Western Stirrups

A Western stirrup is any stirrup designed to be used on a Western saddle.

Since there is a wide variation in Western saddles and riding disciplines, Western stirrups come in a wide range of sizes and styles.

Below: A roping stirrup, which is one type of Western stirrup. These are on a new saddle need turned.

A Western stirrup for a saddle

From eBay and Etsy

Western Stirrups - Good Things To Know Before You Buy

What are the stirrups made of? They might be made of some type of metal, wood, nylon (usually covered with leather or rawhide), some other material, or a combination of materials.
How wide are the inside of the stirrups...
- ...at the top? Some sellers give this as an actual inch measurement (for example, "3 inches at the neck" or "3.5 inches at the top"), while others will state the size of stirrup leathers the stirrups will accommodate (for example, "made to fit up to a 3 inch stirrup leather").
- ...at their widest point from side-to-side (which is usually at the bottom for most stirrups, but might be higher up for some styles like oxbow stirrups)?
  
  Even stirrups of the same type (roping stirrups, barrel racing stirrups, etc.) are not all the same size. Be sure you get stirrups wide enough to fit the boots you'll be wearing and to suit your personal preferences.
  
  NOTE: It's not uncommon for people to own two pairs of stirrups: One pair for warm weather riding and a different pair for cold weather riding. The cold weather stirrups are usually larger to accommodate a larger, insulated boot.

Below: A rawhide oxbow stirrup, which is another type of Western stirrup.

An oxbow stirrup, a type of Western stirrup

How wide is the tread, or the area where the rider's foot rests? Some eBay sellers call this area the "tread," or they might simply just call it the bottom. In addition, some sellers will use the word "deep" to refer to the area where the rider's foot rests.
- TIP: When shopping for stirrups, many sellers use the word "deep" to mean different things. For example, some sellers use the word "deep" to indicate how tall a stirrup is. Others use "deep" to specify the width of the tread, the area where a rider's foot rests.
  
  Obviously, these are two different things, so misunderstanding what a seller means when they say "deep" could mean you wind up with a pair of stirrups that aren't the size you thought they were. Read the description carefully to understand just what the seller is referring to if they use the word "deep," and if you're still not sure contact the seller with any questions before you bid or buy.
How tall (or long) are the stirrups? How tall the stirrups are can be very important. A man might need a tall stirrup to accommodate a larger foot. However, a woman or youth might find it easy to accidentally slip a foot through a tall stirrup, and will therefore be better off with a shorter one.
Is there at least one good picture of the Western stirrups?
Are the stirrups new or used?

Below: An aluminum Western stirrup.

A aluminum Western stirrup

How much will the shipping be? Will the seller ship to your location? Is shipping insurance required or optional?
What forms of payment does the seller accept?
How soon do you have to pay for your purchase? An increasing number of online sellers are getting tired of buyers who take a long time to pay for their item. Some of these sellers are now requiring the item be paid for within a certain time frame or the sale is off. Read the item's description for acceptable payment times and terms.
If you have any questions about a pair of Western stirrups for sale on the Web be sure to contact the seller and ask any questions before you bid or buy.