Stirrups are supports for the rider's feet that hang down on
either side of the saddle. They provide greater stability for the rider but can
have safety concerns due to the potential for a rider's feet to get stuck in
them. If a rider is thrown from a horse but has a foot caught in the stirrup,
they could be dragged if the horse runs away. To minimize this risk, a number
of safety precautions are taken. First, most riders wear riding boots with a
heel and a smooth sole. Next, some saddles, particularly English saddles, have
safety bars that allow a stirrup leather to fall off the saddle if pulled
backwards by a falling rider. Other precautions are done with stirrup design
itself. Western saddles have wide stirrup treads that make it more difficult
for the foot to become trapped. A number of saddle styles incorporate a
tapedero, which is covering over the front of the stirrup that keeps the foot
from sliding all the way through the stirrup. The English stirrup (or
"iron") has several design variations which are either shaped to
allow the rider's foot to slip out easily or are closed with a very heavy
rubber band. The invention of stirrups was of great historic significance in
mounted combat, giving the rider secure foot support while on horseback.
