How do you all look after your riding boots?

[VioletStripe]

As title! Particularly leather ones! Just interested as to be honest I used not to do anything Does anyone here use saddle soap or anything on them? Boot polish? I take fabulous care of my tack but rather neglect my boots As I'm saving to get some posh long ones, would like to know the best way to care for them - what do you all do? xx

 

[jnb]

I use Urad - fab stuff!

 

[HarlequinSeren]

Mine are nothing special and looking a bit worse for wear right now but all I do is clean them with water every now and again, if they've got particularly dirty or if I've been to the beach to wash the salt off, and I regularly apply dubbin. I don't just use my boots for riding and yard work though, they're dublin river boots and used as my general dog walking/winter weather boots so they have a pretty tough time! Love them though, they are really warm and comfy, my only problem with them is the lining is falling out!

 

[Aces_High]

My boots are polished every day - they are only used for riding and I do not get them muddy or muck out or anything in them. They are re-soled/heeled regularly and look in might fine shape! If they get wet I dry them out and then polish again. If you want to clean my tack - I will clean your boots! Having said that I did all my bridles this evening!

 

[Lam]

I believe the main harzard is sand from school.
Should gentely remove the sand when finish riding.
Should store in a cool dry dark place when not use
Should give routine treatment for the leather to keep them moist.
Should give routine clean up by using soft brush and clothes. Do it more frequratly rather real dirt has been built up.
Try to avoid rain or wet.
That s basically how I m looking after my leather goods

 

[Kellys Heroes]

I'm glad someone had posted this
My beautiful Huntsville boots have just acquired a hole in the 'crease' where you walk if that makes sense - I'm afraid its rather down to neglect on my part, so they will become summer and dog walking boots (they are no longer waterproof!) and when I get my next ones, I will polish and leather treat much more regularly!! If anyone could recommend good leather cleaning and treating products?? A very expensive lesson learnt.
K x

 

[Enfys]

I believe the main harzard is sand from school.
Should gentely remove the sand when finish riding. kick boots on fence post then
Should store in a cool dry dark place when not use Kicked off in the basement
Should give routine treatment for the leather to keep them moist. Dubbin when I remember
Should give routine clean up by using soft brush and clothes. Do it more frequratly rather real dirt has been built up. Not stuck under the hosepipe then
Try to avoid rain or wet. Don't wear outside
That s basically how I m looking after my leather goods

My poor poor boots, I am mistreating them dreadfully but they are just work boots and are on my feet merely to do the job not to look pretty. They'll be packing up and leaving home for a better place if they read this Never mind, I have more.

Now, if you were talking about my hunting boots, that is a different matter.

I paid a ridiculous amount of money to have them made for my stubby little legs. They got transported in a boot boot bag, wrapped in fleece. They got polished to Trooping the Colour standards, by someone (not me) who knows how to bull boots. They weren't allowed to stay wet or dirty at all, poor things they haven't been worn for 5 years now because I don't party anymore

 

[KVH]

Not very well I'm afraid..!

 

[Umbongo]

Belvoir tack cleaning spray and Carr&day&martin leather balsam keeps mine looking polished and supple (when I remember to do it)

 

[dibbin]

Saddle soap and shoe polish!

Mine are Mountain Horse Mountain Riders, they're about 7 years old and still going strong, so something is clearly working

 

[Lotty]

I have Ariat's and I only use them for riding. I normally use warm water with a splash of fairy liquid to get the grease and dirt off them, then I use Stubben saddle soap. I read on here a few weeks back that I should buy some Ariat boot polish - started using that now.

 

[Hippona]

I cherish my ariat bromonts cos they cost a bloomin' fortune

I only ride in them- no mucking out- and I clean and wax them regularly.

Must get some ariat cream/polish though.

 

[Lolo]

When Al got her posh boots, she also got a cheapy set of jodphur boots and chaps. The long boots are only ever worn at competitions, smart rallies and exams. The boots get polished, kept in her bootbag with the blocks in them and then kept in the hall so they're not getting damp! Also carefully dried and kept clean after use...

