Thursday, May 7, 2009

Horse Riding Boots " Important Factors to Consider

By Lisa Blackstone

Horse riding boots are protective foot gears made to be used for horseback riding. It should come second to helmets when you are dressing for safety. You should invest in horse riding boots and helmet if you are a more serious rider. Not only will it make you feel more comfortable, it can also save your life.

Studies show that one quarter of sports related fatalities are caused by horse riding. And most horse related injuries are a result of falling from a horse and being kicked by a horse. This can happen if your foot gets caught in the stirrup, which can be caused by inaccurate horse riding boots. Therefore, choosing the right boots is very vital.

Here are some important factors that you need to know if you want to get the right horse riding boots.

1. It has to have the right heel height to prevent the foot from sliding through the stirrup. The heel is considered to be the most important element of horse riding boots. When looking for horse riding boots, choose the one with a heel that is sufficient to keep your foot from sliding through the stirrup. The ideal heel is about one to two inches high.

Using boots with more than two inches of heels is not a good idea as it may alter the natural position of your foot in the stirrup. Higher heels than the ideal height will cause the arch of your foot to distort, which will adversely affect your riding position.

2. Your horse riding boot has to have sole that is smooth or lightly textured. This will prevent you from getting caught on the tread of the stirrup in the event of a fall. The sole should be plain and relatively flat. Leather sole are ideal, but rubber sole is perfectly acceptable.

Do not choose boots with thick treads. It will make your foot too snug in the stirrup, thus, increasing your risk of having your foot stuck in the stirrup.

A good pair of horse riding boots should have these two conditions " a good heel and a proper tread. You do not have to have a custom designed boots. Your boots only have to meet the two criteria.

Horse riding boots can be uncomfortable in some situations because they are specifically designed for use in horseback riding. And because of this, you can be more specific with your choices in horse riding boots. You may also want to acquire boots that are suitable for a certain discipline. So here are two more factors to consider.

3. It has to be high enough to prevent the leathers of the saddle from pinching the leg of the rider. If you need taller boots, there are classic horse riding boots that comes high up to the leg. If you are jumping, you will want a high English boot that fits the calf snuggly and helps your grip and stability.

Roper boots have the most classic length, which is the mid-calf height. This keeps the fenders of the saddles from chafing the ankle and calf of the rider.

4. Some boots, like the field boots even have an extra layer of leather on the toe called the toe cap. Like ropers, field boots have round toes. These features are designed to enable riders to work on the ground more comfortably. - 16887

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