How did the Scythians use saddles and early stirrup-like straps?

The Scythians were accomplished horsemen who utilized saddles as part of their advanced equestrian equipment. While they are often credited with being among the first to devise a form of stirrup, historical evidence suggests these early contrivances—straps hanging at the side of the saddle and looped at the lower end—may have served primarily as mounting aids rather than for support while riding.1

This interpretation is supported by a 4th-century BCE vase found at Chertomlyk in Ukraine, which depicts a saddled horse with such straps. Historians note that these early designs likely lacked the stability or safety features of later stirrups, as there was a significant danger of a rider being unable to free their foot quickly during a fall or when dismounting. Consequently, while these straps represented an innovative step in the history of horsemanship, they functioned differently than the later, more secure metal stirrups introduced by groups such as the Avars in the 6th century CE.1