How to Purchase Break Away Saddle Stirrups

Most horse related activities can be inherently dangerous due to the unpredictability of the animal. While using the proper equipment and attire can remove much of the danger, many riding accidents still occur each year when a rider falls from the horse and is unable to remove his foot from the stirrup. Although some of these accidents occur because of the rider's use of tennis shoes or similar footwear, a rider wearing boots can also be injured if his foot becomes hung-up in the stirrup. Using breakaway stirrups provides more safety and stability to the rider because of their design.

Things You'll Need

  • Footwear normally used for riding
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select the stirrup for your saddle and type of riding. Since the introduction of these stirrups for Western saddles in the 1990s, designs have also been developed for English and Australian saddles. In addition, Western stirrups come in oxbow, visalia, and roper styles. Oxbow stirrups are used for fast-paced activities, such as barrel racing, as the foot does not come out as easily while visalia stirrups are used for most pleasure and everyday riding. Because of their wider tread, roping stirrups, as their name implies, are used for roping and other events where it is necessary to stand in the stirrups. The foot usually fits in the stirrup more loosely with roping stirrups.

    • 2

      Choose a stirrup for your weight. Since these stirrups are designed to release the foot when it changes to an angle associated with falling or when a certain amount of weight is placed on the stirrup, it is important to choose stirrups for your weight. If ones for a lighter weight are selected, they may release the foot at the wrong time. If ones for a heavier weight are selected, they may not release the foot when needed.

    • 3

      Make sure that your boots fit in the stirrup during normal riding. Regardless of the style and weight limitations of the stirrup, your foot must still fit in the stirrup for the stirrups to work properly. Ideally, the stirrup should be placed on the ball of the foot. The boot should not rub against the sides of the stirrup; neither should the stirrup be so wide that the boot can slip out too easily.