Many athletes and employeesneed to wear the rightfootwear to perform their jobs. It’sjust ascrucial to wear the right shoeswhile working or ridinghorses.The right shoes or bootsprotect your feet should theyget stepped on, andhelp prevent your footfrom slidingintothestirrup if it fallsoff your horsewhenriding.Flip-flops, high heels,sandals, clogs, gardenshoessuch asCrocs,andrunning shoes made of canvasdon’t belong inthe barn.Even rubber boots do not offermuch protection but theycome in handyin times of wet weather or you’re cleaningstalls.When selecting any typeofequipment, even footwear ensure safety is the primary consideration’.
What Not to Wear
Boots made especially for ridingcome in many differentstyles.Whichever style you decide to go with, any riding boot shouldbe able to walk with a little treadand a heelthat isaround1 “(2.5cm)to1 1/2inches tall. Thiswill stopthe boot from sliding offthe stirrup. Bootsthat have thick or heavytreads, likesnow boots or hikingboots aren’t appropriatefor riding. However,theymight be appropriateto workinside the stable.These boots tend to bebroad, and with aboxy toe, which meanstheycould get caughtbetween the sides of thestirrup. They alsooffer a lotof grip, which is greatwhen hiking, but canmake itdifficulttoslide your foot inand out of the stirrup.
7 Common Beginner Horseback Riding Mistakes
Waterproof Boots
Many of the more inexpensivebooties are constructed fromtheupper or lowers,or both of them, made ofvinyl.This is lesscomfortablefor your feet and couldend up breaking down more quicklyas a high-quality pair ofleather boots, whichcan be fixed. Theymay not breathe as well asleather,but they’reeasier to clean up iftheyget soiled.
Packershave become very popularand, in addition to being stylish,they’reperfect for everydaydress-up in the barn as well aswalking.They’re sturdy and offersupport for riding while notbeing as cumbersome as someEnglish boots.
English Boot Styles
English bootscome in manystyles and styles. Traditional dress boots, thosetall black boots wefind inolderBritish hunting scenesare stillprevalent in the dressage arenaand eventing, andfit well in virtually anyEnglish discipline.A fewbackyard riders and trail ridersfeel that a comfortablepair of tall boots offeran excellent protection and supportall-day use.Others feel they are tooheavy and hot. Field bootslook similar todress shoes but havethe lace-up on the inside of your instep.These are wornin the hunter show ringandare more comfortable when youhave aa high instep. Thelacing can make iteasier toslipintoand out.
Tall boots of all kindsmay or may not havean inner zippermaking them easiertoslipinand out of. If youcome across a greatpair ofnew or usedbootsbut they’renot easy to wear,it’spossible toget zippers installedor replacedif they getdamaged.
Jodphur or paddock bootsare Englishkindsof riding bootsthat onlygo upthe ankle. They areusuallyused by childrenon the show ringswith leather gaiters and jodhpurs straps, which wrapthrough the calf area justbelow theknee to preventthe jodhpursto bunchall the way upthe leg.A lot of adults wear these either with or without half-chapsfor riding in the everyday.A good pair will becomfortable to wear inthe barn, althoughyou should notput on leather boots forriding in stalls. Jodhpur bootsare availableinzipper, pull-onor laceddesigns.A fewpreferthe zipper style sincethey’re simplefor them to get on andtake off However, feet with higharchesmay feel cramped when wearingthepull-on and zipper styles.
Running Shoe Styles
The running shoe-styleboots areavailable to thosewhowant a casual appearancethat’s comfortable anddurable. They don’t needthe maintenance that leather requires.They’re as comfylike running shoes, but they havea little extra support intheankles and sole.They’rethe ideal choice if you’reinto a sport like ride’n’ tie thatrequiresa bit ofrunning.A lot of trail runners who travel long distanceswear these.
Materials
These boots comein various materials, rangingfrom synthetics and cotton canvasto leather.Of course, leather bootstend to be muchcostlier and requiregreater care. Thebetter the quality of theleatheris and the more sturdy theconstruction is, the more comfortable andthe morecostlythe boot will be. Tryon a pair that costs$500 boots as opposed tothe $100 boots,and you’llquickly feelthedifferences in comfort and support.A pair of qualityboots is aninvestmentandwith proper care it can last longer than the lower-endversion by many, manyyears.It’s hard to deny the comfortofhigh-quality boots.when you’re outwithin your reach, look intoconsignmentstores and ad-hoc adsto find used boots you canspend the money for.
Both Englishand western-style boots comewith synthetic material. Themain problem withrubber riding bootsis that theyheat up as they hold moisture, andmay be very difficulttoremove. They actlike a suction cupyour legs. They’reperfect for when theconditions are wet,oreven if you’re onlygoing to a fewshows , and don’t have the time topart with the cost ofleather boots.
Many riders carryat least two pairs ofboots,based on howtheygo. Ifyou’re planning on showing it, you’ll likelyrequiredistinct boots to wear athomeas well as at the show. Of course,eachdiscipline needs a distinctpair ofboots, soin case you intend to showEnglishas well as westernyou’llneedthe two typesof boots.Winter riding may mean youneed a pair oflined riding boots to keep your feet warm.You may also findpolo boots or tall bootsthat have a brown or blackcuffs that are high up.These are fine asthey’re secureand comfortable.
Already-Owned Boots
You may have something inyourcloset that will workperfectly, andwithout theexpense ofboots made specificallyfor riding.So long asboth the sole and the heelare in the right places and aren’t excessively largefor the stirrup,they’re well-fitting and supportive ofyourfoot, they shouldbefine.The dress boots with zippersto the inside of thecalves won’t work.Always view your horse ridingclothing with an eye towardssafety, which ismore important thanhow youappear.