Does anyone still ride in a Barbour?

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mini_b

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As it says really!
And I know how much we love a good coat thread 😂

I used to ride in a navy waxed Barbour when I was tiny to approx 8. Then I got treated to a postbox red musto for Christmas and from then never wore anything else. (Easier to move around in I suppose)

I’m having major nostalgia and I am tempted to get another... from a comfort and practicality point of view are they alright to ride in?
I mean just hacking out and schooling. No jumping etc as I hate anything that gets me rigged over back of cantle.

I also think they look quite smart even when they are a bit scruffy and I’m naturally a bit of a scruff anyway so anything to help 😝
 
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Not since about March, and I don't think I'll need it before November.

But otherwise, yes: my riding jacket is usually a Barbour, I think it's the Long Biker model (probably discontinued, now), with a waist belt. When I first started, in 2012/2013, I wore a Beaufort (the version with the game pocket in the back). I still have two of those Beauforts; the one I used to ride in is a bit tatty, now, but I might wear it for working around the garden if I really need to do some jobs in rainy weather.
 
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Following as I too was thinking of getting a waxed coat, I just remember they used to smell when they got wet when I was a kid!
 
I didn't have a Barbour but I did have a long waxed coat and it stank, my mum wouldn't let it in the house! They look lovely but there are so many better fabrics out there in terms of being lightweight, waterproof and washable that I'd keep a Barbour for wearing away from the yard.
 
Aw @annagain I love the smell of a stinky Barbour. Don’t know if I associate it with happy times or what but I do like it!
Yard jobs are overalls and a cheapy waterproof I can stick in wash. I just want something smart ish to ride in that is split at back and has thigh flaps, bit like a short stockman jacket. Any recommendations would be appreciated!!
 
I keep looking at getting a Barbour, they just dont feel as sturdy as they used too so im worried it won't last!

Following with interest incase anyones bought one recently :)
 
BallyJ said:
I keep looking at getting a Barbour, they just dont feel as sturdy as they used too so im worried it won't last!

Following with interest incase anyones bought one recently :)
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I was thinking about buying an old one that’s not too decrepit and re waxing it.... maybe
 
Nudibranch said:
Yuk, no. Plenty of lovely lightweight, flexible, breatheable, comfortable (and hi vis) modern fabrics about these days!
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^^^^ This. I used to have waxed jackets (never could run to a Barbour) but they just got so dirty they used to almost walk away on their own. There is a Barbour outlet not too far from here and I did look at one for general (not yard) use. They told me the only way to clean them is to send them to Barbour to be cleaned and rewaxed. I bought a much more stylish shooting one in the end (sheer indulgence) but for me coats to wear around horses MUST be washable
 
JillA said:
^^^^ This. I used to have waxed jackets (never could run to a Barbour) but they just got so dirty they used to almost walk away on their own. There is a Barbour outlet not too far from here and I did look at one for general (not yard) use. They told me the only way to clean them is to send them to Barbour to be cleaned and rewaxed. I bought a much more stylish shooting one in the end (sheer indulgence) but for me coats to wear around horses MUST be washable
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I know it’s a fart on but you hand wash the inside and then clean outside with cold water on a sponge and re wax. You don’t have to send it back but they do offer that service. And yes they would probably do a better job!
 
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Not to ride in but I do have a lovely smelly old waxed jacket for walking the dog etc. like you I love the smell of them! i think it is because it reminds me of my childhood. I was given a waxed jacket (along with all my other riding gear) from my Mum's friend when her daughter outgrew them and I lived in it! i think it must be one of those happy memories smells. So I bought a second hand one from ebay
 
Ridererror said:
Not to ride in but I do have a lovely smelly old waxed jacket for walking the dog etc. like you I love the smell of them! i think it is because it reminds me of my childhood. I was given a waxed jacket (along with all my other riding gear) from my Mum's friend when her daughter outgrew them and I lived in it! i think it must be one of those happy memories smells. So I bought a second hand one from ebay
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I think this is exactly why I want one... childhood pony times
 
i didnt really get on with barbour waxed jackets and i love mountain horse, i have a long jacket that i used to ride in, very warm and comfy and waterproof as well...not as expensive as some makes
 
splashgirl45 said:
i didnt really get on with barbour waxed jackets and i love mountain horse, i have a long jacket that i used to ride in, very warm and comfy and waterproof as well...not as expensive as some makes
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Ooooo my old instructor had the most lovely long-ish (thigh length) MH jacket and I always wanted one. This was about 15 years ago so will be a bit different now. Totally forgot about that, will take a look. Thanks!
 
Nettle123 said:
Mine went to the charity shop. I have been watching the old reruns of Emmerdale in the afternoons. Its 1992 and everyone is in a Barbour.
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Where I live is like emmerdale, I’ve just moved back after 10 years in the city and everyone is wearing a Barbour... lol we haven’t moved on much from 1992 here in more aspects than coats.
 
I do, I have a short one for just windy and mid thigh one for when it's raining. Love them both.

I have musto, weird rock etc, but for warmth always end up back in on of the Barbours.
 
IMHO Barbour waxed jackets are fine for standing around posing in, but are hopelessly outdated by modern washable materials. I had one, I think it was the Beaufort jacket? It took a min 24 hours to air out after I rode in it, I would turn it inside out and hang it off the back of a chair. And if you mucked out in it, nothing would shift the reek of horse urine.

A young me having a winter flatwork lesson in my Barbour. It was always drenched inside afterwards :oops:.

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abarnes said:
Where I live is like emmerdale, I’ve just moved back after 10 years in the city and everyone is wearing a Barbour... lol we haven’t moved on much from 1992 here in more aspects than coats.
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Last year, we had a trip to Hull and stopped off in Beverley for a while and the Barbour shop was having a sale on... so I got another coat. More modern, much thicker, softer and more flexible outer cloth.

I think that this one will be for wearing in the depths of winter and temperatures of around 0°C to -10°C (I wish...).
 
Oh the number of Barbours I had in days gone by 🙈 every length I think I tried.

I can still smell that lovely waxy odour it makes me very nostalgic.

They made me either too hot or too cold though as I recall 🤔.

I rode in a Bushman type one for a spell in the early 90s but getting on & off was a bit of an ordeal 😆
 
Yes, I have a long stockman-type one for when it’s raining cats and dogs. It has the split back and leg loops, so everything stays dry while you ride. Also has pockets big enough to accommodate a picnic. Why would anyone ever ride in anything else?

(I also love the smell of a Barbour)
 
I always really, really, REALLY wanted a long waxed jacket...until I was given one for xmas! It was cold, stiff, heavy, not over-waterproof & not at all easy to ride in. I then tried v earnestly to reproof it, made the most tremendous mess of it, everything the jacket touched it smeared like permanently wet paint & I very guiltily binned it. I could not for the life of me understand why anyone would wear one more than once! It was a real ordeal.
 
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