A Question for Equestrians

[Oh Kay!]

DS will be attending a summer camp that offers riding classes--English saddle. The classes require riding boots or heeled shoes. I would prefer not to make a costly investment at this point given that this is his first exposure to riding beside occasional pony rides. My guess is buying a pair of heeled shoes would be cheaper but what constitutes heeled shoes? Any advice would be appreciated.

Kay

 

[Andrea_loves_Disney]

My DD11 started riding a few months ago and I bought her riding boots (there is a Petsmart near us that carries equestrian products) for $39.99. They had cheaper ones too - $29.99 I think. She is going to continue riding so I guess I didn't mind paying that. You could just buy a work boot type thing from Wal Mart for a lot less though.... Anything with a heel is probably fine - just no gym shoes.

Good luck! Hope he enjoys riding.

 

[Oh Kay!]

Hi, Andrea. I didn't realize pet supply stores carry equestrian products. I'll definitely check it out.

I guess my real question is whether I could buy him some shoes that he could wear elsewhere if he decides he doesn't like riding. For example, he has black boots with about 3/4 inch heel. Would that do?

 

[Dee & Greg]

Ebay is wonderful for this... look under sporting goods for hunt boots (the tall ones) or paddock shoes... they are short lace-up boots with a little heel that she can also wear to school with jeans, etc. Paddock boots are the only thing I ride in except when showing. They are more comfy than the tall boots. You can buy paddock shoes at Tractor Supply.
Or just any short boots would work just fine.
One word of caution... horses are addictive! That one summer of riding could turn into a lifetime of "indentured servitude"... like me! (but my folks always said they knew where to find me.. at the barn!)

 

[laurie31]

I think the black boots you described would be fine. You just want something that can hold on to the stirrup

When my girls started riding, I bought ultra-cheap boots at WalMart for $7.50 They were just fine.

And yes, lots of petstores have horsey things We got the girls' helmets and riding gloves at PetsMart.

(You won't need gloves for camp - they are part of their show attire, although they do wear them for lessons now too)

I presume the camp would provide helmets I hope he has fun! Riding is great exercise!

 

[Andrea_loves_Disney]

Hi again Kay -
Only certain Petsmarts carry the equestrian stuff - so call first. The 3/4 inch heel boots are probably fine though. I understand not wanting to spend a lot of money until you know if he is going to like it or not - so use those boots and wait and see how it goes!
Have fun!

 

[zagafi]

Do his ankles a favor and get him boots--not shoes. When my son first started, I bought the rubber tall boots--figured if he didn't continue riding, he still had boots for playing out in the rain!

But, he stuck with it!

 

[tiggger1]

petsmart is closing all of its stateline tack stores ( the ones in the petmart stores) by the end of may...I also heard that the catalog is closing but that is a rumor right now...

your best bet is either ebay or a used tack shop... This is just me but I wouldnt by work boots because they are too wide and are sometimes hard to get into a english stirrups. a few of my favorite websites iare tackoftheday.com
bottlesandbridles.com ( they have great sales on helmets)

What size shoe is he in?

 

[LilyWDW]

look under sporting goods for hunt boots (the tall ones) or paddock shoes

I would also suggest the paddock boots. While I didn't ride much, my mother showed and bred horses for years and I worked in a large saddle shop in IL so had to know my products. I would say in general many people wear the paddock shoes except for when showing (then you get the expensive hunt boots!). They are in general very comfortable and I actually bought a pair to simply wear to work!

 

[CrazyChik]

i think it's for the better ifyou don't buy him boots right away. i've been riding 4 years so as you can see from my pic i have boots. but i was riding for a year before i had them. any shoe with a small heel will do. the heel stops your foot from sliding all the way through the stirrups so as long as it's big enough to stop that it shouldn't matter

i ride english

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I wear the Blundstone boots - they are short, pull-on boots with a nice heel, and I know they make children's sizes too. I wear them riding but they are great, very comfortable, everyday boots too.

Teresa

 

[Oh Kay!]

Wow, thanks for all your suggestions. I'll definitely look into paddock boots.

tigger1, he is currently in size 3 shoes, but with the way boys shoot up sometimes, who can tell what size he will be in July?

 

[Jennasis]

Hello. I require all of my students to wear boots and long pants when riding (make sure your child knows that...shorts are absolutely forbidden, unless he/she wnats to tear up their legs and get pinched constantly). I also forbid sneakers/tennis shoes/gym shoes. I generally disapprove of SHOES in general (meaning anything that does not lace/zip up over the ankle), and always try to steer my students away from buying anything other than paddock boots or tall boots. Fashion shoes are not meant to be ridden in.

Also, work boots or any other RUBBER or RIDGED sole shoes are dangerous to wear while riding. The treads on the bottm will "grip" the pad of the stirrup such that the rider will be unable to to pull their foot free from the stirrup in the event of a fall (or "unscheduled dismount" as we call them here).

