Safety stirrup

A safety stirrup comprising a substantially U-shaped flexible bottom frame, said U-shaped frame including a foot rest portion and a pair of side members extending upwardly from said foot rest portion, hollow hub means affixed to said U-shaped frame on the interior side thereof proximate the ends of said U-shaped frame, rotatable axle means extending horizontally between said hub means, said axle means including substantially cylindrical solid hub engaging end portions, said axle end portions being housed within said hub means, said hub means on the interior surface thereof having a nub means affixed thereto protruding radially inwardly at the lowest point on said interior surface of said hub means in predetermined position, one of said axle end portions having a first U-shaped nub engaging channel therein on the underside thereof, the other of said axle end portions having a second U-shaped nub engaging channel therein on the underside thereof, said first U-shaped channel opening towards the adjacent end of said axle means, said second U-shaped channel opening towards the other end of said axle means, said first U-shaped channel and said second U-shaped channel each being bisected by an imaginary coaxial line extending along the lowest point on the underside of said axle means between the ends of said axles, said first U-shaped channel and said second U-shaped channel each having a central locking portion, said central locking portion of said first U-shaped channel and said central locking portion of said second U-shaped channel being in substantial parallel relationship and substantially equally distant from the respective ends of said axle means, said first U-shaped channel and said second U-shaped channel each having nub camming and receiving portions adjacent each side of said central locking portion, said nub camming and receiving portions each forming a nub receiving notch in said ends of said axle means, whereby when said U-shaped flexible bottom frame member is rotated to the extent said nub means enters said nub camming and receiving portions of said U-shaped channel, said side members of said frame member are caused to simultaneously spread apart until said nub means exits said U-shaped channel via said nub receiving notch, thereby disengaging said frame member from said axle means thereby permitting a horseback rider's foot to be released from said stirrup to prevent the possibility of serious injury.