Does anyone ride in long boots?

[Skib]

After three years searching, I finally got the long boots I promised myself. And breeches to wear under them.

Dreams come true - but it has been a culture shock to ride in them.

What difference do you think long boots make to your riding?
And is it easier for an older rider or harder?

I learned to ride like any beginner in jods with a double cuff then short boots and cheap suede half chaps. That turns out to be a lot of padding at the ankle. And I've never known anything else. Without it my feet are on air.

[sspencer99]

its because the leather is new all u need to do is wear thm im an the leather will begin to supple up

[Peanut]

I actually love riding in suede half chaps as they seem to enable me to get a really good feel on the horse's side. The only long boots I like are leather ones as they give a good grip. I'm afraid I loathe rubber boots.

[sspencer99]

yer i like the good old chaps as well but i must say i am in love with my gaitors they fit great allowing movement in the ankle which some long boots done allow

[Mehitabel]

yes, it is different. these days i can ride in any footwear, but it took a lot of concerted effort to get there. keep going - once you get used to it you will love them i expect. much closer feel and able to give more subtle leg aids.

i learned in long rubber boots and when i first started riding in short boots one summer i was all over the place, so with my usual bloodymindedness i wore short boots until i could ride in them!

[fishiz3434]

being in australia i'm bias cos it's waaay to hot to even think bout wearing long boots and i love my cheap suade chaps as they are so cumfy and close to the horse unlike leather or rubber boots

[Afellpony]

I just ride in the good old common green riding type wellies. Mind you, they sure aint cheap either!!

[nicolaj]

I much prefer to ride in long leather boots.

Did try short boots and chaps a while back as couldn't afford leather and didn't want to return to the rubber riding boots. Was all to sea with them!

When I got my horse I had some Moutain Horse Rimfrost Riders as it was winter, managed to ride fine with these.

When spring came a woman on the yard just gave up horses and sold all her stuff. Managed to pick up a virtually brand new pair of Moutain Horse Sportive High Riders for £60! She had only worn them about 5 times max! Bargin:D !

Love these boots now, when I swop over from winter to spring the feel you have in your leg to the horse is really good, my riding seems to improve no end. To be honest last year wore them all year round for riding in rather than the Rimfrost, as the feel is just so much better.

Don't always have breeches, but wear jobs and just fold the cuff down so it is nice a smooth under the boot, so don't have that bulk round the ankle.

[LindaAd]

I ride in Mountain Horse long boots, which are wonderfully comfortable. Before that I had long rubber boots, or lace-up short boots. I haven't had jodhpur boots since I was a child.

Long boots make me feel more confident and more competent, and they protect your legs from being pinched by stirrup leathers or scratched by bushes or gateposts. Other than that, I don't think they affect my riding at all.

[Sammii]

I only ride in long boots at shows, competing etc. And i do find that they restrict movement to your ankle if you aren't used to riding in them. Next season I will have to start wearing them a couple of times whilst i'm preparing at home before I put them on at a show, so i'm accustomed to the feel of them.

I cannot, for the love of horses, ride in wellies, they irritate me, but I can't figure out why :confused:

My all time wearing Dublin jod boots and half boots win again! :) I love them, can really get a feel of the horses side and give me the movement in my ankle that I want/need for riding!

xx

[Bobbin]

I tend to ride in whatever I have on my feet. If I am really making an effort though I put my MH long boots on. To begin with they felt weird and I had to lengthen my stirrups (which is a good thing), now I love riding in them and find them really comfy.

xx

[DavidH]

I only ride in long leather boots. The same boots I wear for competing as i like the feel when working at home to be as close to the feel when competing as possible

[Trewsers]

I found the transition to long boots odd at first, I had only had short jod boots and then suddenly I got bought some Mountain high riders!!! I loved the look of them but wasn't too sure at first, as I felt like I'd no "contact" with the horses side. It only took me a few rides to get the hang of it and now I couldn't imagine going back to short boots. Anyway, on the one occasion I did wear short boots, my jods all rucked up and rubbed and I ended up getting off.

[Lot1983]

Argh, never realised there was a difference!

I learnt to ride in short boots, but also had long boots as a child, as soon as I hit my teens I wore short boots and chaps as they hid the fact my jods where too small as I was growing at a rapid rate of knots!

