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Monday, June 29 2015 / Published in Sidelines Feature

Helping Riders Find Their Balance

Martin David Cohen, founder of MDC stirrups. (Photo courtesy of MDC)

Martin David Cohen, founder of MDC stirrups. (Photo courtesy of MDC)

By Katie Navarra

Aboard a wooden rocking horse stabled in the waiting room of his father’s pediatrician office, Martin David Cohen spent hours with his “first horse.” Alternating between the rocking horse and a smaller rocking donkey, Martin tallied hours in the saddle. “I rode, or rocked, until they were almost off the ground,” he reminisced.

He graduated to riding lessons when he was 10 years old, learning to ride at Mrs. Burbank’s Riding Academy near the fairgrounds in Memphis, Tennessee. It wasn’t until his early 20s that he owned a horse of his own, but he wasted no time making a name for himself as a professional horseman and FEI/USEF judge, course designer and chief steward. In 1984 and 1996 he was invited to judge multiple equestrian events at the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles and Atlanta.

Despite success as a professional horseman, one thing always perplexed him: He couldn’t understand why the natural position of English stirrups was to lay flat against the horse’s side and move away from the needed riding position. Puzzled, he asked riders, trainers and judges what benefits this position offered the rider.

Not one person could identify any advantage.

Aside from being illogical, he knew the traditional design posed a safety hazard. “When a rider’s foot falls out of the stirrup, a traditional stirrup aggressively turns back to side of the horse and that’s the number one reason people get hung up and dragged,” Martin explained. He calls this the “closing door effect.” Due to the stirrups turning back to the horse, stirrup retrieval is more difficult. “So why is this design flaw still in our industry?” he asked.

Being a fan of Western riding too, Martin realized that “cowboys” already knew the benefits of forward-facing stirrups. “The cowboys figured out a long time ago that stirrups should face the front of the horse,” he commented. “The first thing a cowboy does to his Western saddle is turn the stirrups to the front.” Knowing English stirrup leathers were too thin to allow for this forward-facing benefit, he began searching for a solution in the stirrup itself.

For several years, the idea of developing a more functional and safer stirrup permeated his thoughts. While sharing his idea with an engineering friend, he decided to develop a prototype. Without any experience in metallurgy, product design or distribution, Martin worked closely with a series of engineers and patent attorneys to develop the first American-designed English stirrup that would maintain a 45° or 90° degree forward-facing angle. In 2003, he released his first patented design, the MDC Ultimate Stirrups™ and MDC Comfort Stirrup™.

Olympic eventer, Will Coleman, riding with MDC stirrups. (Photo courtesy of MDC)

Olympic eventer, Will Coleman, riding with MDC stirrups. (Photo courtesy of MDC)

His patented designs allow riders of all riding disciplines to find the position that provides the best support and comfort for both themselves and their horses’ conformation. “In my many years as a judge, I’ve watched riders who are unbalanced across their irons,” Martin said. With the design of MDC Stirrups™, riders can even set one stirrup to 45° and the other to 90° to get the best base of support for their center of balance.

Based in Seaside, California, Martin continues to expand the line of products offered through MDC Corporation. His line of stirrups has grown to nine unique models that include patented adjustable designs, traditional designs with enhanced treads and his newly patented MDC Classic™ that allow forward-facing benefits and are invisible in the show ring. All models are available in both flex and non-flex formats. The newest model, the MDC ‘S’ Pony Classic, the first patented enhanced-performance/safety stirrup created specifically for pony riders, will debut at this year’s USEF Pony Finals.

Over the years. he has also embraced elements from the best stirrup designs around the world and modified them to a more acceptable American design. “In Europe I noticed wider stirrup treads being popularized,” Martin said. “So I incorporated the ‘best of the best wide treads’ for U.S. and Canadian show rings. It was important that these more supportive/comfortable treads be designed thin enough for riders to use in the hunter ring to preserve our traditional hunter/equitation aesthetic.

“MDC is the first and only company that incorporates a wider, high-performance tread in a classical American silhouette,” Martin continued. MDC also offers a traditional width.

Functionality is only one reason riders choose MDC stirrups. MDC stirrups have a proven track record of relieving pain in the ankles, knees, hips and back. “Hearing from riders who report a reduction or removal of their riding pain is as important to me as having riders perform at the Olympics with my stirrups,” Martin said.

Jan Ebling using MDC stirrups while competing his Olympic partner Rafalca. (Photo courtesy of MDC)

Jan Ebling using MDC stirrups while competing his Olympic partner Rafalca.
(Photo courtesy of MDC)

Riders of all levels from beginning pony riders to the most accomplished riders around the world choose MDC stirrups. MDC stirrups were the most popular branded stirrup among the United States Equestrian Team members at all three of the last Olympic Games across all three disciplines: dressage, three-day eventing and show jumping.

For 42 years, Martin has devoted his life to the horse industry. From coaching clients and training horses to traveling as a teaching clinician, he helps riders of all abilities and their horses achieve their best performance. Through MDC Stirrups™ he has created a more functional, safer product that should leave a lasting impact for today’s riders and generations of riders in the future.

For more information, visit mdcstirrups.com.

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Tagged under: design, Entrepreneur, Jan Ebling, Katie Navarra, Martin David Cohen, MDC, MDC ‘S’ Pony Classic, MDC Classic™, MDC Comfort Stirrup™, MDC Stirrups, MDC Ultimate Stirrups™, sidelines-magazine, stirrups, Will Coleman

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Hello April!!! 🌻🌷 This month's edition of Si Hello April!!! 🌻🌷
This month's edition of Sidelines is our eventing edition and it will not disappoint! Of the many things happening this month one of the most exciting things coming up is Sidelines will be at The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event held in Lexington KY 🤩

This month's issue of Sidelines features the beautiful and talented Liz Halliday-Sharp and her never-give-up attitude!!

