Is it a big deal if the rider, rides barefoot around a paddock?

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little_mistress13

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I don't go out riding like that but in this weather I go up the field in shorts and flip flops just to groom etc. I am still learning so sometimes I will kick off my flip flops, jump on the horse and just learn things in the paddock. (don't know why I prefer the feel of being barefoot, have done since a child)

I didn't find a problem with this but yesterday this guy who trims my horses hooves and is going to give me a few lessons next week (obviously in boots) was in the middle of showing me something about the tack and said "if you ride her today you will..." stopped what he was saying, pointed to my feet and said "not like that you are not riding though.... "


Now because I am not out, I am in a private field, in a little paddock, I thought I could ride like this? In breeches and boots in this weather I end up feeling like a wet squeaky seal. The field is private so I know I could ride naked if I wanted! lol but is it really such "taboo" to ride barefoot in a field???
 
I think it is a matter of personal choice for an adult, and dependant mainly on how well the person is able to tolerate the pain of broken toes when the horse has trodden on them...
 
I look on it that it's my yard, my horse, my rules and if I want to ride with no shoes on then I will. I would only be flatwork schooling though. It's quite probable that I wouldn't bother with any stirrups, and perhaps no saddle either.
 
You are an adult and yes, if you want to ride naked go right ahead! We ALL know the risks, gets right up my nose when people take it upon themselves to comment when no invite has been given...

...edited to add and if you are on your own place then you aren't breaking any 'yard rules' as you haven't set any! :D
 
alainax said:
Just for imaginations sake, are you riding bare back, hatless, and with a head collar?
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Sometimes bareback but sometimes with the saddle and yes hatless. Depends really if I plan on being long I get prepared. but when I am there for other things and I feel in the mood to ride I just jump on.
 
Crazy!

I value my body too much to take silly risks. I have a photo on my computer of a degloved foot. The victim was not even deliberately around the horses, she was crossing the paddock in flip flops, the horses came over and one stood on her foot!

But as people have said, it's your place, your foot, just consider the people who have to put you back together again. It's just in the same league as not wearing your seatbelt!
 
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I hate the feeling of my feet on show! 99% of the time I wear socks.
However, when I had my own little field...screw what anyone else said! If I wanted to sit on Ned in a skirt and fire a bow from him, I did!! Now I'm on a yard, I can't do half the stuff I want.

That said, I only once got on him hatless in that field and that was hop on, hop off! I value my head too much :P It's where all my creative ideas come from!
 
This is your first horse, quite recent too?
I did this when I was younger, Now i value my body a whole lot more, boots are there for a reason, not just fashion!
Whilst your not breaking any rules, and it is your choice, its not a smart one
 
Zero00000 said:
This is your first horse, quite recent too?
I did this when I was younger, Now i value my body a whole lot more, boots are there for a reason, not just fashion!
Whilst your not breaking any rules, and it is your choice, its not a smart one
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Yeah your right first horse. I just feel a lot comfier barefoot. When I go out riding in breeches and boots I feel so... stiff? I seem to focus more and learn better when I am relaxed and dressed how I feel comfy. I dunno, that's why I am asking this question to see if it is such a stupid thing I am doing.
 
I'm all for doing whatever you want, but if I'm teaching someone I insist on safe practices because I can't concentrate on teaching them anything if I'm worrying about an accident which I would feel partly responsible for, so I can see why your friend made the comment OP.

For myself I wouldn't ride shoeless because I won't be around horses in unsuitable shoes due to the risk of damaging my feet. I'm more bothered about correct boots than I am about hats, tack etc.
 
little_mistress13 said:
Yeah your right first horse. I just feel a lot comfier barefoot. When I go out riding in breeches and boots I feel so... stiff? I seem to focus more and learn better when I am relaxed and dressed how I feel comfy. I dunno, that's why I am asking this question to see if it is such a stupid thing I am doing.
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You don't need breeches and long boots to be safe. Tracksuit or leggings, plus jodhpur boots offers more freedom.
 
To be fair, riding with bare feet is probably not as stupid as grooming in flip flops. But as everybody else has said, you're an adult and know the risks.
 
If its your private land its one thing but if i was a YO with you as a livery i would ask you not to do it and would be horrified to find you riding like that, selfishly i would not want to have to deal with the result of an accident!

Also bear in mind that your horse is new to you and without knowing him very well you are at a much higher risk
 
I wouldn't go near a horse now without proper footwear. I've learnt the hard way, I went to throw a rug on my usually placid horse, who decided to be protective of his human and dive at the other horses who tried to come over for a nosey and broke my foot in the process. The hospital had to cut my shoe off from my foot it was so swollen, by far one of the worst injures I've had from horses.

So I think your daft but you will learn the hard way, as did I!
 
Ride with no boots, clothes whatever but please value your head!! The girl who jumped onto her pony bareback with no hat and fell off after the pony bucked, died due to hitting her head. This always stuck with me after reading it in the paper.
 
little_mistress13 said:
Yeah your right first horse. I just feel a lot comfier barefoot. When I go out riding in breeches and boots I feel so... stiff? I seem to focus more and learn better when I am relaxed and dressed how I feel comfy. I dunno, that's why I am asking this question to see if it is such a stupid thing I am doing.
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Have a look at the endurance sites online, there are riding tights and trainers that you can wear that are comfy and still safe. My horse had a fall and trapped my foot in the stirrup as she rolled, one of my toes completely snapped at the joint and was hanging off, if I hadn't been wearing boots I'm certain I would have lost a toe at the very least.
 
I'm another person who goes without proper riding boots, but I'd never go completely barefoot around a horse :) I look at it in the same way as wearing shorts while riding a motorbike. It's perfectly fine until something goes wrong.
 
If your instructor insists you wear a hat then I would respect his wishes. However in your own time on your own yard.. On your own head be it..
 
My lad got sore rubs from an attempt to ride in spurs so I had to ride in socks for weeks! I always do mine in work shoes or crocs, everyone i know handles in crocs. Just be careful.
 
I go to the yard wearing trainers, my friend wears crocs. We understand the risks we are taking and are more careful.

I ride bareback in a headcollar but never without a hat.

The only time I've ridden without boots is when we went down to the river. I rode down in boots, but once there took them off. Luckily some friends met us there so could hand my boots back to me without me getting off!
 
I would never do anything that you've suggested you do, even on my mare that I trust completely, that I've owned from 13yrs! my head is far to important to me! as is the rest of my body!
 
I wouldn't do it, I just wear leggings & jod boots and a strappy top, I just see it as that's what I have to wear to ride, just like hats.

I think it sounds like you are being a bit naive, sorry if that sounds rude! I guess a I wear all this stuff because I'm pretty experienced when it comes to getting hurt :-/

At the end of the day you're not breaking any laws, but that doesn't mean it isn't careless and especially when it comes to hats and serious injuries, not very comforting for your family who no doubt would rather you wore a hat.
 
I think others have gotten the point across quite well why being barefoot around horses is best avoided, but to add my own experience - I ended up getting the full weight of a horse on my foot *with* my solid boots on. I still feel the effects of that injury almost twelve years later. I shudder to think what might have happened had I not worn boots that day. It could have impaired my future chances of riding. As it is I cannot run properly with my leg to this day, but at least I can ride without pain. Please value your safety so that you may enjoy doing what you love doing with your horse for a long time without risking your health - riding is hazardous enough even with the appropriate safety gear, but at least you can minimize the risk of being seriously impaired. :-)
 
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