Why are stirrup hobbles important?
Dear Lena — Why are stirrup hobbles important? My western saddle doesn’t have them, and I have never had any problems. Friend DeeAnna replies — Stirrup hobbles are small buckled straps that fasten around the stirrup leathers on a western saddle, just above the stirrups. English stirrup leathers are “hobbled” too, in that the stirrup leather feeds through a small opening or loop at the top of the stirrup frame. Stirrup hobbles have two main purposes. First, they keep the stirrup leathers flat and tidy. This reduces the chance of something slipping into the loop formed by the leathers. A fence post, tree branch, or rider’s foot can get stuck in the loose loop formed by an un-hobbled stirrup leather, possibly trapping or injuring the horse and rider. Second, stirrup hobbles also keep the stirrups in their proper orientation — tread side down — regardless of what’s going on. Without hobbles, the stirrups can rotate around the stirrup strap if the rider loses his stirrup during a rough
