I was looking through that handy little book "A knight and his horse" by Oakeshotte - again, and I came across a reference to mid 15th c. stirrups being smaller to the front that the back, so a foot can't be placed too far forward in them.

It (the book) being geared toward kiddies, I took it with a grain of salt. I happened to be poking through my old copy of Stones "Glossary", and what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a mid 15th c. Italian stirrup exactly as described (now in the Met).

Was this indeed the norm? Just looking forward to getting my proper tack together, and I want to make sure the details are correct.

You should take anything from Oakeshott with a grain of salt, and Stones Glossary is barely worth the paper it's written on. GS Stone was way more interested (and knowledgable) on Asian stuff than European, and the book was written a long time ago (and some consider a "galaxy far, far away" too).

There are many forms of stirrups but without too many 15th century saddles to stick them to, it's hard to know if there was one "common" form. I think they're very simple trapezoidal things personally. I've got an exhibition catalog of horse stuff from a show in 1955 that has a few examples of "15th C" stirrups. I'll give them a look and get back to ya.

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Cheers,

Is this the book your talking about:
"A Loan Exhibition of Equestrian Equipment from the Metropolitan Museum of Art" by Stephan V. Grancsay pulished in 1955 by The J.B. Speed Art Museum in Louisville .

If so I have it if Bob R. would like to see it.

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Cheers,

If you could bring the book with you Sunday to the Higgins, I would be very interested in seeing it. (We are a definite go for Sunday)