Why did my stirrup break???

Question

I was riding my leased horse, its not my saddle, but the saddle is like 20 years old. and then you hear a crack and the stirrup broke:/ what caused it? what should I say to the owner?

Answer 1

I agree with the others-old so it would crack specally if it was rusty.

Just explain and say you dont know why i am sure the owner will understand

Answer 2

Ouch.

Worn out leather. Really you should have inspected the whole setup before using it.

Just tell the owner that it broke and buy yourself some new ones. Also take the time to check all the tack very carefully- next time it could be the reins breaking.

Nothing lasts forever.

Answer 3

Old saddle, I dare say old stirrup? Dry-Rot? I am sure the owner will understand that these things dont last forever and if it has broken whilst you're riding in it it's probably a good indicator that they needed replacing anyway.

Answer 4

Okay, you didn't make your question clear enough.  Is this an English Saddle or Western?

If English, I think you mean stirrup leather, then the leathers haven't been properly cared for (Cleaned).  I've got an old Stubben who's leathers are now 19 yrs old and perfectly sound.

IF you're talking Western and mean the actual stirrup, then it could be a wooden stirrup and without the normal metal reenforcement, normally means that the stirrup was cheaply made in the first place and old wooden stirrups have been known to snap.  OR if metal, could mean that the bolt that holds the stirrup sides together and is where the stirrup leather fits has had a nut come unscrewed.  (This happened to me once with a two year old saddle and boy was I mad!).  Lastly, if the stirrup leather has rotted and broken it needs to be replaced and the other one checked as well.

All these factors need to be brought to the attention of the barn owner where you lease your horse.  Do you just borrow any saddle that's available or do you have an assigned saddle to use on him/her?

Answer 5

Yeah I would say an old saddle...It may not be conditioned well enough and it may have dry-rot there are many factors that could have made the leather break.

Answer 6

If the saddle was not well oiled, then the stirrup leather probably cracked and gave away.  If it was the actual stirrup itself, then was probably old, well used and needed to be replaced.  

Answer 7

Because the saddle is really old the leather has weakened and any slight pressure on the stirrup will cause the leather to stretch and get to the point where the leather is worn so much it can't take the weight so just say to them the leather is weak because the saddle is old and i diden't try and break it =]

Ashlie x*x

Hope i helped =] x

Answer 8

At least it was only the leather, they can be replaced easily enough and unless the owner notices I wouldn't say anything and i don't think they'll mind as these things should be replaced often for safety reasons. Be grateful it didn't cause a more serious accident and check the rest of your tack!

Answer 9

The saddle was probably not taken good care off. Tack needs to be washed every so often to keep it up to par. Cleaning tack obviously makes it look better but it prevents it from falling apart and it is a safety issue too.

Answer 10

Dry-rot.  

Answer 11

Hi There

The above answers could be correct, however if the bar that the stirrup was sitting in gave way then it means the tree in your saddle is broken.

Cheers Sandi

Answer 12

It's probably dry-rot and tell the owner it broke. Next time look over your tack before getting on. Always do a safety ck.  lol  Be a good pilot.