{"id":13467,"date":"2022-03-23T15:44:56","date_gmt":"2022-03-23T19:44:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/equestrianbootsandbridles.com\/?p=13467"},"modified":"2022-03-23T15:44:58","modified_gmt":"2022-03-23T19:44:58","slug":"best-dressage-stirrups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/equestrianbootsandbridles.com\/best-dressage-stirrups\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Choose the\u00a0Best\u00a0Dressage Stirrups"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Choosing the best dressage stirrups involves knowing what you actually need<\/em> from your stirrups. The best dressage stirrups will be comfortable, help you correct a rider issue you may have, and suit your budget too. Ultimately, \u201ctry before you buy\u201d is a good approach.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Changing your stirrups could have such a huge impact not only on how you sit on your horse but also on your leg position<\/a>, comfort, and general balance. That’s why dressage riders need to know what to look for when it comes time to buy new stirrups… And that’s exactly what I’m going to help you with in this article!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

P.S. If you’ll be doing any dressage competitions with your horse and need to know what else to buy, this article will help you out<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

A couple of the links below are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you choose to make a purchase. As always, we only make recommendations that are genuine!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buyer\u2019s Guide for the Best Dressage Stirrups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are the most important things dressage riders should keep in mind when shopping for stirrups:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comfort<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

All of us are built differently. While you may quite comfortably be able to flex your ankle joint to achieve the horizontal position that is required of your foot in dressage, others may not. A good stirrup needs to be comfortable to ensure you can spend hours schooling, practicing, and performing dressage tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also like to finish off my riding sessions with a short hack around my property to let my horse decompress. Having a comfortable stirrup that I can ride dressage with and<\/em> hack is a huge benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quality & Materials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Not all stirrups are created the same. Some are nickel-plated, which means that over time, your stirrups will begin to rust and flake off. Other stirrups are made from quality alloys, while others still are designed from state-of-the-art composite materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The design, material, and manufacturing process can significantly influence the price of stirrups. Quality doesn\u2019t have to cost an arm and a leg, but cheap stirrups have the potential of breaking or affecting your riding<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This applies to inferior quality stirrup treads too. Slippery treads or treads that are hard and unyielding under the riding boot can also severely compromise your foot position in the stirrup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quality stirrup treads are flexible and offer some resistance, but they don\u2019t lock the foot in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"best<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Legal or Not For Dressage Riders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When buying any tack for your horse, you should always consider whether it is legal and acceptable to use it in local shows<\/a>. While your ambitions of attending the Olympic Games may be quite some way off when you start out in dressage, you should train your horse as if you are riding in affiliate shows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being “dressage legal” means you need to use only the right stirrups that are allowed according to Federation Equestrian International<\/u><\/a> (FEI). The stipulation is currently that stirrups should not have any attachments, and only an opening on the outside is permissible with safety stirrups.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stirrups may not be covered with anything (except in some disabled rider classes). Twisted stirrups are permissible, but only regular stirrup treads are allowed\u2014no slanted treads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Level of Riding (Should You Get Safety Stirrups?)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\"safety
An example of a safety stirrup<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"stirrup
An example of a stirrup toe cage<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When you are starting out, you may need to invest in a good set of safety stirrups<\/a><\/strong> to help you in case you lose your balance while riding and fall from your horse. It\u2019s very easy to get your foot tangled in a regular stirrup if you don\u2019t have the correct foot position when you are still learning. Safety stirrups essentially have a clasp that opens on the sides in order to prevent your foot from getting stuck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initially, if you struggle to keep your heels down, you may have to use a covered stirrup cage<\/a><\/strong> to help ensure your foot doesn\u2019t slip through, though this will not be dressage legal when it comes to competing at shows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Price<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

All of us have a bottom line when it comes to how much we can afford to spend on stirrups. To be honest, stirrup prices can range a LOT\u2014anywhere from $50 to $600. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You’ll want to opt for a good quality stirrup for dressage that is within your budget. Don\u2019t spend all your money on stirrups that are priced according to brand and not bang for your buck. Depending on your current level of riding, competition schedule, and overall goals, you’ll probably end up spending somewhere in the middle range when it comes to price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some more things to consider when deciding how much to spend:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Spend So Much Time and Money on the Right Dressage Stirrup?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"best<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Beginner riders often wonder if there\u2019s any point to buying a special stirrup for dressage<\/strong> as opposed to a good quality regular stirrup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have great rider position<\/a> and already keep your feet, knees, elbows, and hips in the classic position, you don\u2019t need any special stirrups. However, when you are still learning or have some bad habits you’re still trying to break that are placing you out of balance (don\u2019t we all?<\/em>), then the right dressage stirrup can really help.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Investing in Training Stirrups for Dressage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

So you realize you\u2019ve developed a bad habit of raising your heels, turning your toes out, or even just stepping too far into your stirrup… Does this mean your dressage ambitions are over?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nope. Rather, it means you need a little help to retrain your body to do what it needs to. This is where training or technical stirrups<\/strong> come in. By investing in a quality training stirrup that guides your legs and feet into the right position, you can begin to develop feel, coordination, and technique to ride better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The different dressage stirrups available include stirrups that are specially designed to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n