Re: RC: stirrups

[SoulsSerenade@aol.com]

I've always heard people say how great EZ ride stirrups are.  Even though 
they made my feet fall asleep sometimes (it depended on what shoes I was 
wearing), I still HAD to have a pair.  Last year, I crewed at Tevis for the 
first time.  I don't know if all of you have been there or not.....but if you 
haven't, and you're like me......you have got to get there.  It was like all 
my favorite catalogs were lined up, waiting for me.  (okay, so I'm a little 
obsessed.....what can I say?)  I was checking out the plastic EZ riders, as 
well as the Flex-ride stirrups which were a little cheaper ($50?) than the EZ 
riders. I was on a budget.....I had already scoped out some nice beta-series 
reins from Hought endurance tack as well as a *kewl* (nylon) bridle from 
Griffins tack.  Okay....so I told myself..."you're buying one more thing".....
(I know...I'm babbling)
Then I came across some different endurance style stirrups.  ohhh, I forget 
the name of the company selling them...Shadow Tree(???)...oh well....at any 
rate, they sold ortho-flex stuff....and it turns out these stirrups were made 
to go on an ortho-flex saddle.  They are brown with laced leather on the 
sides and a foam pad for your foot (not foam like cheap foam.....kinda like 
the EZ ride stirrup foam..only not as thick)....anyways, these stirrups are 
5" by 3"......5" being the width of the stirrup.  And, the best part was, 
they were on clearance for 25 bucks!  I didn't end up buying 
them....actually, my friend who was riding bought them for me as a "thanks" 
for crewing.  
OKAY.....getting to the point (for those of you still reading...thanks for 
hangin' in there >g<)
Later, my friend heard someone say that these kinds of stirrups were better 
(for some people...) because they allow you to move your foot around a little 
more and use different parts of your foot throughout the day.  Big, honkin' 
(those weren't his exact words, of course) wide stirrups don't allow you to 
move your foot at all so you only use one part of your foot.....which is why 
those tootsies fall asleep.  
Sooooo, I have no idea who this guy was......I just heard the news from my 
friend who ran over to the same booth that I had and bought a pair of these 
stirrups.  All I know is that my feet NEVER fall asleep with my stirrups.  I 
love them....so does my friend....I stuck them on my english saddle and they 
work great.....now...if I could just get a saddle that was comfortable mile 
after mile after mile.....
Renee