A proper riding boot will have a hard sole (not rubber), and a heel NO GREATER than an inch or inch and a half. I simply want to scream when kids show up to summer camp and are wearing those high heeled fashion boots that vaguely resemble a tall riding boot...or sometimes they wear WINTER boots...ugh.

Gloves are ALWAYS appropriate, whether showing or not. You can buy a nice neoprene palmed or leather palmed glove from a tack store (or the closeouts going on now at Stateline). They will help you grip those sweaty reins. They don't have to be black leather show gloves. I have a nice leather palmed/crocheted bakc pair I wear when riding.

Also, instruct your child to wear tall socks (should reach the knee) under his/her pants. This will help alleviate pinching from the stirrup leathers.

If the summer camp doesn't provide helmets, you can buy one from any Tack shop or online/catalog outlet for $29+. Helmets are not negotiable at my barn. No helmet, no ride.

OH KAY: Where is your kid going to camp? I am originally from LI and would love to know. I can recommend many nice tack shops on the island that can outfit your kid.

 

[CrazyChik]

Hello. I require all of my students to wear boots and long pants when riding (make sure your child knows that...shorts are absolutely forbidden, unless he/she wnats to tear up their legs and get pinched constantly). I also forbid sneakers/tennis shoes/gym shoes. I generally disapprove of SHOES in general (meaning anything that does not lace/zip up over the ankle), and always try to steer my students away from buying anything other than paddock boots or tall boots. Fashion shoes are not meant to be ridden in.

Also, work boots or any other RUBBER or RIDGED sole shoes are dangerous to wear while riding. The treads on the bottm will "grip" the pad of the stirrup such that the rider will be unable to to pull their foot free from the stirrup in the event of a fall (or "unscheduled dismount" as we call them here).

A proper riding boot will have a hard sole (not rubber), and a heel NO GREATER than an inch or inch and a half. I simply want to scream when kids show up to summer camp and are wearing those high heeled fashion boots that vaguely resemble a tall riding boot...or sometimes they wear WINTER boots...ugh.

Gloves are ALWAYS appropriate, whether showing or not. You can buy a nice neoprene palmed or leather palmed glove from a tack store (or the closeouts going on now at Stateline). They will help you grip those sweaty reins. They don't have to be black leather show gloves. I have a nice leather palmed/crocheted bakc pair I wear when riding.

Also, instruct your child to wear tall socks (should reach the knee) under his/her pants. This will help alleviate pinching from the stirrup leathers.

If the summer camp doesn't provide helmets, you can buy one from any Tack shop or online/catalog outlet for $29+. Helmets are not negotiable at my barn. No helmet, no ride.

OH KAY: Where is your kid going to camp? I am originally from LI and would love to know. I can recommend many nice tack shops on the island that can outfit your kid.

i love that name
nearly took one myself doing Cross-Country on saturday.
stopped at a 2ft fence that dropped 3ft the other side
he cat leapt it and i landed on his neck

body prtoectors are a must for jumping

 

[Jennasis]

I make my students bake brownies for their next lesson if they have a fall. Keeps things light and airy and takes a lot of the sting out of taking a "dirt-bath".

 

[CrazyChik]

I make my students bake brownies for their next lesson if they have a fall. Keeps things light and airy and takes a lot of the sting out of taking a "dirt-bath".

i just hear let go of the reins(which i always do without being told) then thud then get up and pick your whip up and go find your poor horse
i'm pretty good with falls i can tell you why they happened and i dont cry or make a fuss.

i'd be pushing people off horses if we had a brownie policy

 

[Dee & Greg]

I make my students bake brownies for their next lesson if they have a fall. Keeps things light and airy and takes a lot of the sting out of taking a "dirt-bath".

The adults have to buy a case of beer if they fall! And that includes the trainer!

Also, sorry to assume "she" instead of DS... helps to read the OP's first post more accurately. A very smart young man will learn that the pretty girls all hang out at the barn, and that the odds are very favorable if you're a he!

 

[Oh Kay!]

OH KAY: Where is your kid going to camp? I am originally from LI and would love to know. I can recommend many nice tack shops on the island that can outfit your kid.

Sent you a PM

 

[claudia]

Hi, Andrea. I didn't realize pet supply stores carry equestrian products. I'll definitely check it out.

I guess my real question is whether I could buy him some shoes that he could wear elsewhere if he decides he doesn't like riding. For example, he has black boots with about 3/4 inch heel. Would that do?

the boots sound fine. Because he will be posting they want his foot to remain in the stirrup with out slipping out.

 

[Oh Kay!]

A very smart young man will learn that the pretty girls all hang out at the barn, and that the odds are very favorable if you're a he!

I'll tell him that if he decides to quit.