to get your foot out of the stirrup?

Answers:

They break apart even if you apply too much pressure on the outside while riding. I haven't used them since I was a child and while I understand your safety concerns, I just don't like them.

I did get hung up once on a racehorse and dragged, dislocated my hip but that was caused by using stirrups that were too small and boots that were too wide (Doc Martens). Just remember to wear correct footwear and appropriate sized stirrups and that takes away a lot of the risk of getting dangled upside down.

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I have to start my answer with a question of my own- how old are you? Safety, or peacock stirrups, are required in the junior hunter, jumper, and equitation divisions at all major shows, and they are also mandatory for juniors who event or do combined training. Most people who use peacocks are usually kids under the age of 16- it's hard to find adult sized stirrups that have the rubber elastics on them. Peacock stirrups DON'T break when the rider falls- what happens is that the elastic pops off and out of the holder, and the rider's foot is released out the side of the stirrup iron. This prevents the rider from being dragged. If you know or feel that a fall is likely, you need to kick or remove your feet from the stirrups, regardless of what kind they are. One of the first commands any child or adult who rides should learn is the meaning of "kick free !", which is given in emergency situations where a fall is either imminent or likely. That command is a warning to remove your feet from the stirrups, and get the stirrups out of your way if at all possible. Being dragged by a horse can be fatal in some cases, so it's important that the rider knows what to do if he/she finds him/herself in a dangerous situation where the horse is out of control. To kick free, pull your feet back out of the iron and away from your horse's sides- you should practice this at the halt and walk before trying it at other gaits- and take the stirrup leather and swing it up over the horse's withers. Do this on both sides. Good luck, and I hope this helps.

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I really dont like the safety stirrups with the bands. They can break easily when they aren't supposed to, which can lead to some accidents.