PLN
Stirrups are typically a one-time purchase, and then you stop thinking about them. Monika Zastrzeżyńska-Rychwalska, an expert at Equishop, decided to test if this is a good habit. For three months, she rode with Tech Stirrups, specifically the Venice Plus Evo with shock absorption model. We ask her directly: what real changes occur in your leg, knees, and seat when you use them every day?
3-month test summary:
- They position the leg very well; the stirrup does not twist outwards.
- They are particularly suitable for people who tend to move their feet away from the horse.
- The leg does not go numb as it does in other aluminum stirrups without shock absorption.
- They are well-balanced, lie evenly under the foot, and you don't have to "catch" them.
- The shock absorption genuinely relieves pressure on the knees, even after shortening the stirrup leathers.
Why did you decide to change stirrups at all?
Kinga Wysocka (Equishop): Monika, you've been riding for years and had your tried-and-tested stirrups. What made you decide to change anything?
Monika Zastrzeżyńska-Rychwalska: Honestly? For a long time, I didn't think about them at all. Stirrups are one of those pieces of tack that you don't always pay much attention to. But when Tech Stirrups became available in our range, they caught my eye, and then I heard good reviews from industry colleagues. I thought that since I advise others to choose their equipment consciously, I should test something that's getting a lot of buzz. Hence these three months with Tech Stirrups; I wanted to form my own opinion, not just repeat the manufacturer's brochure.
First impression after three months
KW: Let's start from the beginning. Do you remember your first training session, what did you feel first?
MZR: That my leg positioned itself. The stirrup positions the foot very well and doesn't twist outwards. This used to be a constant problem for me; before, I had to think about it and constantly correct my foot's position. Here, the foot is simply where it should be, and I don't fight with it throughout the entire training session.
It sounds like a minor detail, but when you don't have to monitor one thing, you have more mental capacity for everything else: the horse, your seat, what you're doing. And I felt this literally from the first training, not after weeks of getting used to it.
Who would you recommend them to the most?
KW: So, it's for a specific type of rider?
MZR: Yes, though not exclusively. I recommend them to everyone who cares about a correct seat and values equipment that helps, rather than just being there. I myself have a tendency to move my feet away from the horse, so I'm speaking from personal experience. A leg that drifts outwards or a foot that's moved away is a very common habit: the calf loses contact with the horse's side, and suddenly the entire leg works less effectively. The wide, stable footbed and profiled stirrup leather slots help keep the leg close to the horse's side, instead of allowing it to wander.
It's not magic or a miracle gadget; it's simply good design. But if someone has been struggling with leg positioning for years, such assistance from equipment can truly change the comfort of riding.
Is the foot more securely supported?
KW: You mentioned the wide footbed. Do you feel a difference in the foot support itself?
MZR: Very much so. The wide, anti-slip footbed supports the entire surface of the sole, not just a narrow strip under the ball of the foot. In half-seat, in the field, during a longer trot, everywhere I feel that I am standing securely, and my foot isn't searching for a place. This is also a matter of safety, because a secure foot means less risk of it slipping in the wrong direction at an unexpected moment.
I keep my horse in a free-range system and don't have an indoor arena, so I ride in various conditions, and it was during the rain that I had the biggest test. Previously, in such conditions, my foot could slip out of the stirrup, but here it stayed firmly in place.
How does the leg handle longer training sessions?
KW: What about comfort during longer rides? Does your leg not get more tired?
MZR: Quite the opposite, and that was a pleasant surprise. In other aluminum stirrups, my leg would go numb, but with Tech Stirrups, that stopped. I even switched to plastic stirrups before because of this, but today I know that was a compromise: plastic ones didn't cause numbness, but they were simply too light for me. Here, I get both, no numbness and a solid, well-balanced stirrup. It turned out that my leg didn't have to "fall asleep"; it was simply a matter of what I was standing on.
I noticed this most during more intensive training sessions. Previously, halfway through such a session, I would have to move my foot to regain sensation. Now, I just ride.
What does good stirrup balance do?
KW: What do you attribute that to?
MZR: Largely to the balance. These are very well-balanced stirrups, they lie evenly under the foot, they don't tilt, they don't force the leg to constantly maintain balance. Many people don't realize how much work the leg puts in to keep a crooked stirrup in place. And when the foot isn't fighting for balance, everything calms down: ankle, calf, knee.
