Stirrup Leathers & Irons

As anyone in the equestrian field knows, the choice of horse stirrups can be critical to safety and comfort. The stirrup irons and leathers are commonly sold separately so that individual preferences can be accommodated. It may even be the case that different horse stirrups are required for different disciplines, particularly as riders become more active or start to compete at higher levels.

When it comes to leathers the crucial issue is to ensure that they are safe, sturdy and of an appropriate length. Shorter leathers are available for children and very small adults which can avoid the need to have several twists which may otherwise weaken the material.

Irons are perhaps even harder to select with a variety of different makes and models to suit just about every style of equestrian. The latest trend includes the FreeJump triangular stirrups that are both lightweight and safe. More traditionally there are the curved safety stirrups made by a range of different manufacturers such as Shires. For those who have weaknesses in their joints, there is a superb range of shock absorbing stirrups made by Stubben and Sprenger, both of which provide added comfort particularly when undertaking jumping and fast work.

For younger riders, it is particularly important to look for irons with safety features so that they will give way in the event of a fall. Those with a rubber attachment can be great for this purpose but are unsuitable for anyone over 9 stone.