I ride in chaps and short boots, but I'm going to get some long boots for shows, I'm really worried now that my plan to get cheapie rubber ones is going to back fire on me!

[EnduranceAli]

I always rode with long rubber boots as a child - except when I was at a show and then wore jodphur boots. As an adult, I either wear my cheap long rubber boots, 'Mucker-type' short boots (in the summer, haven't got any chaps at the moment, but will get some) or my Rimfrost winter boots (long). Not really an issue for me what I wear on my feet :)

[joey_olop]

I used to ride in long boots but I found it restricted the movement of my legs so I switched to Jodhpur boots with half chaps instead :)

[jenren!!]

Mucky jodh boots and suede chaps for me! Im going to get some Muck boot Tynes tomorrow though, and i also have some Saxon equi-leather boots at home. I've ridden with long and short on and off in the past 10 years so it doesnt take me long to wear into long boots.

Your best bet is just to spend as much time as poss in them, round the yard etc.

[CrisO]

When I was a kid I used to ride in wellies, jodhpur boots, long boots or plimsolls depending on what I was doing and don't remember it making much difference. My leg position is pretty appalling in all of them.
When I started again as a adult I wore long boots as I had a pair that still fit. Since giving up smoking and 2 stone heavier I now ride in short boots and half chaps as if I do squish my calfs into my long boots I risk cutting off the circulation.
I find it's like body protectors, as soon as I'm doing something like competing and I'm concentrating I completely forget what I'm wearing but if I'm pottering around I can get distracted and worry about my footwear.

[Whatanejit]

What boots did you get Skib?

I love my MH joddy boots and Loveson half chaps.

I bough MH High Riders for my stage 1 exam and they look good and are ok to ride in but I thought I lost the 'feel' in my lower leg - I guess I need more practice.

Since buying my Tyne Muckboots, I ride in them all of the time as they are so warm and comfy.

[Iron Maiden]

Ooooh I lerve my long boots! Rubber ones are a bit poo, I find they can wiggle their way off the end of my heel - probably makes my leg position look unbelievably good but it's an illusion! I've got some of the Mountain Horse sportive jobs for shows, I tried using them for everyday use but they fell apart so I took them back & I just use the replacements for 'best'. I've got some very funky Treadstone long boots with fancy laces for everyday riding, they are lush. I find my leg feels very flappy & bizarre when I ride in jod boots or trainers but after over 30 years in long boots that's not surprising really:D

[Bay Mare]

I love long boots but can't get any to fit my small feet/muscular calves at the moment :( I ride in joddy boots/gaiters which is nearly as nice!

I, personally, would always go for the leather ones and am hankering after some Konigs when I've got the money ... the one's with the wooly lining would be lush :)

I find it really difficult to ride in suede half chaps, again probably because I've always ridden with long boots or gaiters.

[old_woman]

'twould be nice to be able to wear long boots, but the last pair I had, which were made for my small feet/short legs/narrow ankles/muscular calves by a craftsman somewhere in the middle or far east, have long, long since gone to the great boot-room in the sky. No commercially-available long boot of any type will fit a shape such as mine, so nowadays I wear joddy boots or similar, with half-chaps or gaiters of some sort. I have a lovely pair made out of kangaroo leather which are thin and lightweight, but tough and strong and excellent for when we have good weather. They are not likely to be worn out soon ...

http://www.cosgan.de/images/more/bigs/c045.gif

[eml]

Echo 'oldwoman'. The only ready made boots I could get to fit were wonderful to ride in but I couldn't actually walk to the horse in them!!

[cazrider]

Likewise eml and oldwoman. I have huge feet (size 9) and fat calves, so struggle with both to get long boots to fit.. I ride in MH Safe Rider short boots and a lovely comfy really ancient pair of suede chaps, which are just giving up the ghost now after ten years. I do have a pair of rubber long boots for shows, which grab me behind the knees as they are men's, and worse than that squeak against the saddle when I ride in them.:o

They are also very rigid round the ankle, so I ride in them as little as possible.

