Home Forums Gear Horses and ATV's Flat bottom stirrups

So as not to hijack the crooked stirrup thread, I want to start this one concerning the use of flat bottom stirrups vs others.

Since eary times,the saddle has been widely equipped with flat bottom stirrups with most of the major disciplines. English riding, racing, western ,etc.

You'd think since there has been so many improvemnets over saddle design that there would have been a likley progression of stirrup design. Although there are differnt types,as to heigth,width, tread, they all still basically adhere to the flat bottom with the exception of a few like the ox bow.

Walk into any reputable saddle shop and see what is usualy provided from mill run saddles. They are flat bottoms. Then go to a custom saddle maker and most are turned out with flat bottoms.
Observe people who make a living horse back and most are still using flat bottom.

In the arena, ditto

There are a lot of variations out there such as the one that turns the stirrup 90 degrees, the crooked stirrup,the break away stirrup( which I ride), or the english iron,but basically they are the same, ie flat bottomed.

The ox bow however is rounded and from what I have learned, is meant to be ridden with the foot jammed all the way into the stirrup up to the heel.I suppose this is from the idea that if you think you can ride the horse out, jam your foot all the way in,if not keep the foot out aways.

To me, on long rides, the flat bottom stirurp is just more comnfortable. I have tried several times to make the ox bow work for me,but have not been succesful.

So what do you think are the attributes of each and the why they are used?

I don't know anybody who rides oxbows in the back country. Wade tree saddles, flat bottom stirrups 3" or larger.

With a high, undercut boot heel an oxbow stirrup provides some increased security when a horse bucks. A bronc saddle being a good example. I like the platform a flat, wide stirrup gives me, and certainly appreciate it when posting a trot or roping. The oxbow introduces a different mechanical dimension that I was never able to adapt to but my style is not everyone's. For example, I ride more on the ball of my foot that most people but that's what's most comfortable for me.

No different than riding a motorcycle, the foot board style is more comfortable than the pegs on long rides back when I rode bikes.

Dont know anyone that rides Oxbows around here, but for comfort I too like Wade tree saddles, and flat bottom stirrups(I prefer the crooked stirrup design myself.

I think you guy's have pretty much nailed it. I ride a Wade saddle and flat bottom stirrup's when riding out most of the time. However, I also ride Oxbow's under certain cercumstance's. IME oxbow's are great for situation's when you want to keep your stirrup's ( riding young horse's or when showing at cutting or reined cowhorse). The caveat is that you really want to be careful of the type of footwear you have on. I ride leather soled boot's with high heel's when riding Oxbow's. When riding flat bottom stirrup's, yoy have more lattitude. Rubber soled boot's ( especially of certain style's) tend to me to lock your foot too securely into the stirrup.

I run into a few guys that ride oxbows for everything.

They are not for me. Along with the high undercut heel I think the boot needs a real solid, stiff sole to support the foot.

You're right, Ralphie, and it also helps if they have a really strong arch.

Tony Llama double leather sole's. They work pretty well, but still your feet will be a bit sore at the end of the day.

getting ready to start her shift gathering at around 6-7000' to move to low country. theres no flat spots in this territory, all up and down. thats about a 80' drop right behind her.
doesn't matter as much what stirrup if you're not doing anything, if you're asking one to do something, if you're working a horse, and you're braced up with flat bottom stirrups, you'll have your foot right into their shoulder and be in thier way everytime they try to move. If you just want to turn one around in the middle of a couple thousand acres doesn't make much difference. the reason you put your foot into the stirrup is so you don't loose a stirrup. i guess break-away stirrups are a good idea for those that can't stay mounted; either that or you could roll onto your belly so your foot comes out.

RA, And I see you have the proper boot's for riding oxbow's. I rode nothing but oxbow's for a long time, but for wnatever reason, it was just getting too uncomfortable. I still ride oxbow's at time's, but I find that a narrow tread stirrup work's pretty well too with the foot in up to the heel.

When I sit in the saddle I can just see my toes over my knee cap when I look down. I really don't have any weight in the stirrups except the weight of my legs. Diving off of switch backs, pulling unwilling pack strings or ducking under low hanging trees or branches I need to put my weight in that stirrup to stay on some times. I really don't believe I would like the ox bows in my arch