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 Member
Posts: 26
Location: Florida | Recently I have been losing my stirrups a lot during my runs, and it is driving me crazy. I have never felt the need to wear rubber bands on my feet until now. Has anybody else out there experienced this same problem and perhaps have some tips for me? I am trying very hard to get to the bottom of this.
My stirrups are definitely short enough.
Both stirrups are perfectly even, and my saddle is perfectly centered. I check all the time just to make sure!
The first turn (a right) is always fine.
It is always one of the left turns (second or third barrel) where I lose one (typically the right stirrup goes first, sometimes followed by the left stirrup as well).
Sometimes I stand in my stirrups too much during my runs, and I am thinking this is where the problem comes in. It could also have something to do with the fact my horse's left turns are harder to finish, seeing as she is over-eager to begin running again before completing those two turns...
Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated!!! I am always looking for ways to improve, and this whole stirrup thing is killing me here! I just don't know where I'm going wrong. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
   
| Make a concentrated effort to keep your weight in your outside stirrup in the turns. This will also keep you from leaning forward. I ride with my feet deep in my stirrups but a lot of people don't like to do this but the weight on the outside stirrup does help. And for everyone else, I ride English and western pleasure and do ride on the ball of my foot because it is required.
Edited by streakysox 2015-08-08 11:14 AM
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Member
Posts: 26
Location: Florida | Thank you! :) |
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 No Tune in a Bucket
Posts: 2935
Location: Texas | Is there a reason that you don't want to use rubber bands? |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| I have been riding over 60 years and I have used rubber bànds once. Some of us just don't use them. |
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  Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | Heavy roper stirrups will solve this problem. Those stirrups dont like to follow your legs. Easier for your foot to remain in the stirrup because they are wider for your foot to rest on. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| cow pie - 2015-08-09 11:22 AM
Heavy roper stirrups will solve this problem. Those stirrups dont like to follow your legs. Easier for your foot to remain in the stirrup because they are wider for your foot to rest on.
I actually really dislike those heavy roper stirrups for barrels. They just feel very restricting.
Personally, I never run without rubber bands because I don't want to worry about it. I have enough problems getting my mare around the pattern without worrying about losing my stirrups. haha |
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No Tune in a Bucket
Posts: 2935
Location: Texas | streakysox - 2015-08-08 11:20 PM I have been riding over 60 years and I have used rubber bànds once. Some of us just don't use them.
If you don't have a problem losing your stirrup, that is great. But if it is a problem for whatever reason, rubber bands can be a simple solution. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Do you have aluminum stirrups? |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| RocketPilot - 2015-08-09 12:19 PM
streakysox - 2015-08-08 11:20 PM I have been riding over 60 years and I have used rubber bànds once. Some of us just don't use them.
If you don't have a problem losing your stirrup, that is great. But if it is a problem for whatever reason, rubber bands can be a simple solution.
It is a solution to a problem I just said some of us don't like to use them. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| I use SA WALLS 3in Medium Rawhide Covered Slanted Stirrups and they made all the difference. I also prefer not to use rubber bands. You can find them at nrsworld.com. They also take pressure off your ankles and knees which alleviates a lot of aches and pains. |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | The slanted are fine the but slanted and twisted walls stirrups are the bomb! NEVER loose a stirrup. I don't like rubber bands because they are a pain to make sure you have them with you, get them on and off without breaking......I was raised in a time where rubber bands were for wimps......BUT I put them on for my daughter all the time......and I don't think she's a wimp. Rubber bands are just a pain for me.
edited to add one more note....when we carry a saddle through from one horse to the next it doesn't always mean the style of the horse, rider and saddle all work, evaluate the rest of your run and maybe you are in need of fenders that are more straight hanging OR even tethered forward a bit. Also, I know you said your stirrups are short enough-play with the length a little, they might be too short or long if the leathers have stretched some.
Edited by LMS 2015-08-10 2:51 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 2128
| I had this problem. I fixed it by bringing my stirrups up...and replacing the ones I had (rawhide) with stirrups that are aluminum and have rubber grips. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| LMS - 2015-08-10 3:49 PM
The slanted are fine the but slanted and twisted walls stirrups are the bomb! NEVER loose a stirrup. I don't like rubber bands because they are a pain to make sure you have them with you, get them on and off without breaking......I was raised in a time where rubber bands were for wimps......BUT I put them on for my daughter all the time......and I don't think she's a wimp. Rubber bands are just a pain for me.
edited to add one more note....when we carry a saddle through from one horse to the next it doesn't always mean the style of the horse, rider and saddle all work, evaluate the rest of your run and maybe you are in need of fenders that are more straight hanging OR even tethered forward a bit. Also, I know you said your stirrups are short enough-play with the length a little, they might be too short or long if the leathers have stretched some.
I actually found a new way to do them since I have bad knees and can't pick my foot up to put them on or take them off. I always have a pair of rubber bands on my boots, then pull them around the outside of the stirrup and back to the toe of my boot. So easy to get on and off, and not even close to breaking them. |
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Expert
Posts: 3147
| There is a product to prevent slipping on stairs, etc that looks like sandpaper. It's sold in rolls with adhesive on the back-comes in two inch widths that I put on some stirrups that were slick. |
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 Lived to tell about it and will never do it again
Posts: 5409
| I use duct tape put on sticky side out. If it is to sticky just sprinkle a litte dirt on them. I don't really want them to make my feet "stick" to the stirrup but more to take the "slippery" out of them. I have had horses fall to many time to count and have never had a problem getting my feet out of the stirrup with the tape. I even use it on my roping saddle. The tape will last a really long time so you don't have to worry about it every run. |
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Member
Posts: 26
Location: Florida | Thank you all for the helpful tips!
I don't mind using rubber bands at all, but it bothers me that I feel I NEED them now. If that is due to a rider error, I am by all means determined to fix it. But then again, it could be something else like what some of you have suggested.
My stirrups are aluminum, and I do have rubber grips on them now, but I will try some of the ideas for added grip and see if that helps. Otherwise, I may start to look into replacing them. I am pretty sure my fenders are fine, but I suppose that'll be the next thing on the list if I have no success with the above.
Thank you all! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | Can you easily fish your stirrup when you get on or do you have to reach down and put your foot in? If so your fenders may need to be turned out again.
Is your grips on your stirrups getting older and loosing some of their "stick" power?
Have you bought new boots or changed your boots?
Have your boots gotten so broken in their grips are lost?
Any of these simple things could be causing you to lose your stirrups so check that out. |
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