Glad I Had a Spare

A week or so ago I was saddling the Poetess in preparation to ride her and I made a crucial observation.

I'm guessing that most people do not know what the black ring thing in the picture above is.  I'm fairly certain a whole lot of horse people won't even know.  I know (obviously, since it's pictured in my hand and I'm writing about it).  And I'm glad I always try to keep a spare on hand.  They don't need to be replaced often, but when they do, it's imperative to have a replacement on hand.  Because you can't go without it.

So, what is it?

Well, it's a small (traditionally) rubber ring, although I'm fairly sure there are plastic ones also these days.  It's an integral part of a safety stirrup iron known as a peacock stirrup.  In short, it's a rubber-band like ring that attaches to the outside of a particular style of stirrup that, in an emergency such as falling off and getting your foot stuck in the stirrup, will release and open up the stirrup so that your foot can come out and you don't get dragged and/or stepped on by your horse.

These are the type of stirrups I use on my dressage saddle when I have a horse that's either fairly hot/spooky or early in it's training.  Just in case I have any unplanned dismounts (aka getting thrown off).  That way I at least won't be further damaged by getting my boot stuck in the stirrup iron.

When tacking up the Poetess, I noticed that the ring on my right stirrup was pretty shredded and barely holding together.  I'm glad I noticed before I got on.  Because the state of this ring was a huge safety hazard.

Since the stirrup is open, and therefore my foot easily able to fall out of the stirrup, when this ring is either unhooked or otherwise no longer attached at the top and bottom of the stirrup--so, broken--I want this ring to be connected when I'm riding.  The entire time I'm in the saddle, this needs to be attached.  I, for instance, don't want to be cantering her around and have it give out and therefore my right foot falls out of the stirrup (and I'm suddenly off balance and possibly hitting the ground if I don't regain my balance fast enough).  Or even trotting her and have her spook at a deer jumping out of the cornfield (it's happened at least once this Fall) causing her to swiftly turn 90 or 180 degrees, which would definitely briefly put pressure on the outside of the stirrup and potentially snap the thread that this ring was still connected by.

Had I not had a spare on hand, I probably, in the name of not potentially dying or maiming myself, would have not ridden her that day or the following number of days it took to purchase--and wait for it to be shipped to me--a new pair of safety rings.

Because I did have a spare, I quickly changed it out, and had a spectacularly good ride.  It just so happened to be a day when something we've been working on for a while clicked and we moved a step further along my training plan for her.

 Interesting tidbit I just learned while writing this post and googling peacock stirrup: Apparently these are now considered 'dangerous' and are banned in competitions.  Because the little hook that the rubber ring attaches to can sometimes in a fall, snag on your breeches/belt/belt loops and catch you/trap you.  Oh the irony (Gah!  Pun not intended!) of a long-used safety iron now (that other styles are manufactured) being too dangerous to use.  I've had no issues with mine the last 25+ years, I think I'll keep using them, thank you.  (But I may want to stock up on replacement rings just in case they become harder to find).