New Rule Regarding Safety Stirrups
The USEF have a new rule
The USEF have made some changes to their rules for the upcoming season, one in particular which was passed last year, and has been in effect since December 1st :
"GR 801.11:No piece of equipment shall be attached to a saddle that has a rigid upward pointing projection, hook or similar object capable of catching a rider's clothing or person when dismounting, including stirrups"
This means the traditional Peacock safety stirrups will no longer be allowed in competition. The reason for this change is due to safety. These stirrups have caught adult and children riders in the past and caused injuries. I have also experienced this while dismounting with those stirrups attached.
It begs the question, what other stirrups will no longer be allowed in USEF competitions?
Looking at the market, there are a range of designs that have upward pointing projections on them. Here are some examples:
Free Jump Stirrups
I have to say, I am slightly glad these stirrups will no longer be allowed in USEF competition. I have never been a fan of them and this is down to safety. I have witnessed first hand horse's getting bit rings caught in the outer arm when sniffing a riders boot or swatting a fly. I have also read many tales online of riders still getting dragged in them despite them being "safety stirrups". Better designs are out there.
Safe Style Safety Stirrups
This type of stirrup has a little arm on the side, so this counts as an upward pointing projection. Having researched a little bit into safety stirrups its interesting to note that riders still get their foot caught in this type of stirrup.
I found two great videos online, all about safety stirrups being tested. One video simulated a fall from a mechanical bull with different stirrups (here) and the other is two women testing a range of stirrups, simulating a fall from the side of a pony (here.).
Here are the stirrups that were tested in the videos
- Smart Rider Escape
- Acavello Arena
- RidUp
- Tech Venice
- Peacock Stirrups
- Kwick Out
- Free Jump Soft Up
- Swiss Stirrup Clip (a clip you attached between the leather and the stirrup to break away)
After watching both these videos, hearing what riders had to say and reading of incidences of riders becoming trapped in stirrups, one thing was very clear, breakaway stirrups seemed the most safe. Any of the stirrups that had a moveable arm all got caught in the riders boot in one of the videos. It was very interesting to see the peacock, the free jump, the kwick out all cause the foot to become caught in the stirrup. The Tech stirrup, Acavello Arena and the Smart Rider all had issues where laces, straps and even clothing could get caught in the mechanisms, according to the riders.
Peacock stirrups getting caught
Issues with the Free Jump Stirrup
This is the Kwick Out stirrup getting caught
This is the Acavello Arena getting caught
Due to the design, both the RidUp and the Swiss clip come free from the stirrup leather, and in one of the videos, the breakaway clip was the only stirrup to not get the riders foot stuck. If I was designing a safety stirrup it be a breakaway one. You will always come free then.
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