{"id":317,"date":"2016-07-15T12:00:41","date_gmt":"2016-07-15T16:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/equestrianbootsandbridles.com\/?p=317"},"modified":"2021-02-26T11:08:19","modified_gmt":"2021-02-26T15:08:19","slug":"picking-the-best-english-riding-boots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/equestrianbootsandbridles.com\/picking-the-best-english-riding-boots\/","title":{"rendered":"Picking The Best English Riding Boots"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Picking the best English riding boots for yourself is essential. They’ll help you maintain good contact with your horse, constant leg stability and the ability to keep those heels down!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your boots are too tight, too stiff or too loose you won\u2019t be able to do that effectively. <\/strong>Not only will you lose your ability to ride well, you will also compromise your safety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following guide will help you find the best English riding boots for your particular riding discipline.  <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

With proper care, a pair of good-quality English riding boots can last you for years. So it’s important that you choose wisely when searching for your first or next pair of tall boots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re a seasoned rider and want to jump straight to the ladies tall riding boots, click here! <\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Still learning? Let’s cover some basics first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Riding Safety Always Comes First<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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For riding, the basics you need are: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Good sole grip so you don’t slip around in the stirrup, and<\/li>
  2. A heel so your foot never goes through the stirrup. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The bottom of your boot should be a texture that has some grip.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    It can’t be flat and plastic because that\u2019s going to slip right off the stirrup no matter how hard you push your heels down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Picking<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    You need something that will stop your foot from sliding all the way forward through the stirrup if your foot slips while you\u2019re riding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This is where a heel comes in.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    You don\u2019t want it to be too high but you also don\u2019t want it to be too short. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Generally, as you probably already know if you’ve done any English riding, you want the the ball of your foot in the stirrup and your weight in your heels as you push those heels down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sometimes, however, if your horse spooks or jumps a little too early, or springs into a canter faster than you were expecting, your foot can slip forward. And it\u2019s not safe if your entire foot goes through the stirrup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This can cause you to get dragged if you were to fall off. With a heel, this won’t be able to happen.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s easy to pick a boot that fits well on your feet because it\u2019s not like you haven\u2019t shopped for boots before. Where it gets a bit more ambiguous for riders is around the calves. Your lower legs should not be banging around in your boots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Think of the boots as feeling like a pair of comfy socks. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    They shouldn\u2019t be so tight that you can\u2019t move normally or that you feel a lot of constriction. But they shouldn\u2019t be loose enough to allow any significant movement of your leg inside the boot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As a rule of thumb, you should be able to fit two fingers comfortably between your boot and the back of your calf, but not three!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Remember, you need to be able to bend your ankles too. If your boot is too stiff and you can’t bend your ankles you’re going to run into issues. Try to do a squat (get your thighs parallel to the ground at least) in your would-be boots to see if they have enough give.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Picking<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Other Considerations When Choosing A Riding Boot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    After making sure your boots are safe (which all authentic tall English riding boots are – they’re made for riding after all!), your choice of boot is going to depend on a few things: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n