Stirrups

Stirrups

Every American Equus stirrup starts as a solid block of 6061-T6 aircraft billet aluminum. It's machined, then hand-polished and finished. The same engineering carried Mike Smith and Justify to the 2018 Triple Crown, and it now goes into irons for the hunter ring, the jumper ring, dressage, the polo field and western riding. Choose your discipline below, or start with our Escape safety stirrups.

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About Stirrups

Built From Billet, Not Cast

Most stirrups are cast or molded. Ours are machined from solid 6061-T6 aircraft billet aluminum, so the frame is light, stiff and consistent from pair to pair. American Equus rates its English stirrups to 3,000 lb per sq. in. of lateral crush strength. That's meant to protect your foot if the iron is ever pinned in a fall. Each pair is hand-polished and then chromed, anodized or powder coated. That's why we can offer finishes from Show Chrome to Tiffany Blue to genuine mother-of-pearl inlay.

The Traction Pin Footbed

Most American Equus English, polo and western stirrups use our interchangeable Traction Pin system. Small pins in the footbed hold the sole of your boot, so your foot stays put when your horse jumps, spooks or picks up speed. You can choose Apex (pointed top) pins for more bite or Stud (flat top) pins for a smoother feel, in brass or silver. Many footbeds are also ramped to ease pressure on the knee, ankle and foot.

Find Your Stirrup

  • Safety first: Escape Safety Stirrups. This includes the Hunter Escape, the first traditional Fillis-shaped safety stirrup designed for the hunter ring. $339–$399.
  • Hunter, equitation and dressage: Hunter & Dressage Stirrups. Classic Fillis looks with modern grip, starting with the 255 g Ultra-Light Hunter EQ. $269–$369.
  • Jumpers: Jumper Stirrups. Wide-footbed Elite and Slim models in custom colors. From $289.
  • Custom color and crystal: Elite Stirrups. Build your own color combination, or choose Swarovski crystal and mother-of-pearl editions. $299–$399.
  • Jockeys and exercise riders: Racing Stirrups. One-piece billet racing irons and breezing irons. $249–$295.
  • Polo: Polo Stirrups. Trusted by US polo star Nic Roldan. $249–$299.
  • Western: Western Stirrups. Billet-aluminum western stirrups with quick-change footbeds. $289–$299.

From the Racetrack to Your Barn

American Equus started when founder David Shano, a machinist and designer, built a better stirrup for his daughter Chloe, who was struggling to keep hers while moving up from ponies. Jockeys noticed next. By 2018, 16 of the world's top jockeys rode in American Equus irons, including Mike Smith, who won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont on Justify. "I don't worry about losing my stirrups when I get bumped or when it's wet," Smith said. Read the full story on our About page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are American Equus stirrups made of?
Solid 6061-T6 aircraft billet aluminum. Each stirrup is machined from a block, hand-polished, and then chromed, anodized or powder coated.

Are American Equus stirrups sold as a pair?
Yes. Prices on our stirrup product pages are for a pair.

What's the difference between Apex and Stud traction pins?
Apex pins have a pointed top for maximum grip. Stud pins have a flat top for a smoother feel on the boot sole. The pins are interchangeable, and replacement sets are sold separately.

Which American Equus stirrup is a safety stirrup?
Our Escape models: Elite Escape, Elite Escape SLANT10, Elite Escape Crystal, Hunter Escape, Hunter Escape Junior, Hunter Escape XD and Hunter Escape XL. See Escape Safety Stirrups.

What warranty comes with my stirrups?
See our warranty page for current coverage.