Can you wear yard boots for riding?

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My son has really wide feet. We haven't been able to find any riding boots wide enough. However, Harry Hall neoprene yard boot fit well, but on their website it says that they're not suitable for riding. Why is that?

Do you have a link to the actual boots? If they have a waffle tread sole, then maybe they think there’s a risk of not slipping out of the stirrup. Or maybe they’re considered too wide to safely slip out of a stirrup according to current elf and safety guidelines?

That said, I have neoprene wellies and, although I wouldn’t consider them my most favourite riding boots, I have ridden in them quite happily in a pinch.

Can't seem to copy and paste links on here, but they are called Harry Hall Black Winter Yard boots.

The heel and tread look fine to me. They are possibly a bit wide and the neoprene will be thick, so they may not have enough clearance space either side of the food in the stirrups, and they may not allow enough feel.

I ride in mine on cold days, but just hacking, nothing that requires much subtlety. I wouldn't school in them.

Aha, no good for jumping then?

Thank you!

They might be too wide? You could always use safety stirrups if that’s the issue?

I’d hack in them but not school or jump tbh.

Where you might run into problems is if your son does formal lessons, goes to PC or competes, there is an insurance requirement for ‘approved boots’.

Perhaps they don't provide proper ankle support. Also I've had boots in the past that were advertised as suitable for riding and the yard, and they had a reinforced shank underneath. Maybe it's just simply that they aren't robust enough and the neoprene will wear out quickly so they don't want a queue of people complaining that the boots have worn patches?

I had a look at the boots and it is, quite clearly it seems to me, the thread that is the problem. Riding boots should have a smooth thread so the foot is more likely to slip out of the stirrup as the rider falls. If a rider falls they are safest falling clear of the horse, if the rider’s foot gets caught in the stirrup you can end up with a horrific accident.

Stirrups come in different widths. You should always be able to fit a thumb either side of the boot for the stirrup to fit properly.

Jodphur boots may be more forgiving, have you tried them?

Yeah I rode in my mountain horse boots but not schooling. Hacking etc.

Thanks everyone. Going to look zt jodphur boots. And chaps, I think.