Which long riding boots?

[olderyetwider]

I have a significant birthday coming up. Obviously I would prefer to pretend to youth, but it is not to be. My brother wants to buy me some nice riding boots, and I've always rather fancied long boots. I don't think I want shiney boots, I think country boots are more me. I'm a happy hacker, the budget's about £250, and I want them to last forever, but look smart, keep my feet warm in winter, and not be hot in summer. Any ideas?

Crikey! Our last pony cost less than that!

I love Ariat Grasmere. I don't actually own them as cannot justify it to myself but I think they are beautiful and are apparently great to ride in. Sorry, am on iPhone so can't do a link.

Another vote for Ariat Grasmere. A friend has a pair, very jealous of her.

Googled the Ariats, they are very nice, will try some on

A friend has a pair of the Ariat Grassmere's and she said they are rubbish and fell to peices in a month. You could just go for the classic Dubarry dubarry but the world and his wife wears them so you won't exactly stand out from the crowd.

I've got some country rider Tuffa boots which are quite a lot cheaper but are fab. I used them all last winter in the freezing cold and my feet stayed toasty the whole time. They are robust enough to be used for slogging around muddy point-to-points too: tuffa

think I still want some nice Spanish ones, not sure if they are actually any good

mine (toggi) are boring but they have survived for ages, do have some new Norfolk ones but they are black and for doing Actual Riding Things in - unfortunately shop sent 2 sizes too big, am mentioning because incredibly soft leather and within budget but prob look a bit serious for hacking?

Those Tuffa boots look lovely too!

Anybody got Dublin River boots, I like the look of them, but does anyone know if they're any good? Can't have smart boots (or beige jods) as that would look like I was pretending to be a better rider than I am and I can't do Actual Riding Things

Dd has Mountain Horse Rimfrost Riders, not exactly attractive, but kept her feet toasty all last winter and have worn well

at Mitchies 'Actual Riding Things'. My biggest mistake was buying a pair of proper leather riding boots which were so bloody hard despite hours of work on them that the creases round my ankles bones used to hurt me . Sheer waste of money.

I always rode in Ariat ankle boots and a pair of trusy chaps, once I gave up Actual Riding Things.