The equestrian industry receives new and interesting innovations every now and then. While the saying “don’t fix what isn’t broken” applies to many things in this sport that has been around for hundreds, or even thousands, of years, some things could use upgrading.
This is also the case with safety stirrups. While regular safety stirrups can provide an increased feeling of safety and decrease the risk of a serious injury, adding a magnetic connection to your stirrups can be the cherry on top.
In recent years, magnetic safety stirrups have become even more popular among equestrians. Here’s why.
Safety stirrups vs magnetic safety stirrups: the difference
Any stirrup model that has a safety feature designed to release the rider’s foot in case of an accident is referred to as a safety stirrup. The purpose of these safety stirrups is to decrease the risk of the rider getting stuck in the stirrups in case of a fall.
The safety feature is different in each stirrup model depending on the brand. It can be, for instance, a hinge-mechanism that opens, an open design, or a toe cover. However, the purpose of each one is to make the riding experience safer.
When referring to magnetic safety stirrups, it means any kind of safety stirrups that have a magnetic connection between the rider’s boot and the stirrups. The magnetic connection can add to the safety aspect in a couple of ways.
First, it will decrease the risk of the rider losing a stirrup during the ride. Second, should the rider lose the stirrup anyway, it will be easier for them to get it back, thanks to the magnetic connection.
Magnetic safety stirrups at horse shows
As there is starting to be an increasing amount of interest towards magnetic safety stirrups in the equestrian world, many riders wonder if magnetic safety stirrups are allowed at horse shows. Regular non-magnetic safety stirrups are always allowed and recommended even, but with magnets, you will face a challenge in certain disciplines.
The FEI has approved magnetic safety stirrups for showjumping and para-dressage (in applicable cases), but not for dressage or eventing, for instance. However, magnetic safety stirrups may be allowed at smaller level shows pending the judge’s approval and depending on the regulations of national equestrian federation.
Should I invest in magnetic safety stirrups?
As tack for horses can be very expensive, many equestrians wonder if they should invest in magnetic safety stirrups. The simple answer is that you get what you pay for, and the more you are willing to invest in your safety, the better off you will be.
Magnetic safety stirrups can, depending on the brand, be a bit more expensive than regular safety stirrups, but they are generally worth the money. For instance, the Swedish equestrian brand Ophena has received over 1,300 five star-reviews for their magnetic safety stirrups from happy customers. The customers have even reported to have experienced improved posture and balance and decreased joint pain after starting to use Ophena’s stirrups.
