Today we look at the meaning of the word “stirrup”. This is saddlery, which helps the rider to sit on a horse and maintain balance when riding. This tool was invented by nomads in the fourth century, while it quickly spread, and it began to be used around the world. If we talk about what a stirrup is, it should be noted that its appearance gave riders the opportunity to hit the enemy with more accuracy from a bow and deliver saber attacks. This allowed the nomads to change weapons and change the strategy and tactics of hostilities.
Etymology
To answer the question of what stirrups are, one should know that this term comes from the common Slavic word, which can be translated as “straighten” or “pull”. The concept arose, separating from the verbs "stick" and "strom". This is indicated by V.I. Dahl.
History
When considering the issue of what is stirrup, it should be noted that this phenomenon takes its roots from the second century. It was then that in India they made an important invention and began to attach two belts to the saddle, which were equipped with small rings at the ends. Now the rider mounted a horse in a special way.
He inserted a big toe into one of the mentioned rings. This happened in India, probably because chariot and riding horses were unified exclusively on the territory of this country.
Cavalry was used in the army. At the same time, chariots were used in India. The latter acted mainly with darts, only in some cases - crooked swords. The cavalry of the Kshatriyas was like the Numidian.
Modern device
To fully understand what a stirrup is, it is necessary to understand how it is used today. Today, when riding a horse, a structure is used, which consists of a metal ring equipped with a loop that allows it to be hung from the saddle. The lower part of the stirrup is flat, it is supplemented with a rubber or other pad, which provides better grip with the rider's shoes.
Suspension is carried out using putische - it is a leather belt or a belt made of another material. It allows you to set the distance between the stirrup and saddle, based on the length of the rider's leg.
When using stirrups, riding and landing on a horse become more reliable, since the rider can maneuver the center of gravity and rest his feet on the described structure. It is known from history that the cavalryman, thanks to such a decision, could no longer fall off his horse during a swing. He relied on a stirrup.