Rated 5 out of
5
by
Xen and Aragon from
Best Stirrups
I bought these a couple of weeks ago & from my first ride I felt hip pain relief I no longer feel stiff after riding & I feel more relaxed down my legs & am able to give more precise clear aids to my boy I wish I would have purchased them sooner.
Date published: 2020-03-05
Rated 4 out of
5
by
SavannahL22 from
So far so good
I bought these to put on my new dressage saddle. I ride a reiner and have been for the last three years exclusively in a Western saddle, but figured why not branch out a bit. During my first ride in my new dressage saddle with normal fillis irons, I kept having this problem where I wouldn't "lose" my stirrup, necessarily, but the stirrup would find its way from the ball of my foot to the arch, essentially in the middle of my foot only stopped by my boot heel. I was really frustrated, I hate fighting with equipment and it seemed like no matter what I did, I could not stop the stirrup from creeping back towards my heel (I do know how to ride with my heels down). So I figured I would try something a little different to the traditional irons and rode in these for the first time last night. I don't have any knee/joint pain yet but I did experience the leg burns with the traditional irons, and I can say that after one ride with these at the 90 degree angle, that is gone, and I seriously appreciate the fact that the stirrup is mostly always "open" to your foot if you lose it. I still experienced the semi-lost stirrup though, which is disappointing. I have a feeling that just takes time with a different riding style and learning new muscle memory, so in that way, I don't know if a $200 stirrup was worth it since it didn't solve the problem, but I will be keeping these because I think overall they will be more comfortable and I do love the black look against my black saddle. I like that the "jointed" part doesn't feel too jointed and I don't have a fear of over-extending my heel and causing injury down the road. So I would say overall these are a great stirrup but they didn't necessarily work miracles on my stability issue.
Date published: 2020-02-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Skalbach217 from
Big difference
I bought these a few weeks ago and noticed right away the difference. It didn’t take long to get used to and the strain on my knee was reduced. I like the heavier feel underneath my foot.
Date published: 2020-01-18
Rated 5 out of
5
by
camasson from
Great for joint pain
I love these stirrups! I just bought them from a friend at the barn and they immediately alleviated the ankle pain I used to get when riding in standard stirrups. I never feel like I'm going to lose my stirrup and my leg is so much more secure than with the standard flexi-stirrups.
Date published: 2018-11-19
Rated 3 out of
5
by
jem1 from
Ankle Pain
I had been having some issues because one of my ankles is much more flexible than the other and I have difficulty keeping my more flexible ankle and foot properly aligned. I bought these stirrups to help alleviate knee and ankle pain, but they actually ended up making it worse for me personally. If knee pain is an issue for you because of the impact landing over jumps can put on them, I would recommend these stirrups. However, if you tend to put your heels too far down because you overflex your ankles, I recommend sticking with a solid, inflexible stirrup iron because these have a lot of give in them and may allow your heels to sink even deeper, causing more pain.
Date published: 2018-09-21
Rated 5 out of
5
by
AbbyG from
Cannot imagine riding without them!
I might have reviewed these when I purchased mine originally, but even if I did, I love these so much I thought it would be good to provide a long-term use update. After almost 6 years of regular use, these stirrups are still in fantastic shape. I don't even think anymore about the knee and hip pain that had become part of everyday (pre-MDC Ultimate Stirrup purchase) riding. I truly cannot imagine not using these stirrups for the rest of my life. They show no signs of needing replacement anytime soon, which makes them a great long-term investment in pain-free riding. If/when one day they do eventually wear out, I won't blink an eye before immediately replacing them. I may not even wait that long....the black ones sure look sharp!
Date published: 2018-05-27
Rated 4 out of
5
by
ChestersMom from
Good concept
I've been using the stirrups for about three weeks. I don't have any knee problems, but was looking for something that might just make my ride more comfortable overall. I have to say the design and quality are good and concept of this stirrup makes sense but I have not felt a huge difference either way. I will continue to use them anyway.
Date published: 2017-12-06
Rated 5 out of
5
by
OTTB from
Worth the $
I have one ankle fused from surgery. The stirrups are amazing in helping to restore my leg position on that side.
