Stirrup Leathers & Irons

The design of both stirrup irons and leathers has developed rapidly in recent years to improve rider safety, comfort and effectiveness.

Stirrup iron designs have come a long way from traditional fillis stirrups, with innovations claiming to help your lower leg position thereby improving performance, offering joint support, stability and shock absorption, as well as game-changing safety stirrup mechanisms to reduce the risk of becoming stuck and dragged. Traditional irons such as those from Dever or Shires may still be sought for showing classes where a traditional aesthetic is preferred, but more and more riders across all disciplines are opting for the modern designs and chances are once you’ve experienced the benefits of these designs, you will struggle to go back! Choosing the best horse riding stirrups for you, your horse and your discipline can be confusing with so many variables between designs, but these are the main factors to consider:

1.       Material – traditional stirrups are made of stainless steel, which is a relatively heavy and cold metal. The advantage of stirrups that are heavier in weight is that if you were to lose a stirrup, it will be easier for your foot to relocate. Lighter materials include plastic and aluminium, and these materials are very popular in modern designs. Lighter stirrups will not bang on your horse’s side as much in the event of a lost stirrup or a fall, and so may be more suitable for use on a particularly sharp or sensitive horse. Many riders across all disciplines prefer lighter weight stirrups while others swear by heavier metal ones, and typically the material chosen is down to what you are accustomed and personal preference.

2.     Safety – safety stirrups are classed as ones with a quick-release safety mechanism designed to prevent the foot from becoming stuck in the event of a fall and the rider getting dragged by the horse. There are many different versions of this safety mechanism available, but the common feature tends to be a wing on the outside of the stirrup iron which opens if the weight of the foot pushes against it with some force, such as those from FreeJump or LeMieux, or a shaped wing to allow the foot to slide out more easily, such as some designs from Sprenger or Shires.

3.       Tread – traditional stirrups feature a rubber tread which provides some grip and is easy to wipe clean. Treads with enhanced grip are now available, such as 'cheese grater' style treads, or those featuring small metal spikes or pins. These extra grippy treads can be very useful if your riding boots have become wet or muddy, for example on the hunt field or while riding cross-country. They are also chosen by those with the tendency to lose a stirrup, as they help to keep the stirrup on the ball of the foot and therefore offer security.

4.       Incline of tread – in addition to different types of tread, some stirrups are now designed with their sole inclined to slope downwards towards the heel by up to 10 degrees. This incline relieves pressure on the ankles and helps the rider to keep their heels down, so it may be worth choosing stirrups with an inclined tread if you suffer from joint pain or struggle to keep your heels down.

5.       Orientation of eye – traditional stirrups lie flat to the horse’s side, meaning the rider twists the stirrup with their foot so that it becomes perpendicular to the horse, creating some pressure on the ankles, knees and hips, and potential friction between the stirrup leather and the rider’s leg. Riding with stirrups where the eye is orientated by up to 90 degrees, like those from Acavallo, reduces this pressure and helps the rider to balance and find a lost stirrup more easily.

6.       Shock absorption – horse riding is known for being hard on your ankle, knee and hip joints, and shock absorption technology within the footbed of your stirrups may be especially important to you if you are recovering from injury or suffer with joint pain. These stirrups tend to be especially popular with showjumpers, as they absorb some of the impact that runs through the rider’s joints as they land from a fence. That said, there is no disadvantage to shock absorption, and many riders feel more comfortable hacking and riding on the flat in stirrups with this technology.

7.       Tread width – a wider tread also provides more stability and support than a narrower one, as there is a bigger surface area for the rider’s weight to be distributed onto.

8.       Size – some stirrups are available in different sizes. Sometimes stirrups will be branded as for children or for adults, and usually the difference is the weight that they can take and the size of the sole. Children’s stirrups will have a narrower sole, so are suitable for use with smaller foot sizes. If the stirrups are too narrow for your feet or your riding boots, there is an increased risk of the foot becoming wedged in the stirrup. There should be at least 1cm space between the edge of your boot and each arm of the stirrup to help ensure the foot will be released in the event of a fall. Other stirrups will be measured in inches or cms, and the best way to establish which size will suit your foot is to measure the width of the ball of your foot while wearing the boots you will be riding in and add 1 inch. Be mindful if you ever ride in country boots or wellies and have not accommodated for this in the size of stirrups that you have chosen, that you increase risk of the foot becoming stuck. Standard adult size tends to be 4.75" for a lady or 5" for a man across most manufacturers, while children generally take a 4.5".

Traditional stirrup leathers remain popular, but leathers that are wider and offer closer contact between the rider’s leg and the horse’s side are now available. Those reinforced with stitching through the core are designed to be ‘non-stretch’, eradicating the problem of the stirrup leather which you use to mount everyday stretching and becoming longer. Different lengths of stirrup leather are available; shorter ones are designed for children or petite riders riding in a jump saddle with shorter length stirrups, while longer ones are chosen by dressage riders or those with longer legs. 54” stirrup leathers are most commonly chosen by most adults riding in a GP saddle, while 48” may suit petite riders or those using a jump saddle, and shorter lengths are chosen for children. Longer lengths like 60” are often chosen by men or taller ladies riding in a dressage saddle.

How long should my stirrups be?

To get an indication of how long your stirrups should be, you can hold your arm up to touch where the stirrup leather attaches to the saddle, and the end of the leather, i.e. where the eye of the stirrup is, should reach your armpit. This is a rough guide, and those riding in a jump saddle will need to ride shorter, while those riding in a dressage saddle or who prefer to ride long will wish to adjust the stirrup leathers to be a couple of inches longer.

There are therefore many factors to consider when choosing your next pair of stirrups, whether you are looking to fine-tune your lower leg position or improve comfort in the saddle. Here at Houghton Country we stock a wide range of stirrup irons and leathers to suit all needs, preferences and budgets. Looking to upgrade your tack room? Our Saddlery category has everything your horse will need, from a new bridle to a new saddlepad to further smarten up your saddle!