Fabula
Object
Object

Picard's Riding Stirrups

A pair of well-worn leather-and-metal stirrups hung from the Arabian mare’s saddle on the holodeck meadow. Narrow leather straps loop into polished metal rings and footplates, scuffed at the edges from use. Picard fingers the straps, checks the length with practiced care and adjusts the footplates before mounting; the stirrups respond to his touch, anchoring a fragile moment of trust between rider and horse.
4 appearances

Purpose

Provide foot support and leverage attached to a saddle so a rider can mount, balance, and control the horse while riding.

Significance

Function as the tactile hinge for an intimate beat: Picard’s careful handling of the stirrups externalizes his longing for a reciprocal bond and grounds a private confession. The simple tack turns into a catalyst for emotional disclosure and then a sudden rupture when duty intrudes.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

4 moments
S2E15 · Pen Pals
Meadow Confession: Picard's Need for a True Companion

The stirrups are inspected for length and position as part of Picard's mounting ritual; they function as practical props that underscore his ritualized relationship to the horse and, metaphorically, to command duties that require preparedness.

Before: Stirrups hanging from the saddle in neutral position, unused while conversation begins.
After: Length and position checked by Picard; remain hung and ready as he readies to mount, then left as he departs.
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S2E15 · Pen Pals
Meadow Confession — Troi Asks for Leave

Picard examines and adjusts the stirrups' length—a concrete preparation for mounting that punctuates the private exchange with procedural movement. The stirrups function practically and symbolically, signaling his imminent return to duty while completing the intimate ritual with the mare.

Before: Hanging from the saddle, scuffed from use, set at a neutral length.
After: Checked and adjusted by Picard for mounting; left ready for use as he departs.
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S2E15 · Pen Pals
Leave Granted, Duty Interrupted

The stirrups are checked for length by Picard; the adjustment underscores his competence and signals imminent mounting, serving both practical and ritual functions in the fleeting intimacy.

Before: Hanging from the saddle at standard length.
After: Checked and mentally adjusted by Picard; physically unchanged but prepared for use until he leaves.
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S2E15 · Pen Pals
Interrupted Solace — Duty Intrudes

The stirrups are checked for length and scuff, demonstrating Picard's practiced preparation to mount; they function as tactile props that anchor the physical intimacy of the moment and mark the threshold between leisure and imminent departure.

Before: Hanging from the saddle, adjusted to Picard's anticipated use.
After: Left hanging and unused after Picard is called away.
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