Over an hour-long training session, it makes a real difference. It's a bit like a well-balanced tool in your hand; you don't think about it, it just works.
Strongest feeling: knees
KW: And the issue you mentioned surprised you the most: your knees.
MZR: Definitely the strongest feeling from those three months. I shortened my stirrup leathers, and shorter leathers usually mean more strain on the knees, because the angle in the joint is sharper and the shocks are more noticeable. Honestly, I expected my knees to bother me.
And here's the biggest surprise: when I shortened my stirrup leathers, my knees didn't hurt, thanks to the shock absorption. The inserts absorb some of the impact that would normally go straight into the joint, whether landing after a jump or working in trot. This is the kind of benefit you don't feel in one spectacular moment, but in the fact that after training and after the season, your joints are intact.
And safety? These are stirrups with a mechanism, after all.
KW: Tech Stirrups are safety stirrups, with a movable side. Have you tested this in practice? And does this movable element not reduce stability during everyday use?
MZR: Fortunately, I haven't had the chance to test the mechanism in a real fall, and I hope it stays that way. But that's the whole point of such a stirrup: the movable side only opens when the foot presses it with great force in an emergency situation, and then returns to its place by itself thanks to the spring. In normal riding, it's pressed down and rigid, and that's my answer to the second question: no, in daily training, I don't feel at all that it's less stable. I have full, secure support, exactly the same as in a regular stirrup.
This is important to me, because I wouldn't want to sacrifice riding comfort for safety "just in case." Here, you don't have to choose; you get both.
Verdict after the test
KW: After three months, are you sticking with them?
MZR: I am. And I speak about them so concretely because I tested them on my own leg and my own knees, not just read it in a manufacturer's brochure. For me, the everyday details are key: the leg in place, no numbness, secure support, comfortable knees. These are what make me simply not want to go back to my old stirrups.
Does that mean they're for everyone? Equipment is always chosen individually, according to discipline and personal needs. But as one of the safe stirrups that genuinely pass the everyday test, they have a strong place with me. If someone is hesitant, it's best to test them as I did and feel the difference for themselves. And if you're just wondering how to choose safe stirrups and what the differences are between Freejump, Tech Stirrups, or Samshield models, start with our guide.
Quick Questions (FAQ)
Do Tech Stirrups position the leg well?
Yes. Monika's 3-month test shows that the foot is securely positioned, and the stirrup does not twist outwards. This is real support, especially for people with a tendency to move their feet away from the horse.
Does your leg go numb in aluminum stirrups without shock absorption?
After a longer ride, the leg can go numb, for example, in aluminum stirrups without shock absorption. In the Tech Stirrups test, this problem disappeared; shock absorption and good stirrup balance play a big role here.
Does shock absorption in stirrups help with knee pain?
Yes. The shock-absorbing inserts take on some of the impact that would normally go into the joint. After shortening the stirrup leathers, which usually puts more strain on the knees, Monika did not feel pain precisely because of the shock absorption.
Does the movable side reduce stability during normal riding?
No. In normal riding, the movable element is pressed by a spring and behaves like part of a rigid bow. It only opens under great force in a fall situation, so everyday foot support is full and secure.
How long does it take to feel a difference?
Some effects, such as leg positioning and more secure support, are felt from the very first training session. Knee comfort and the absence of leg numbness are conclusions confirmed after about three months of regular use.
Summary
After three months of daily training, Monika's conclusion is simple: good stirrups are inconspicuous; they just do their job. In the Tech Stirrups test, five things came to the forefront: secure leg positioning without the footbed twisting, assistance for people prone to moving their feet away from the horse, no leg numbness, excellent balance, and shock absorption that genuinely relieves knee strain even after shortening the stirrup leathers. Additionally, there's a safety mechanism that releases the foot in case of a fall, yet doesn't compromise stability during everyday use.
Stirrups are equipment chosen individually, according to discipline, boot type, and personal needs. Therefore, the best decision isn't to read more opinions, but to test them yourself.
We invite you to our showroom to test the stirrups' shock absorption live and choose the model that's right for you. You can see them in person, sit in a saddle, and immediately feel the difference. We await you at ul. Oświęcimska 9 in Ruda Śląska, Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you prefer to compare brands first, also check out our guide on how to choose safe stirrups.