Date published: 2017-07-18
Rated 4 out of
5
by
wolfie from
My feet and legs felt like they were in a better position.
Date published: 2017-04-18
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Tory from
Very heavy
The stirrups are beautifully made but the weighted steel is very heavy compared to the Sprengers I normally ride in. While the adjustability idea is great I could not get over how heavy they were and returned them.
Date published: 2017-04-13
Rated 5 out of
5
by
hunterjumper_rider from
Very Pleased
I was pleasantly surprised by this product! I wasn't sure how much they would actually help, but they help so much. When I ride in them I feel like my whole leg is more free. I had ankle surgery a couple of years ago and ever since that my ankle has hurt when I ride english. But, while I'm riding in these stirrups and even after I get off, my ankle doesn't hurt!
Date published: 2016-12-30
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Jocelyn from
All the raves are true!
Bought this in hopes it would eliminate my knee pain as many reviews claimed. In regular stirrups my knee pain would start after about an hour in the saddle. With these stirrups I can ride 3 or more hours and NO KNEE PAIN AT ALL! The price horrified me but I figured I'd give it a shot. Now I tell everyone about them and say it's completely worth the price. Love them.
Date published: 2016-12-04
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Susan from
Love these!
These stirrups relieve the pressure that was painful after my knee replacement surgery. I am now riding pain free!
Date published: 2016-08-02
Rated 5 out of
5
by
BoatsHorses from
Seems to be helping my leg and foot position!
I have a big problem with my toes sticking out too much, and my lower leg sliding forward. My trainer was skeptical at first when I bought these, but she says she can see an improvement in my leg position. I currently have them set at 90 degrees (we started at 45, but 90 seems to be working even better). They are very heavy and took some getting used to (about 3 rides), but I'm very happy I purchased these!
Date published: 2016-05-20
Rated 5 out of
5
by
LaurenS428 from
BEST STIRRUP EVER
The MDC Ultimates are by far the best stirrup I've ever ridden in. They have completely eliminated any joint pain I've had associated with riding, and the swivel top not only takes the pressure of the leathers off the shin while riding, but makes for an easy time getting your foot in. Love the flex sides, really helps to keep my heels down. They are worth every penny!!
Date published: 2016-03-24
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Blancosmom from
suprising!
I bought these and have used them for three of my lessons so far. I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised when I dismounted and noted no pain. I had gotten used to landing on my feet and having immediate pain in my lateral feet on impact with nagging ache in that part of my feet all week. I am amazed that these foxed the issue in a single trial. I was using the Sprenger system 4 design and that's when I developed the pain. so far so good with these. I use them at 45 degrees rotation.
Date published: 2016-02-22
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Araion34 from
Great product!
I had my right knee replaced several years ago and these stirrups make it possible to ride without any discomfort. Because of their flexibility, and adjustable stirrup angle, they are a value product.
Date published: 2016-02-08
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Linda from
Excellent quality
The MDC stirrups are nice and heavy and being able to adjust the angle is a great safety feature.
However, I will return them because I am not experienced enough English rider to be comfortable and will go back to western. I have improved my balance and position riding English .
Date published: 2015-11-11
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Charlie63 from
Great stirrup
I bought these stirrups after trying the Ultimate sport. They are great for my bad knees and hips and I have added the comfort stirrup pads so it is like the ultimate sport but won't ruin your boots. They do run big I wear a 7.5 boot and bought a 4.5 stirrup
Date published: 2015-11-02
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Rusty76 from
Sensational Stirrups!
I have been riding in these for nearly 5 years now and I still love them!
I have had knee surgery, broken bones in the left foot twice, and had my right heel reconstructed with a plate and screws after a particularly bad fall. Needless to say I need joint relief. I purchased these based off experience with other jointed stirrups and not being completely satisfied with them. The key truly is the angle of adjustment at the top.
For dressage, I keep them at 45 deg and when on the trail one is at 45 and the other at 90. Having the flexibility to adjust them depending on my riding style has been a blessing. I'm able to have an intense workout or a long trail ride and still walk afterward. I used to hobble and lean on things for some time after riding in traditional stirrups.
If for any reason you think this stirrup may help you with pain, balance, etc, give them a try. They are different from other jointed stirrups.