 

[Addicted to Hunting]

My general riding boots, which are either my country type boots or tretorns, umm not much unless they are looking rather grubby!! I do alot in them allthough will be getting some wellys for winter mud!! My hunting boots are cleaned off any mud and then they get polished very very well, allthough I will confess to being spoilt here as mummy polishes them . She actually likes polshing boots though and has done other peoples before, and we do everything else horse wise (my bro and me).

 

[cyberhorse]

Hmmm I look after them rarely... when I do it is a quick wipe with a Sheraton leather wipe when I am sat in the car or wagon. They are handy in a wet wipe sort of way and I keep them in the wagon for flicking over the tack at a show if it gets mucky. I only actually properly clean my show boots and then it is a Sheraton wipe followed by some boot polish.

 

[camilla4]

Dubarris get regular treatment with Nikwax; Ariat Bromonts, which are for everyday only, nikwax or Ariat's own cream if I have it; dressage boots are polished to within an inch of their lives after every use. They are Konigs, so a big treat to myself!

 

[Flummoxed]

My Ariat Terrains are used daily and get a scrub with water if very dirty, then a squirt with Tack Cleaner & Conditioner. I did try to find an Ariat polish in the right colour once - honest!

 

[Kat]

My show boots were polished with parade gloss to get a good shine when brandnew then nickwax original stuff over the top (best to do it over a good shine as nickwax isn't easy to get to a shine).

I wash mud and horse muck off them after use (I don't wear them often) and if I can be bothered I polish them, but they don't need doing every time. If they are looking a bit dry or stiff they get a layer or leather balsam or neatsfoot oil to nourish them.

My everyday boots get less care. My long mountain horse boots were treated fairly well when new but not so well recently. My short boots get abused but I bought them to save my long boots really as it isn't practical to change my boots just for riding.

Would recommend a good layer of nickwax original on new boots and about twice a year as a way of keeping your boots supply without making them go soft or stretch and keeping them waterproof.

 

[TallyHo123]

Probably polished twice a year! I only wear them for riding, not around the yard etc. I just keep them in my tack room. They are italian leather.

 

[Luci07]

Only used for riding in but as my ariats cost me a fortune I take care of them! Wiped over and boot cream pretty much each time. I have cheap yard boots and dog walking boots - my ariats are the top end ones so do not want them ruined quickly. Competition boots are stored at home with proper boot inserts and wiped then boot polish - again hard to get to fit very expensive so I take care of them! (though nearly lost them at a recent dress exchange at my house!)

 

[Lam]

Re: Enfys
That's not FUNNY!

 

[stencilface]

Posh boots get saddle soaped and polished, then stored in padded boot bag with supports in them.

Everyday ariats get soaped every so often, and get leather cream whenever they get soaped. Prob wear them 4 times a week, try to keep them out of too much muck, but still should probably clean them more often

 

[Enfys]

Re: Enfys
That's not FUNNY!

No offence intended. The replies in red were tongue in cheek, but still true

I don't take very good care of my boots, I admit it, if they are dirty (rare, because fortunately we don't really do mud here) they get hosed off, dry overnight and then get dubbin slapped on them occasionally.

 

[Always_A_Moody_Mare]

My Ariat Bromonts used to get cleaned with water and then ariat cleaner of some sort, but now as I cant find what I used to get that isnt £££ or a million miles away, they get a hose and a clean and then some sort of wax leather balsam but they are only worn 3 times a week. I admit I should probably take more care of them than I do :/

 

[VioletStripe]

Wow I really am terrible with my boots I muck out in them, go to the field, ride in them, tramp around the school in them, fill water buckets in them.. will occasionally rinse of with water and then apply saddle soap, but that's usually before a show Will DEFINITELY invest in some proper leather stuff now, they're looking pretty good after 2 years, but I have been very abusive My posh boots I'm saving up for will be positively pampered now! Thanks for telling me what you all do, I rarely give much thought to my boots xx