How to Put Stirrups on an English Saddle

Stirrups that have been incorrectly attached to a saddle, whether Western or English, will be uncomfortable at best and dangerous at worst. Incorrectly attached stirrups create bulges under your legs as you're riding, and your feet can get caught up in the stirrups if you fall off.

Things You'll Need

  • Saddle
  • Stirrup leathers
  • Stirrups irons
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Instructions

  1. Putting on stirrups

    • 1

      Slide the stirrup irons onto the stirrup leathers. Buckle the stirrup leathers by sliding the end through the top slot of the buckle from the side opposite the tongue. When the stirrup leather and iron hang down, turn the stirrup iron into riding position (the stirrup leather should not twist) to make sure that the stirrup is facing the right direction. If you ride in peacock, Foot Free or any other type of safety stirrups, put on the stirrup iron so that the safety feature is the outside branch of the stirrup. (Peacock stirrups have a rubber band on one side. Foot Free stirrups have a bowed-out section.) If you ride in regular Fillis stirrups, it doesn't matter which branch is on the outside.

    • 2

      Slide the buckled stirrup leather onto the stirrup bar (the metal piece under the small flap of the side of the saddle), just behind the stirrup leather's buckle. You may need to use a hoof pick or screwdriver to lift up the stirrup bar so that you can get the stirrup leather under it.

    • 3

      Check that the stirrup leather is hanging correctly by turning, not twisting, the stirrup into riding position again. The safety feature, if you ride with one, should still be on the outside. If it's not, pull the stirrup leather back off, turn it around and try it on again.