Safety stirrups

Safety first and foremost.

In addition to providing us with comfort while driving, stirrups should fulfill one more important function – to provide us with the greatest possible safety . Here, manufacturers of equestrian equipment simply compete in new solutions.

There are stirrups available on the market with an elastic band on the side or with a bail that opens during a fall under the influence of the rider’s weight. Such solutions, however, although safe , can sometimes fail and cause the stirrup to open by itself under the influence of a stronger jerk.

Balotade are a good alternative to this type of stirrups Flexi . The side part of the safety stirrup is somewhat flexible, so that during a fall, the foot can be released automatically from the stirrup.

Safety stirrups ensure safety during a fall. Thanks to a special design, they eliminate the risk of the leg being blocked and dragged by the horse.

Safety stirrups.

A separate category of products that you can find in our store are safety stirrups , available in two versions – Balotade Flexi Rainbow and Balotade Flexi . They are made of durable stainless steel, and the partially flexible arms absorb shocks. They also provide adequate protection in the event of a fall. In such a situation, the construction of the stirrups minimizes the risk of the foot getting stuck in the stirrup.

Stirrups supporting the knees.

Their undoubted advantage is also relieving the joints while driving, which is appreciated primarily by people struggling with health problems. A special mechanism moves and minimizes shocks.

An additional advantage of these products is a rubber, non-slip insole, as well as universal use, they are perfect for any equestrian discipline. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the full range of stirrups that you can find on our website.

Safe stirrups. How do they differ from each other and is it worth using them?

No matter what equestrian discipline you practice and how high your skills are, horse riding will always involve a certain amount of risk. Of course, we cannot eliminate all risks, but we can greatly reduce their likelihood by investing in the safest riding equipment possible.

Usually, when we think about it, the first thing that comes to mind is helmets and vests and we forget about the stirrups altogether. Undoubtedly, however, it is the safety stirrups that are one of the things that have the greatest impact on our safety while driving, and these are what we will look at in this article. You will learn how safe stirrups differ from other models and what types of stirrups are there. We will also debunk some of the myths surrounding safe stirrups.

Safe stirrups – what distinguishes them?

As the name suggests, the main task of safe stirrups is to increase the rider’s safety while riding. It is assumed that a well-functioning stirrup zipper should detach under excessive load, which occurs when the foot gets stuck in the stirrup during a fall, unfortunately this does not always happen.

We advise all riders to use safe stirrups , but they are extremely important during show jumping, eventing and training novice riders, especially children. These types of stirrups prevent the rider’s foot from getting stuck in the stirrup during a fall from the horse.

This situation is one of the most dangerous scenarios of what could happen in a fall. Failure to release the foot from the stirrups can cause a frightened horse to drag us behind it, which can lead to very serious injuries.

The task of safe stirrups is precisely to prevent this from happening. This is due to the appropriate shape and partial flexibility of the stirrups, thanks to which the foot can easily slip out of the stirrup in a fall, or due to the element bending or breaking under the rider’s weight.

Types of safe stirrups.

Safe stirrups is a fairly general name that brings together several different types of stirrups to prevent the foot from getting stuck. Here we take a look at the most popular ones.

Safe stirrups with an elastic band – this is probably the oldest type of safe stirrups. Most of the outer arm is made of a strong double rubber band, which, however, breaks under very strong pressure or heavy load. This allows the foot to fall out of the stirrup by itself through the open shoulder.

The problem with this type of solution is that the rubber can also break while riding, especially when it is left unchanged for a long time (it rubs and loses elasticity). We also need spare rubber bands for replacement, without which the stirrup is practically useless. That is why this solution has been replaced by other, more modern mechanisms for some time.

Flexi safety stirrups – the safety system in flexi stirrups such as these is based on partially flexible arms. In their lower part there is a rubber-covered movable part, thanks to which it is easy to slide your foot out of the stirrup when you fall, as opposed to stiff steel or plastic stirrups. In addition, flexi stirrups provide additional shock absorption, which prevents overloading the knee joint and ankle.

Stirrups with a movable part or opening – this type of stirrups has a built-in system that works automatically when a certain weight is pressed on the mechanism. The stirrups can be opened from the top or the bottom.

In some models, one of the arms is deliberately left open from above to open completely at the right moment. In good stirrups from reputable brands, such a mechanism is practically reliable. The great advantage, compared to, for example, stirrups with an elastic band, is that we can restore the stirrup to its previous state within a few seconds.

Safe stirrup caps – usually they are a separate element that can be attached to our regular stirrups. They look a bit like racing stirrups with a basket. The overlay inhibits the foot and does not allow it to slide too deep in the stirrup, so there is virtually no chance that it will get stuck in the stirrup when you fall.

This solution is a relatively cheap alternative to safe stirrups and will work well for children starting their adventure with horse riding. However, it is definitely not a solution for athletes.

The feature common to all models is the fact that the solutions used in them work automatically, i.e. they do not require any specific action from the rider in the moment of a fall. The foot should free itself under pressure on the stirrup.

Advantages of safe stirrups.

Like any innovative solution, secure stirrups also have their advantages and disadvantages. Here we present the most important ones that may influence your purchasing decision.

• A much greater level of safety while driving, and thus greater relaxation.
• Available in many models and sizes – every rider will surely find a model that will not only give him maximum safety, but will also be compatible with his equipment, the discipline he practices and simply comfortable.
• Many models are available in non-standard, eye-catching colors, such as this model – it can be a treat especially for children and young riders.
• Safety stirrups are also available with an elegant design, reminiscent of their classic counterparts. Choosing the stirrups for the competition equipment will certainly not be a problem, even for the most demanding aesthetes.
• Low weight. Many models are made of modern materials which, although very resistant, also reduce the weight of the stirrups.