When choosing new stirrups, we often go by their appearance, colour or price. We rarely, however, think about a parameter that has a crucial impact on our riding – weight.
On the market you will find stirrups weighing from a few dozen grams (composite/plastic) to almost a kilogram (heavy steel). Does it matter? Enormously. The weight of the stirrup determines how it behaves when you lose it during a canter or a jump.
1. The “featherweight” trap (Plastic Stirrups)
Very light plastic stirrups tempt with their price and colours. They have, however, one fundamental flaw resulting from physics: a lack of inertia.
- The “flying stirrup” problem: When your foot slips out of the stirrup during a jump or a sudden movement of the horse, the light plastic starts to “fly”. Instead of hanging calmly down, it bounces off the horse’s side and jumps about.
- Difficulty catching it: Because the stirrup does not hang stably, it is very hard to “catch” it with your foot without looking down. During a course, that second spent searching for the stirrup may cost you a knockdown or a loss of balance.
2. Specific weight (Steel Stirrups)
Classic stainless steel stirrups are solid and heavy. Gravity acts strongly on them, so they hang stably down.
- The danger: Their flaw reveals itself during a fall. Swinging, heavy pieces of metal on the stirrup leathers act like a bola. They can painfully bruise the horse’s ribs or strike the rider (on the helmet, teeth or back).
- Horse comfort: Very heavy stirrups are also an additional, point ballast that bumps against the horse’s sides with every, even the smallest, movement of the leg if it is not perfectly applied.
3. Aluminium – The Golden Mean
This is where aluminium stirrups come on the scene. They are the no. 1 choice among professional show jumpers, because they combine the advantages of both of the above solutions while eliminating their flaws.
- Ideal balance (approx. 300-400 g): Aluminium is a light metal, but not a “paper” one. An aluminium stirrup is heavy enough to hang vertically and stably (easy to catch after losing it), yet light enough not to pose a danger in a fall.
- Rigidity of construction: Unlike flexible plastic, aluminium is rigid. This gives a feeling of secure support. The energy of your weight is precisely transferred to the saddle, not lost to the “work” of the stirrup material.
4. The wide tread – the secret of stability
Most modern aluminium stirrups (including Balotade models) have a considerably wider tread than classic steel stirrups. A wider base gives better support for the foot, which combined with the ideal weight means the leg “sits” in the stirrup securely and does not tire even during long training sessions.
Summary
If you feel that your current stirrups “escape” from under your leg, and catching them again is like tilting at windmills – they are probably too light. Switching to balanced aluminium stirrups is an instant upgrade for your stability in the saddle. It is equipment that helps, not hinders.
📦 Professional Balotade aluminium stirrups
Our aluminium stirrups are made of aircraft-grade alloy, which guarantees their indestructibility while keeping a low weight. They have a wide tread with a metal grip that holds the boot even in rain and mud.