[horse__obsessed]

My first pair of boots were long rubber ones, had no problems with them whatsoever and they were a lot better than school shoes;) They must ahve lasted about 2yrs.
My second pair of boots I couldnt get long ones to fit as they were all too wide, so bought jodhpur boots and chaps, however the chaps had to be sent off to be adjusted so for a couple of months I just wore jod boots, had no issues.
As soon as I got my chaps I loved them, my legs felt so warm and I rode fine in them
I got a pair of mountain horse protective rider boots and wore them with my chaps
then i got another pair of MH boots (same make) and wore them with my good old long lasting chaps.
I still have that same pair of chaps. The suede has no worn away so they are leather and they are sooooooooooooo comfy:D
My mum told me theyre too small and bought me a new pair which Ive worn one, at a very informal show where I thought I ought to be slightly smart:o
ahhh how I love my chaps, i actually cant ride without them:rolleyes: i tried to ride with just jod boots on holiday and my legs where everywhere:eek:

oh and at olympia i bought some more jod boots and some gaiters which im getting for xmas

hehe thats my riding boot life story:D
:cool:

[Mehitabel]

Echo 'oldwoman'. The only ready made boots I could get to fit were wonderful to ride in but I couldn't actually walk to the horse in them!!

you need minions to carry you to the horse!

[jenren!!]

I bought my early xmas present yesterday (with my mums money of course) - some Muck boot Tynes. The first time i put my foot into one in the shop warmth spread throughout my whole body.

Unfortunately i didnt convince my mum to have my present early though :(.

[eml]

No minions for exams which I wore them for but I am sure I convinced all my examiners that I was seriously lame. Mind you after jumping in dressage boots I was not only lame but in serious pain :D

[neen]

For those wide of calf and narrow of ankle (like me) may I recommend the Ariat Grasmere:

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j305/ninblak/boots2.jpg

Lovely, buttery, soft leather on the inside of the leg, and the lacing means you can adjust them all the way up to fit your leg, whatever the shape. They don't look very conventional but they're lovely to ride in.

I have Muck Boot Tynes as well. I love them around the yard, but I'm not keen on riding in them, as I can't feel much through the rubber.

[coss]

i only ever ride in long boots. i did try riding in some stable muckers but they were so clumpy and my ankle felt so unsupported (i wasm't wearing chaps) that i just decided it was long boots (or riding wellies) for me!
I know someone who doesn't care what footwear she has on to the extent she sometimes wears trainers :eek:

[Mehitabel]

No minions for exams which I wore them for but I am sure I convinced all my examiners that I was seriously lame. Mind you after jumping in dressage boots I was not only lame but in serious pain :D

i think that's a rule they should change. we all need minions!

for about the first 5 times of the season i wear mine i have to heave the zip up with a coathanger as i am between widths, and the width above was too wide so i get mine to stretch. by the end of the season they fit beautifully but the first few wearings are awful! i have to take breaks during the ride to unzip them and get the feeling back in my leg.
i always mean to wear them over winter but never do...

[Roseanne]

Hello everyone. I have just re-registered after quite a long absence and it's great to be back, so just caught this thread to practise posting! I ride in chaps in the summer and long boots in the winter. I don't compete so I don't really need the appropriate boots for that area, but I love my Ariat lace-ups, which are warm, protective (from horsey feet) and very flexible and comfortable. They are too hot in the summer to be honest, so then I just wear the suede (spl?) chaps which are much cheaper and short boots. I have to say tho that the latter boots are not as supportive of my ankles, which ache when I've been riding.

Still, I'm not really complaining, well I am, but only a little bit!

Happy Christmas everyone! I hope you all have a great New Year!

Roseanne

[luckygirl]

Hi ! My instructor was of the view that most people ride better in short boots, with or without chaps. Her view was that long boots made it difficult to move your ankle and get the weight in your heels. Having said that leather long boots were regarded as preferable to the rubber ones which are often baggy at the ankle.

I ride in Ariat lace-ups and chaps for lessons and schooling. For winter hacking I have the Tuffa riding boots. These are sheepskin lined and I love them. I would really like some really expensive long leather boots for best. My birthday's in March....

Kx

[bexj]

I wear short boots and leather gaiters, as I can't get off the peg boots to fit my short fat calves:cool:

I find it much easier to get the feel of the horse and apply my leg aids more correctly in them than just wearing short boots alone.

[eml]

Oh Mehitabel unfortunately I am old enough to view boots with zips and even worse 'gaiters' as some new fangled invention and insisted on boots that took determination to put on and numerous minions to take off:D

Unfortunately they died a sad death when daughter borrowed them for a show and had an accident and had to be cut out of them.

