Hobbies And Interests
Oxbow Stirrups
Oxbow stirrups, typically made of aluminum and leather, were common in the late 19th century. The oxbow stirrup usually came with the "Late California" style saddle that was popular between 1870 and 1900. The oxbow is a teardrop-shaped, aluminum stirrup with a leather foot bed. The top of the stirrup is connected to the saddle with a leather strap. The wide, curved design of the oxbow stirrup allowed the rider to remove his foot quickly in case of an emergency.
Iron Rings
At the beginning of the 1800s if a rider could not afford stirrups, or stirrups were not available, iron rings were used instead with saddles. The iron ring stirrup was a simple ring made of iron that was connected to the saddle by a leather strap. A popular saddle to use with iron rings was the Santa Fe saddle, which was first invented in 1800.
Steel Stirrups
By 1890 many horseback riders were using steel stirrups since the metal was readily available at the time. Common steel styles included heavy rings, sheet-steel stirrups, latticework stirrups and safety breakaway stirrups, which allowed the rider to easily pull free from the stirrup in case of emergency. Steel stirrups were not as popular as other types of stirrups, however, as the metal's coldness in winter was uncomfortable on the rider's feet and the weight of the swinging stirrup had the potential to injure the rider.
Wood Stirrup
Steamed, bent-wood stirrups was used by many horseback riders by the year 1860. These stirrups were made of one single piece of hickory or oak that was carefully steamed and bent into a curved stirrup shape using uric acid. This simple type of wooden stirrup eventually replaced the one-piece, hand-carved Spanish stirrup, which was also made of wood but took longer to make due to the ornate detailing that often accompanied the trend. Typical styles of wooden stirrups included the "Roper," the "Visalia," and the "Box" stirrup.