Date published: 2015-09-15
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Wendy52 from
Great idea
I bought these stirrups because I have been having foot and knee pain while riding. The stirrups run big so I had to return for smaller size, but I rod better and had no discomfort.
Date published: 2015-09-01
Rated 5 out of
5
by
ridendrive from
Improves balance
I much prefer these stirrups over the Herm Sprenger Bow Balance. They have improved my cantering. Before I was constantly losing or fighting to keep my foot in the stirrup during canter departures on my one gelding. Having the option to position the stirrup in the correct angle has improved my balance on the horse. My only concern is the stirrup position mechanism becoming worn. I have followed the care instructions. I have used them in the arena (flat work) and long trail ride on various terrain.
Date published: 2015-08-30
Rated 5 out of
5
by
DavinaDiva from
Love these stirrups!
I've recently taken up dressage lessons and these stirrups have been helpful in keeping the right foot position but still being comfortable. I love not having the stirrup leather pressure across my leg. They are easy to adjust to the preferred angle and keep on my foot. These stirrups were expensive, but I think they were worth the investment.
Date published: 2015-07-04
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Rudy from
They are more comfortable on my hip joint and ankles at my age
Date published: 2015-06-24
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Millies Mom from
Big help for Novice English rider
I tried these stirrups when I rode in my trainers saddle. There was such a significant difference in feel that I decided to purchase a pair for myself. I am new to riding English and these stirrups have helped me a lot.
Date published: 2015-05-09
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Brzy08 from
VERY safe in a fall!
I came off my horse a few weeks ago when he tripped badly at a canter. The stirrups released my foot to let me fall free. This safety feature, on top of the comfort to my knees and hips mean that I will never ride in anything else!
Date published: 2015-02-23
Rated 5 out of
5
by
StarLBI from
Amazing Stirrups!
I've wanted these stirrups for a long time, and finally decided to purchase them! I had tried them a couple of years ago when I was riding in someone else's saddle, and I immediately felt a huge difference and since then I dreamed of owning them. So far these stirrups have been great. They really do help with your leg position, and make you feel so much more stable. Zero leg pains after riding even for longer amounts of time
Date published: 2015-01-27
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Kristin from
OMG!!!! Riding pain free!!!!!
These stirrups are the gateway to pain free riding. I didn't realize how much torque I had in my legs until it stopped. My back feels better, my hips feel better, my toes feel better, and those are the parts that I DIDN'T realize had pain! My knees and ankles . . . . Well, that's what was keeping me from riding! Now I can ride two lessons a day!
And here's another surprise: My leg position dramatically improved. I used to have a 'defensive' leg position; slightly too far forward, with weight in the toes instead of the heels; kind of gripping the horse. Now it's totally relaxed, in the correct position under my hip, and the heel has dropped down.
If you're having trouble with your legs, position, back, etc.; see if you can borrow and try a pair of these irons for yourself.
Date published: 2014-12-16
Rated 5 out of
5
by
knwalk from
Great for Long Rides
I enjoy fox hunting. I love being in the hunt field for hours, but being a newer rider in a hilly, fast-paced environment on a pretty frisky horse was resulting in extremely sore Achilles tendons and knees post-hunt. I was between the Herm Sprenger stirrups, the original Royal Riders, and these guys. While I never tried any of the other stirrups I was looking at, I decided I liked the ability to use a 45 or 90 degree angle and the weight (the RR are supposed to be very light).
Yesterday, I rode second flight in the hunt field and really feel the wide stirrup base helped with stability (stayed on for three big spooks, two at the canter). Additionally, while I'm sore in my legs today, particularly my calves, my Achilles aren't bothering me and my knees are fine. These stirrups accomplish exactly what I was hoping they would. Big "thank you" to SmartPak's Ellen for the recommendation!
Date published: 2014-11-24
Rated 4 out of
5
by
RG250CAT from
Still deciding
I bought the black ones and love the way they look. I would say that the only reason I spent this much money was after reading the reviews and knowing I could return them even after riding in them. I will say that changing the angle is easy and they are comfortable, however if your use to a regular stirrup you will feel like your moving around more than normal. I would say I'm still not 100% sold on them but will probably keep them.
Date published: 2014-11-05