Arthritis in my ankles, want the best stirrups to ease the problem.

[Native Lover]

I have the beginings of arthritis in my ankle joint but I am not going to let this stop me enjoying riding. I currently use bent safety stirrup but was wondering if there were a better designed stirupps that would ease my joints more? Reccomendations please.

 

[Yann]

Have you tried using sprung ones? Sprenger do them but there are plenty of cheaper and probably just as good alternatives. I find they make rising trot a far more comfortable experience, probably for the horse too

http://www.horseandharmony.co.uk/sprenger-system-4-stirrup-irons-901-p.asp

 

[Wally]

We have a lot of these. It makes for a nice big level platform for your foot so giving your ankle joint a bit of a break. However it does not intefere with your heel going down at all.

 

[eml]

A big vote for Sprengers, the imitations just don't quite work for me.

 

[laupip]

Soft tread stirrups from performanca equestrian are brilliant. I bought some for my mum when she had a foot problem and afyer trying them I bought some for myself as they are so comfortable. They are for endurance riding so designed for long hours in the saddle. I use mine all the time. I had the bendy ones before which are good but these ones are great.

http://www.performance-equestrian.com/cat/catitem.asp?pc=SST&d=2&s=5

 

[Remmy]

Anything with a wide platform should help you - like the ones that Wally has shown.

Others to consider might be Endurance, Portuguese or Heather Moffett stirrups.

 

[Skippys Mum]

Another vote for Sprenger Bow Balance here - I love them. I rode in normal stirrups a couple of weeks ago and I was shocked how much my knees and ankles hurt at the end.

I dont find the cheap imitations as effective though

 

[s4sugar]

I tried Sprengers and found the sideways flexing a bit weird.
I have endurance stirrups ( effectively a lump of sponge under the foot) on my western saddle so I looked for similar.
The ones I bought are Compositi reflex stirrups which cost £20.99 from Decathlon.
Everyone who has tried them as remarked how comfy they are as the footplate flexes but the sides don't.

Just snapped a photo with a pound coin for scale - these are 4 3/4" wide.

(Please excuse the dust as this saddle hasn't been used for a couple of months.)

 

[Remmy]

Those look good!

I tried Sprengers and found the sideways flexing a bit weird.
I have endurance stirrups ( effectively a lump of sponge under the foot) on my western saddle so I looked for similar.
The ones I bought are Compositi reflex stirrups which cost £20.99 from Decathlon.
Everyone who has tried them as remarked how comfy they are as the footplate flexes but the sides don't.

Just snapped a photo with a pound coin for scale - these are 4 3/4" wide.

(Please excuse the dust as this saddle hasn't been used for a couple of months.)

 

[s4sugar]

As an added benefit I can get my rubber dapps on them without loosing the flexing foot base.:smug:

I was unsure as I had to order them in as only child sizes were stocked locally.
I am very pleased with them, the quality is excellent and they are have stopped the problems I had - one dodgy ankle & the other side a dodgy knee.

 

[nicolaj]

Another vote for Sprenger Bow Balance!!! LOVE THEM!!!

Rode another horse with ordinary stirrups and as somebody else said was shocked as to how my knees and ankles ached afterwards.

Found the cheapest place for them is Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SPRENGER-BOW-...RICE-/270351702531?pt=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment

Got them of this seller.

Never tried the cheaper alternatives so cannot comment on those!

 

[whitby which]

Just snapped a photo with a pound coin for scale - these are 4 3/4" wide.

(Please excuse the dust as this saddle hasn't been used for a couple of months.)

Another vote for these - my daughter uses them and has found they help her knees loads. The sprenger ones seemed just tooo bendy!