Abstract: The invention provides a two-way safety stirrup that will release in the event of the rider being dismounted but which is less prone to unexpected release when pressure is applied in the forward direction. The safety stirrups are of far simpler construction than stirrups of the prior art, yet are not as prone to unexpected release and can be made of non-metal materials, such as plastics and polymers, so that the stirrups are more economically manufactured and are of comparatively light weight.

Abstract: The present specification protective headgear including a unitary shell (1) having a bell shape with a non-uniform thickness, the shell being of sufficient size to enclose at least an upper part of the wearer's skull, the shell having an upper crown portion (6) with a central crown area (2) and a surrounding outer crown area (3), the shell further including a depending circumferential wall which has an upper wall area (4) adjacent to the outer crown area (2) and a lower wall area (5), the lower wall area (5) having a wall thickness generally greater than the wall thickness of said upper wall area (4), and the central crown area (2) having a wall thickness generally greater than the wall thickness of said outer crown area (3), the headgear further including a support system (9) attached to the lower wall area(s) of the shell (1) in a manner whereby no less than 5 mm space is maintained between the wearer's skull and an inside surface of the shell (1).

Abstract: A safety stirrup suitable for horse riding, including a generally U-shaped mounting member and a foot support member for receiving a rider's foot, such that when the rider's foot is in the normal use position the foot support is restrained by at least one mounting, and wherein upward vertical movement of the rider's foot out of the normal use position causes the mounting to release the foot support sufficiently that the foot support can move in the same direction as the rider's foot until the foot support is fully disconnected from the U-shaped mounting member.