.....mutters to self must try new fangled ideas more often:rolleyes:

Back to the origional topic yes Skib I ride far better in good quality, well fitting leather boots and breeches just need to find some that fit at aprice I can afford!

[coverblown]

I have some long leather boots (yes an ebay purchase) for the er, "competitions" I do. Mostly I wear joddy boots and some half chaps (a comfortable soft suede, canvas combination, v old, v dirty).

But been wearing the long boots for experience a bit more. Apart from the fact that there is a little difference in the foot sizing, I ride just the same in them, once on...

Short boots and chaps much more comfy around the yard.

eml, thought it was the minions that had died, glad to re-read and realise it was the boots....

[colettybetty]

I ride in MH sportive long boots or the loverly Ariat lace up boots, which are warm and very soft.if the weathers really bad, I wear full suede chaps with MH short boots for long hacks.
My instructor used to ask you to wear long boots for lessons, but can't say it made much difference to me :o .
Used to ride in virtually anything,including rubber muck boots on my previous horse as we'd take off for hours on a whim and come back muddy and wet, but my newest horse is so pretty, I find myself not wanting to show her up by being a complete scruff, hee hee !

[stormy's mum]

i ride in short leather boots only i have tried long boots and made my ankles black and bluse . so now i cant wear them

[old_woman]

Ohhhh eml, gaiters aren't "new-fangled" - far from it! They are what the ostlers and grooms of yore wore.

It's these half-chap thingummy-bobs which are new-fangled ... not gaiters!

[Lucyad]

I want leather long boots for Xmas, but have funny shaped legs so am having problems getting them to fit correctly. I generally wear loveson short boots and loveson synthetic half chaps, gaiters for shows, and hunter wellies when it is wet and muddy (OK, most of the time...). I actually like riding in my hunters, though havent found anay other type of wellies to be at all comfortable. I also can't for the life of me see how people can ride in jeans, as I end up black and blue if I try!

[Skib]

I'd like to thank all you experienced riders for replying about what you do.

So kind of you, since my wearing long boots in winter is a life-long fashion thing - and nothing to do with riding. And I didn't want laces, nor elastic panels. I wanted historical boots.

eml -That is so funny, that you couldn't walk in yours! The sales lady told me not to wear my new boots walking round London. Only for riding.

Lucky girl: I too was warned off long boots by my excellent RI who doesn't like anything to restrict your leg or ankle movement.
So the whole purchase was due to vanity and old age. Which is why I have really liked these replies. To know that genuine riders do like them.

Whataneejit - I bought Sarm Hippique 1600.
But they weren't what I intended to get.
There was no one manning the Broghinni stand at Olympia on the days I looked.
I had high hopes of the boots worn by the stars in Only Fools and Horses, as one or two of the ladies looked about my size. Someone told me that the riders wore Palm Beach (made by Rectiligne). But being old and scatty, I muddled it up and thought they were by Sarm H.
The lady who sold me my boots told me she didn't think the Only Fools and Horses folk wore that brand!! She was right.

I love long boots but can't get any to fit my small feet/muscular calves at the moment I ride in joddy boots/gaiters which is nearly as nice!

I, personally, would always go for the leather ones and am hankering after some Konigs when I've got the money ... the one's with the wooly lining would be lush

Bay Mare: Mine weren't as expensive as Konig. I didn't want to spend five or six hundred pounds.
Don't be discouraged by the sizing charts. My new Italian boots are not the same size as my American Ariats.
At Olympia, at Ayr Equitation, I tried on two styles of the Sarm H. The slightly cheaper ones had thicker leather which would have worn in, but I got the softer ones. They lie very kindly over my ankle I broke.

They are not warm. Wednesday was cold and I rode in my old warm boots.

once you get used to it you will love them i expect. much closer feel and able to give more subtle leg aids.

Yes, Mehitabel You are right. There is a happy ending. I have already found that.
I rode like rubbish the first day and was nervous of wearing them to my lesson.
But my RI liked the boots I bought. She said the same as you. That I would adapt to riding in them and then love them.
They are like a second skin, so I think I will. They suit the way I like to ride.

I need to keep more weight in my heels and take more care of their place on the stirrups than when I have heavy clumping boots on the ends of my legs.

And I find it much easier to dismount.
For riding they are going to be lovely.

Thank you all for reassuring me.