A stirrup is a light frame or ring that holds the
foot of a rider, attached to the saddle by a strap, often called a stirrup leather. Stirrups
are usually paired and are used to aid in mounting and as a support while using
a riding
animal (usually a horse
or other equine,
such as a mule).They
greatly increase the riders ability to stay in the saddle and control the
mount, increasing the animals usefulness to humans in areas such as
communication, transportation and warfare.