What is the most comfortable footwear for horseback riding?

EchoSackett · **Posted:** Sun Aug 12, 2007 3:18 pm

I'm just wondering what you wear on your feet to work with horses. Growing up, we always had to have cowboy boots on if we were going out to ride. My mom stressed this like moms today stress wearing a helmet. Those cowboy boots were probably safe, but I remember winter cattle drives where my feet would just be numb from the cold, and in the summertime I had tan lines in a V half way up my leg from wearing boots and only tanning the top part of my legs.

I worked for a woman who held six world championships in trail, and she wore Reeboks no matter what. She got teased a lot for it by her western boot-wearing friends, but I had to agree they were more comfortable. I know there are "tennis shoes with a heel" made today that are supposed to be for riding. They would get a thumbs down from my mom, and I'm not sure if they'd keep your foot from going through the stirrup anyway. My little sister wears Packers, those lace-up cowboy boots, but I'm not sure if I'd like them, either. What do you wear to ride in, and do you consider them to be very comfortable?

ASBSrock · **Joined:** Mon Apr 23, 2007 12:27 pm **Posts:** 50

I ride exclusively in Ariat lace up paddock boots or leather tennis shoes. I get "razzed" quite a bit for wearing tennis shoes, but the truth is...I do ride in them and have done so for over 35 years

. I really love my Ariats, but I try to make them last as long as possible. $$$. They, like the tennis shoes, are so comfy to ride in and walk in. The Ariats are much safer due to the small heel.

DaisyKJ · **Posted:** Wed Oct 03, 2007 12:58 pm

I actually prefer riding in tennis shoes. They're just more comfortable. If I was into showing, I would definitely invest in something more glamorous, but I basically ride to train or "just for fun", so I usually don't care how it looks.

I think the Ariat boots are nice. If I were going to buy some riding footwear, it would most likely be the shoe-with-heel type boot.

chris2729 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 03, 2007 1:58 pm

i actually enjoy wearing cowboy boots and feel comfortable in them, so my choice would be boots - although i've never been on a winter cattle drive, so i can't argue with you in that regards.

Kevin Wescott told me that if you're riding western, you HAVE to wear boots for safety sake. if you're riding english you can wear whatever you want.

What is the most comfortable footwear for horseback riding?

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