NOTE: Some of these testimonials are rather lengthy, but well worth reading if you are concerned about safety.

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I have owned my "Sidestep" stirrups for years, and have loved them because they don't put strain on my knees. This last spring, I found a new reason to love them. I took a 3 week horse training class, and I was working with a 7 yr. old gelding that didn't even lead very well and had never been ridden.

During the class, another horse that was being lunged with the saddle on slipped and fell. The stirrup that the horse fell on was considered a safety stirrup, it was metal with the guard so your foot can't slip through; but after the horse fell on it, the stirrup looked like a pretzel. If there had been a rider on the horse, their foot would have been trapped when the horse got up.

On the 3rd week of the training class, I was trying to get my horse to go over something very scary to him. He reared and was going over backwards but when I threw myself sideways to get away from him, my weight took him with me. He landed on my leg, with my foot still in the stirrup. When we got the horse up off of me, the spring on the stirrup released my foot and the stirrup did not have a scratch on it. With this green of a horse, I shudder to think what he would have done if I had been hanging by my foot from the stirrup when he got up.

When the other person looked at my plastic stirrup and saw how it held up in comparison to her metal one, she said, "I'm in the market for a new set of stirrups".

I have since bought a 2nd pair to put on my saddle that friends use when they go riding with me.

You have a great product. It relieves the stress on my knees, saved my foot from being crushed when the horse fell on it, saved my life by releasing my foot when the horse got up and even stayed in one piece to do it all over again if needed."

Gale Kespohl
Minnesota

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NOTE:This was sent in by KIM LEVINSON, who is a John and Josh Lyons Certified Trainer, Instructor, and Clinician located in Port Orchard, Washington.
Kim and her horse were featured on the front cover of the October issue of TRAILBLAZER MAGAZINE, and appeared in several other publications on her horse, such as; EQUUS, AMERICAN COWBOY, DISCOVER HORSES, THE KENTUCKY HORSE PARK, HORSE and RIDER, and THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HORSE ASSOCIATION.

One of my clients whose horse in training with me wants to ride trails on a highly spirited and very tall horse. He and several other folks have already been bucked off this horse. Although I've made a lot of progress with his horse working on speed control and safety issues, I remained concerned about my client in the event he were to come off of his horse again. I recommended that he used some kind of break-a-way safety stirrups even though I did not use any myself while training, with my riding students, or out on the trail. I have seen too many people get hung up in their stirrups and know personally a few who have been killed and or severely injured being dragged behind a horse they have been riding for years.

I ordered a set of safety stirrups (won't mention the brand name), and he ordered a set of your "Sidestep Safety Stirrups" at the same time. I told him to bring them in, and I would give them the test drive in the arena, and then out on mountainous trails for the ultimate test!

At first I was really taken aback and shocked by the strange looking design of the "Sidesteps". I had my doubts as they appeared to be just another gimmick. I put them on my saddle and took them out on a long, rugged and rough trail ride. That's when I was really shocked! With each use of the "Sidestep Stirrups", I discovered more and more functionality and features that for me completely revolutionized this stirrup as not only a safety stirrup, but comfort that was almost unbelievable. The design comfortably places your boot in the perfect riding position with no strain on your ankles and knees. This was an added bonus I hadn't expected! The more I tried them out and the more I examined them, I realized that somebody put a whole lot of thought into this design.

Without a doubt, there was no comparison. The "Sidesteps" were far superior in SAFETY, COMFORT, QUALITY, and DESIGN, making them hands down fantastic!

Not only do I highly recommend the "Sidestep Safety Stirrups", I don't ever want to get on another horse without them. I will never give another riding lesson without my students using the "Sidestep Safety Sitrrups". I have always had a fear of a student getting dragged, and now, that's not an issue anymore.

My commitment to training horses and people has always been about making my clients interaction with their horses as safe as possible. This stirrup is not just for riding students and novices to the horse world. This stirrups should be used by anyone that rides a horse. I am proud to make the "Sidesteps" a standard at our facility.

Thank you for your commitment to building a "truly safe and comfortable stirrup".

Kim Levinson
www.kimlevinsonhorsemanship.com
Washington

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Sidestep Safety Stirrups,

I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know, that I can’t thank you enough for your excellence in engineering and major contribution to safety in horseback riding.

The Sidestep Safety Stirrups is a revolutionary design that is not only great looking it is very comfortable to ride in as well. The best feature of this stirrup is that it can save you from serious injury. The Sidestep Safety Stirrups gives my family and me a secure feeling while riding our regular stock and also when we are breaking young horses.

One of the many great things about this stirrup is that we don’t need to be constantly concerned with foot position and the possibility of getting hung up in the stirrups and getting seriously injured... The well thought out design of your stirrups eliminate all the worries of those factors for us...

In my opinion the Sidestep Safety Stirrups is the best thing that has happened to the horse-riding world since the invention of the saddle...

Doug Anderson
Wisconsin

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Sidestep Safety Stirrups,

Got a chance to ride in your Sidestep Safety Stirrups today on a green broke 3 yr. old.

What a great Stirrup you designed, they do flex like they had springs and they stayed on my boots during a rough ride.

I have always had problems with my knees from 20 yrs. of climbing for a Utility Co. but not now.

Thanks for a very excellent product.

William (Bill) Peck
Arkansas

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Exactly as described. Love these stirrups!

Melissa M

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Love them! Thank you.

Tammys Rope Tack

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I had a brown set and have to have a black set as well.

Norma Jean

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Absolutely fabulous product.

All American Ponies

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These are wonderful! Everyone concerned with safety needs these.

Freedom Ranch

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Product Review

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Product Review by Julie Goodnight in the Certified Horse Association's "THE INSTRUCTOR".

Preventing dragging is always a good thing and although breakaway stirrups are common on the English front, they have been a long time coming for Western riders. There are a few breakaway western stirrups on the market today, but one of the newest and most affordable options is the "Sidestep Safety Stirrups." This plastic molded stirrup is solid with a wide foot platform and rubberized grip surface for the foot offering comfort and security. The outside of the stirrup hinges over the top of the foot, to keep the foot secure but releasing in the event of an unscheduled dismount. The "Sidestep Safety Stirrups" offers affordability and safety. The sitrrups are very easy to install and simple to operate. They hang on your stirrup leathers just like a regular stirrup does and one look at them and it is obvious how to use them. The molded plastic is maintenance free and long-lasting and comes in brown and black.

by Julie Goodnight