The Shape Of The Stirrup

The stirrup is a flat-bottomed loop, fastened by a belt, that hangs from either side of the saddle on a riding animal (mainly a horse, but also a mule and other equine animals), allowing the rider to place his feet and assist the rider in getting up and down. With stirrups, it was easier for riders to sit in the saddle and control the horse, freeing their hands to make various movements on the horse, which enabled riding animals to play a more important role in transportation, communication, and military affairs. As a result, the stirrup is considered one of the main tools for creating and spreading modern civilization, and its importance is considered by some to be comparable to the wheel and the printing press. The use of stirrups is also believed by some historians to have led to the birth of feudalism in Europe.