[Tyler]

I know I'm not supposed to ride in tennis shoes (and I don't), but I don't have any real riding boots. The closest thing I have to riding boots are vietnam jungle boots. Are these okay for riding?

 

[MyBoyPuck]

As long as they have a heel, they should be okay. The reason sneakers are dangerous are because your foot can easily slip through the stirrup and get caught since there's no heel to stop it.

 

[Tyler]

Based on the picture, did the heel look big enough?

 

[whiskeynoo]

i'd say the heel was plenty big, now thats riding in style haha

 

[MIEventer]

Are you riding English or Western?

The boots are fine, but they might be too thick/clunky to get into the iron or stirrup.

If you ride English, I suggest picking up a pair of half chaps to protect your legs from the leathers. If Western, don't worry about it - the leathers are thick enough to not effect your legs at all.

 

[rocky pony]

I've always read it's best to avoid really "chunky" bottoms like that..but I don't remember why..ah, has anyone else heard that?

 

[Tyler]

I ride western (when I ride with a saddle, that is). =) Thanks for the quick replies, everyone!

 

[Allison Finch]

You avoid "chunky" soles that have lugs. If you fall, the lugs will keep the foot from sliding out of the stirrups. the stirrups hang up on the rough bottoms. This increases your chances of being dragged. Find some sort of slick bottom shoe.

 

[Delfina]

I personally wouldn't wear them.

See how there is a heel, a smooth portion and then there are bars going across? If your foot goes forward in the stirrup or iron and you fall off, the stirrup/iron is going to get stuck on those bars and you'll get dragged.

The heel of the boot is to keep your entire foot from going through the stirrup/iron. Those bars across the front are going to keep your foot from falling out when you fall.

 

[MIEventer]

Good point about the treads on those partiular boots. Now that I think about it, I haven't seen any riding boot, that includes all the Ariat and Mountain Horse Endurance/Terrain boots -that have treads like that.

 

[MyBoyPuck]

Duh, I didn't look at the picture. Yeah, too much tread. You're asking to get dragged in those.

 

[Tyler]

Ah. Okay. Thanks! =)

 

[Appyt]

You definitely need boots with slick soles. Perhaps you can find an inexpensive pair just for riding.

 

[Tyler]

Where should I look for a pair that are used (I can't quite afford anything brand new right now)? I where a 14 (US), so Goodwill is probably out of the picture. ;-)

 

[Honeysuga]

Ebay! In western stirrups, you don't have to work so much about the ridges on the bottom getting such because the stirrup base is wide... It yeah don't recommend them for riding. I personally ride in tennis shoes a bit of the time, if you are any sort of decent rider and don't have HUGE stirrups, there really is little risk of getting stuck or slipping through a stirrup. This is just my personal opinion of course. Most of the time i rie in a pair of Justin brand work type boots, since I don't have the luxury of just walking around the barn and saddling up, I need to be able to walk and run and work in my riding boots too so slick soles are out of the question.

 

[kevinshorses]

You have alot of money already invested in your horse and saddle and feed so save up for a while and buy a good pair of boots. Slip ons with a fairly smooth sole. I wear a size 15 and I pay out the nose for good boots but they are worth it. Look at Hathorn Boots. They will custom build a last from measurments of your foot. I have a pair that I have been wearing hard for ten years. That is a cost of less than $25 per year.

 

[Kayty]

Yep I'm with kevin, it's worth while investing in a pair of good boots. In the long term it will actually save you money, you can keep a good pair of boots for years to come, where as your cheaper varieties will start to fall apart within a year and you'll have to spend more to buy another pair. Plus you will feel so much more comfortable riding in a pair of boots that are designed to ride in and give you the support your foot needs in the saddle

 

[coffeemama]

Those boots look pretty dangerous they are to chunky under the sole and could easily get hung up in your stirrup and you can be dragged. I would just spend the thirty bucks on a good pair of boots even if they are used it's safer than what you are using.

 

[jamesqf]

I need to be able to walk and run and work in my riding boots too so slick soles are out of the question.

Me too! I've seen the breakaway stirrups, which have a rubber band or similar on one side, but I can't help but wonder why stirrups don't have a cage on the front, like bicycle toe clips, so a foot can't possibly slip through and get hung up?

 

[Kayty]

Me too! I've seen the breakaway stirrups, which have a rubber band or similar on one side, but I can't help but wonder why stirrups don't have a cage on the front, like bicycle toe clips, so a foot can't possibly slip through and get hung up?

You can get stirrups like that, they're called 'toe stoppers'. One of our top eventers here in Australia endorses them and swears by them. But again, its up to the individual and it's an appearance thing too. Can you imaging a dressage rider going around with big clunky toe stoppers on their stirrups? No problems for the eventer or pleasure rider though. They are a good idea though, particularly if you are set on riding in sneakers or big chunky boots!