Would you wear woofwear boots for riding?

[historyrocks]

These: www.woofwear.com/for-riders/footwear/long-yard-boot-2017_33.html. Would you wear them to ride when using the caged stirrup irons? The irons are a bit like these, but much sturdier: www.ridingwarehouse.com/Korsteel_Polymer_Stirrup_Toe_Cages_Pair/descpage-KPSTC.html

I wouldn't normally consider it, but it seems to me that the stirrup irons make a difference to the normal rules. (Indeed, I've seen kids riding in trainers and wellies without any objection from the riding school.)

[Manontry]

No. Also they let water in where the fabric joins the plastic foot.

[Manontry]

Are these for an adult or child?

[historyrocks]

Thanks @manontry, DD is 12, but she's in adult sizes. They sound like a complete waste of money! I'm looking for waterproof boots that she can ride in and have a wide calf fittinga combination that's not an easy to find. I think I'll probably stick with rubber long riding boots againunless something better comes onto the market.

[Manontry]

Is she at all serious about riding? Jodpur boots and chaps are the best combo and fairly cheap. Wellies for around the yard if its muddy.

[Spudlet]

I have worn them to ride when it was utterly freezing, but I didn’t find them ideal. Ok for a happy hack but not great for much more. And they aren’t brilliant in the wet either.

You must also make sure the stirrup irons allow her foot to slide out easily - I used to have my own set when I rode RDA ponies because the caged stirrups they used were too small for my big feet!

As Manontry said, jodhpur boots and half chaps are your cheapest option as even if she grows out of the boots, the chaps should lasts but longer between needing bigger sizes. You could look on eBay for bargains.

[Manontry]

Facebook marketplace or Ebay are good for short boots and chaps

[historyrocks]

Yes, she's got one of the riding school ponies on half-loan so she's down at the stables most nights and all weekend.

She's already got jodhpur boots and chaps, but they're not great for the wet weather, mucking out etc. (We're in the North of Scotland so she needs boots for the bad cold/wind/rain/snow). Last year we put the boots + chaps away for the winter and she used the rubber long riding boots. (Although they collapsed after a few months of use). The only problem with the rubber boots is that they don't keep your feet warm.

The only other option I can see is to get some of the more expensive country-type boots that come in an extra-wide calf, but she will probably manage to destroy them in a few months, too.

There's no option for her to change boots to ride in whilst at the stables-- so she needs boots that are sturdy enough to muck out in, but also OK for riding.

@spudlet, yes, the stirrup irons are large enough for her feet. She has her own normal stirrup irons, but it's a faff to switch them over each time she rides. The riding school will only allow people to have lessons with the caged irons.

[beingchampion]

How is there 'no option for her to change boots' at the stable. Can she not take a rucksack? Does she take a packed lunch and/or jacket? If so, how does she carry them and where does she put them? Can the boots go with them? What does everyone else do?

[Manontry]

No option to put wellies on??

Dd has just come back from a week at pony club camp. She had trainers and wellies for mucking out and short boots and chaps for riding.

She needs to be able to move her ankles when riding at her age. This will help her seat. Those rubber boots are crap for this, far too stiff.

Can she not manage the boots and chaps on her own? In which case she needs decent leather zip long riding boots and wellies!

[historyrocks]

There's no where to store everything--she either has to store her kit tucked outside the stable, where there's a bit of shelter from the overhanging bit of the roof, or hide it under the seats in the viewing section of the indoor school. She could possibly wrap the boots in a plastic bag and leave them outside the stable, but there's a good chance they would get soaked when it rains. (And I don't like sending plastic bags to the stables in case they're left/eaten by a horse.) They have lockers, but no where near enough for everyone. It's crap, I know.

[Manontry]

Dont they have a tack room?

[Manontry]

I'd put them under the seats then if nowhere else.

[historyrocks]

They have an area where they store tack, but the owner does not allow anyone to store stuff there and removes anything that she sees has been left. There are a number of things that frustrate me about the place, but DD has one of the riding school ponies on part-loan and she'd be heartbroken to lose her (and she's got some strong friendships there). So I put up with it all....

[Pasithea]

I’ve got premier equine in a kind of suade. They are lovely and warm and I muck out in them.

[MrsMozartMkII]

Muckboots.

Very warm!

Go for the riding version.

[Manontry]

Muckboots are ok but honestly I wouldn't want my dcs to learn to ride in them. Fine for the odd hack.

[Manontry]

Mind you, she's not going to learn with any finesse using stirrup cages anyway!

[MrsMozartMkII]

Manontry why not? (interested not arsey question).

Mine were a dream on cold wet days. Not so brill on yard ice though.

[Manontry]

Muckboots? Because i believe when kids are learning they need ankle movement. Jumping in them is near impossible. Or doing any decent flat work.

[MrsMozartMkII]

All true. If just starting out though they're a comparatively cheap option that'll keep her earn and dry.

After that it's the Ariat, or similar, winter boots.

[historyrocks]

She does wear jodhpur boots for lessons, which is the only time that they're allowed to jump with part-loans. Otherwise, it's mooching around in the school or riding around the school's fields/lane.

@manontry I agree with your comment on caged irons. I'll be getting her some of her own stirrup irons soon. She'd never ridden in normal stirrup irons until we went on a hack together on holiday and she found it difficult to adjust to them. I never thought about it until she told me afterwards.

[Manontry]

Mine have the acavello opera stirrups. They release easily and are really comfy. Quite expensive though.

[MrsMozartMkII]

I bought these for my daughter. She had her own pony, so own saddle, etc. I'd suggest getting leathers as well so you can easily slip them on and off the pony's saddle.

I have the normal Sprenger stirrups. Made a huge difference to my ouchy legs.

[Coffeeandchocolate9]

I had these a few years ago and iirc they are really quite coarse and block much of your leg sensation, as well as being harsh on pony's brittle winter fur. Fine for hacks, not for lessons.

I'd prefer a good waterproof leather ankle boot (ariat are my preference but I think woofwear and probably loads of others are cheaper for growing kids feet!) with room for thick snuggly socks (knee high seem to be all the rage too) and chaps.

[Spudlet]

I used to have spare leathers with my irons as well, adjusted to my preferred length so I could switch them quickly. They were only cheap ones from Robinsons, but they did the job. I think they’re in the attic, so when I eventually get my very own pony (come on Santa, 36 Christmases and counting) I’ll have them all ready