Of the many lessons that Elisabeth “Liz” Halliday-Sharp learned from her father, resilience was perhaps the most important. Liz’s innate ability to overcome adversity has served her well in her quest to become one of the top event riders in the world. Through the highs and lows of a career with horses, Liz’s “can do” attitude has helped propel her through both triumph and defeat. 

Liz, who has won more events globally during the past three years than any other rider in her discipline, continues to set records—with her sights set firmly on the 2024 Olympic Games.

This is truly a can't miss article! Read more in the link in our bio! 

Never miss a moment with Sidelines by following all our social media and subscribing to get your own edition of Sidelines, the magazine for horse people about horse people 🦄

📸Portraits by Melissa Fuller

#olympics #tokyo #sports #tokyoolympics #sport #india #olympicgames #athlete #olympic #figureskating #athletics #horses #fitness  #training #usa #goldmedal  #motivation #athletes #teamusa #skating  #champion #love #sidelinesmagazine
Sports Psychology column🐎 By Margie Sugarman I Sports Psychology column🐎
By Margie Sugarman

I just bought a new horse. I think he’s amazing, but I miss the feeling of just “clicking” with my old horse. I know that it takes time to grow that connection, but do you have any tips that can help me be confident and in tune with my new horse in the short term?

You kick off your sneakers and realize that there’s a big hole in the sole of one shoe. Well, you’ve had them for quite a while and have worn them everywhere, from hiking to riding. They’ve served you well but it’s time for new ones. (It’s time to move on to a new horse.) You turn on your computer and order a new pair. You wait in anticipation. You’re excited, they’re cool looking. (He’s pretty!)

Upon arrival, you quickly open the box and slip your feet in. They’re great sneakers, but they aren’t as comfortable as the pair they’re replacing. They don’t bend as well—the sole is stiff. They don’t feel as comfortable—they have to be broken in. They don’t fit like the others did—the old ones were so well molded to your feet. (He’s a new ride, a different ride. He needs some suppling work.)

Of utmost importance in the human/horse relationship (especially the ones with the strongest bonds) is the horse looking to their owner as the leader and respecting their personal space. This important dynamic comes from groundwork—no matter what discipline you’re involved in. Just as it is with friendships, there needs to be respect. Respect is developed when one is on the ground and not mounted.

The things you do might seem small, but if done consistently and in a positive way, the results are huge. The confidence and trust you develop between the two of you will carry your relationship to wherever you want it to go.

To read Margies full column click the link in our bio! Never miss an article by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine 🦄

Photo by Ali Kelman

#psychology #mentalhealth #love #therapy #mentalhealthawareness #anxiety #motivation #psychologist #selfcare #mindfulness #selflove #life #mentalhealthmatters  #mindset #wellness #meditation #inspiration #mind #Sidelinesmagazine
Breeding season is underway at Iron Spring Farm! W Breeding season is underway at Iron Spring Farm! We're proud to offer exceptional modern Sporthorse stallions, with wonderful temperaments and quality gaits to North American breeders.
 
Among our stallions are Cum Laude and Kaiman. Cum Laude (Apache x Weltmeyer) is a winning FEI horse and sire of quality dressage horses, breed show champions, and offspring scoring 9.0s on gaits.
 
Kaiman (Dark Pleasure x Gribaldi) earned high scores at his stallion testing and in the young horse classes. He's also the sire of a Licensed Oldenburg stallion. Kaiman's first North American foal crop is arriving now and they are gorgeous!
 
If you're looking for top international bloodlines please check out our 2023 stallion collection, now available fresh, frozen, and by the dose.

Among our stallions are Cum Laude and Kaiman. Cum Laude (Apache x Weltmeyer) is a winning FEI horse and sire of quality dressage horses, breed show champions, and offspring scoring 9.0s on gaits.

Breeding season is underway at Iron Spring Farm! We're proud to offer exceptional modern Sporthorse stallions, with wonderful temperaments and quality gaits to North American breeders.

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❗️George Williams column❗️ The FEI World ❗️George Williams column❗️
The FEI World Cup Final in Omaha is coming up quickly. That means that it’s starting to heat 
up as the end of the qualifying period for both the Western European League (WEL) and the 
North American League (NAL) nears. I started to write this column before the Amsterdam CDI- W, and I was using the FEI Ranking List from January 15 as a reference. As I sit down to finish 
my column, I’m now looking at the results from Amsterdam. While the list of the top contenders 
for the WEL hasn’t changed, they’re definitely moving around on the ranking list. The WEL has 
three more legs, as they’re referred to: Neumünster February 16–19, Goteborg February 23–26, 
and ’s-Hertogenbosch March 9–12, and they could change things dramatically.
Looking at the top 12 athletes from the WEL as they were ranked on January 15, there are five 
from Germany, three from the Netherlands and one each from Great Britain, Denmark

➡️Read Georges's full column by clicking the link in our bio, and never miss an article by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine 🦄 

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #horselover #instahorse #love #cheval #showjumping #horselife #photography #nature #pferde #horseofinstagram #caballo #riding #horsebackriding #pferdeliebe #caballos #horsepower #horsephotography #instagram #Sidelinesmagazine
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