Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Old Cripple Woman Here

shown: flex composites
Soooooo about a week ago, I popped on the jump tack. I had switched my regular irons (equiwing composite flex model) to my dressage saddle and just borrowed some non-flex composites for the jump saddle until I settle the whole novelty stirrups dispute. ;-)

All I was planning to do was a little two point for myself and trot through some raised cavaletti for Courage.

Off we went.

For like 45 seconds.

Just us looking attractive
My ankles started burning. My thighs seized up. I made it maybe two minutes AT THE POSTING TROT before I had to walk and drop my stirrups to let my legs recover.

The whole ride was probably 25 minutes. More than 50% of it was walking without stirrups.

When I got off, I was crippled. My legs burned all night and my ankles were about to peace out.

I mean, I knew I hadn't ridden in jump tack in a few weeks, but this seemed a little extreme. I spent YEARS without sitting in a dressage saddle. Why this? More importantly, how in the world was I going to jump if I couldn't even trot a lap around the arena without wanting to die?

Let's look at this pic for a while
I wanted to flat in jump tack Saturday just to see if I'd have the same problem. It was cold and I also wanted to hide in the tackroom for a while, so I switched my flex irons back over to my jump saddle.

And um.

Guys.

It was totally 100% fine. Walk/trot/canter, whatever. No pain. No burn. No failing joints. No old lady cripple problems after the ride.

I jumped both days in my flex irons and I'm not even remotely sore despite not having jumped since October.

On the one hand, that makes me really happy. On the other hand, I now apparently require flex irons just to stay alive. I'll find out this week whether I can dressage in normal irons without dying. Don't hold your breath, I guess.

24 comments:

  1. This is so weird. Can we do a Teach Me Tuesday on flex irons? Because I don't understand the mechanics. Like .. how are the irons holding you in place? Aren't they just attached by long flexible leather strings? Can't you pretty much just put them wherever you want?

    Am I too young and flexible for this?

    Halp.

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    Replies
    1. I also need help understand the allure/benefits of flex irons!

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  2. I hope you can dressage non flex or else no novelty stirrups:(

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    Replies
    1. Oh crap! Forgot about the novelty stirrups! Fingers and toes crossed!

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  3. How do you find composite flex stirrups vs regular flex stirrups?

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  4. I just got flex stirrups this Christmas, and OMG the difference! Between those and the County saddle, I feel way better after riding in jump tack than I ever did.

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  5. And now after getting my new stirrups I will never ride in the flex stirrups again. They are even MORE comfortable and supportive

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    Replies
    1. I want to find out. I just don't think I $265 want to find out.

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    2. iselltack does trials on them. They are also on sale for 195.

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  6. Interesting! When I ride in my flex stirrups now my right ankle and outside of my calf burn like a mother. I had been riding in regular old cheap irons for a year and a half after I lent my dressage saddle out and it returned with no leathers or irons. I had a cheapie pair given to me so I rode in those until I got a new jumping saddle and got new leathers and irons to go with it. Now my right leg and ankle feel like they are on fire. I second a Teach Me Tuesday on flex irons!

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  7. I keep my flex irons on my jump tack and regular fillis irons on my dressage saddle, cause I find I use my ankle joint much less in my dressage saddle. But man, I went on a trail ride in my dressage tack once and WOW did my ankles and knees feel a difference without my flex stirrups. I'm a believer.

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  8. Wow. I've only ever ridden in regular irons. You've got me really intrigued now about flex ones!!

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  9. I too require speciality stirrups to stay alive, and even then XC wrecks my left leg

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  10. I had similar feelings when I went to non-flex irons, but now I can't go back to the super flexy ones. Mine have a very very minor flex in the foot bed, but nothing on the sides of the stirrup.

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  11. Interesting.. I've never ridden in anything but run of the mill fillis irons. I wish there was a way to rent different ones for a week or so!

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  12. I could never go back to regular Fillis irons after switching to wide track. Do not want!

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  13. Wide track composites are what dreams are made of

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  14. sounds like you found your winning combination then

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  15. I have to ride in flex irons too. Anything else just feels so uncomfortable.

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  16. Hmm.. Interesting.
    I put in a hard training ride on a clients horse yesterday and I'm in a ridiculous amount of pain today (mostly in my ankles and the outside of my thighs)
    I wonder if it was the stirrups??
    Teach us!!

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  17. A teach me Tuesday about stirrup irons is an awesome idea as there are so many brands & options out there. I am super curious about it all & look forward to being enlightened

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  18. I've been riding in flex irons for a long time and unless I want constant knee pain there is no way I'm going back.

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