I
n the early days, there were sculptures from ancient India depicting bare-footed riders using
EQUIPMENT
The riders’ guide to the stirrup galaxy A saddle in its raw form was invented at least as early as 800 BCE, but it took some time for riders to start accessorising in the foot cradle department.
big toe stirrups. Yes, small loops of leather just big enough for the rider to brace their big toes for a bit of stability. Not much use for someone wearing shoes though, so there was still room for improvement. But good things take time and the first proper stirrups originated somewhere in China around a thousand years after the saddle. Meanwhile, over in Europe, the stirrup wasn’t embraced until much later on in the 18th century. It was worth the wait, because without those nifty side-straps on saddles, heavily armoured knights would have struggled to mount and stay on board, cutting short the spectacle of jousting. Through various iterations, stirrups were made from metal, wood and leather. They came in many forms, including triangles,
