Bad ankles and stirrups

[No_Angel]

About 8 years ago I tore a ligament in my ankle, and it still hurts a lot when I ride:(
I have managed to get around it by riding without stirrups a lot of the time on longer rides and strapping my ankle up, but with Shay being new to the fun ride/endurance scene, I can't really chance riding without stirrups, and on longer rides the support puts pressure on the ball of my foot.

I have tried flexi stirrups, but they pushed my ankle down more and made it worse.
I did ok with my hm wide tread stirrups and taking my feet out of the stirrups.
I have flex ride stirrups with some extra neoprene/foam i put under the tread, but my ankles still hurt.
I end up lengthening my stirrups and riding on my toes but I can't trot like that and it makes my position less stable.

Any stirrup recommendations?

anyone tried these?
http://www.performance-equestrian.com/cat/cat020500x-item_3.html

[chev]

Monty has stirrups like that and I found them fairly comfortable to ride in. I tore the ligaments in my ankle too and have the same problem as you do. I tried flexi stirrups too and they were awful; really made my ankle hurt.

[shelby]

I sympathise. I have torn the medial and lateral cruciates, colateral and medial ligaments in one knee and the ankle ligaments and plantar fascia in the other foot.

Dont whatever you do 'brace' when riding. Dont try to keep your heels down. Try riding without stirrups and COMPLETELY relax your leg. Forget anyhing you were told (if you were!!) by your german dressage instructor to 'keep ze heels down'.....all this does is tense your leg (and body) which concentrates the impact and makes those poor ligaments work extra hard to 'hold' the position against all the movement.

There is a technique called 'peddling' that means you keep your joints loose when riding. If I dont do this, I cant walk when I dismount. (read 'slither off' as I cant jump up to mount or down as my knee and ankle wont take the impact!)

Good luck :)

[flump1967]

Yes! I have the caged endurance stirrups from the link and I think they are great. The wider tread spreads the preassure on your foot and ankle as does the padded surface. Of course the cages make them really safe. Recommend them muchly. Stopped my ankle pain and as a plus feel much more confident when using them.

[sheer bliss]

I have a friend whos reg disabled, she has a tumor in her foot, so cant bear weight on it, I can't remember the name of the stirrup she uses, but there the ones that have chain's from the top where it connects to the stirrup leather to the base where you put your foot and the chains are rubber coated - They were expencive but she says they were worth every penny

[Roofio]

would it be worth strapping your foot up for the longer rides? would that provide you some more support?

[Ms Kitty]

Or if you don't want the "cage" look on your stirrups, preferring the more traditional look, try Polo stirrups. They have wider step on them and I have found them much, much more comfortable to ride than regular stirrups, and I spend quite long times standing on them when I play.

Nina x