These boots are made for (hand) walking..

[BBP]

The time has come for getting the 2 yo baby camel out in hand to see a bit more of the world, but what to wear on my feet?! He’s affectionately called the baby camel as he lateral walks a bit so needs to get out a bit to improve his movement pattern too. The osteopath yesterday described him as having 15.2 hocks and knees on a 14.1 frame, so it’s hard for him to get everything in order. Anyways, the question is about footwear for me not for him. I’m terrible in that I tend to wear my trail shoes to take BBP out, or to do jobs at the yard in summer, but a gangly 2yo that puts his big feet in random places makes that feel like an even dumber idea. My other boots are steel toe capped mountain horse jod boots, but those aren’t ideal once we start building up distance. I wondered if anyone had suggestions for boots that give a bit of toe protection but are comfy enough to walk decent distances in or even jog in (that might be asking a bit much). Cheers!

 

[cauda equina]

How about wearing the steel toe caps at least while he's getting used to going out
By the time he's ready to go on longer walks he may be civilised enough to be safe with less substantial boots

 

[phizz4]

These; https://www.ariat.com/gb/en/women-footwear-work?sz=6
The Telluride work well.

 

[Northern Hare]

How about the Equitector range of short boots?

https://www.equitector.com/products.cfm?cat=2

Or Ariat do some of their short boots with toe caps....

Ariat boots with toe caps

 

[ImmyS]

I have a pair of engelbert strauss work boots for this sort of thing! Offer some protection but are super lightweight and durable. I find them so comfy! Honestly like slippers! Not the cheapest but well worth the money and last forever!

https://www.engelbert-strauss.co.uk/work-shoes-o2/e-s-o2-work-shoes-tethys-mid-1000330-86876-1.html

 

[Cloball]

I have Tuffa endurance trainers which I have covered many miles in without blisters. I took them to Mongolia so I could walk up and down the steep bits.

https://www.google.com/shopping/pro...s=eto:3774189143397644744_0,cdl:1,prmr:1,cs:1
I have thought about trying these as well but not actually tried them yet.

 

[TheHairyOne]

I have some Meindl mid height walking boots for everything yard and live in them unless the mud gets so deep it starts coming over the top.

Again not the cheapest, but i dont even have to break them in to wear them for miles straight ont of the box.

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

I had permanently black feet from my boys standing on me at one point, I now have steel toe cap trainers! They're amazing & an absolute game changer! Light as a feather & comfy - you wouldn't know they have caps in them, I use them all day every day out long reining etc. I have steel toe cap proper boots & they weigh a tonne, the trainers are fab!

 

[BBP]

I had permanently black feet from my boys standing on me at one point, I now have steel toe cap trainers! They're amazing & an absolute game changer! Light as a feather & comfy - you wouldn't know they have caps in them, I use them all day every day out long reining etc. I have steel toe cap proper boots & they weigh a tonne, the trainers are fab!

I didn’t even know steel toe cap trainers existed, they sound brilliant.

 

[BBP]

How about wearing the steel toe caps at least while he's getting used to going out
By the time he's ready to go on longer walks he may be civilised enough to be safe with less substantial boots

That’s the current plan, I’m just wondering in advance what to get next. My mountain horse ones are starting to fall apart unfortunately so I’m hoping they can cling on for a little while longer.

 

[Starzaan]

The time has come for getting the 2 yo baby camel out in hand to see a bit more of the world, but what to wear on my feet?! He’s affectionately called the baby camel as he lateral walks a bit so needs to get out a bit to improve his movement pattern too. The osteopath yesterday described him as having 15.2 hocks and knees on a 14.1 frame, so it’s hard for him to get everything in order. Anyways, the question is about footwear for me not for him. I’m terrible in that I tend to wear my trail shoes to take BBP out, or to do jobs at the yard in summer, but a gangly 2yo that puts his big feet in random places makes that feel like an even dumber idea. My other boots are steel toe capped mountain horse jod boots, but those aren’t ideal once we start building up distance. I wondered if anyone had suggestions for boots that give a bit of toe protection but are comfy enough to walk decent distances in or even jog in (that might be asking a bit much). Cheers!

Proper hiking boots WITHOUT steel toe caps. Steel toe caps are lethal around horses, and I won’t let any of my staff wear them.
I swear by the Cotswold hiking boots. Light enough to run in and swim horses comfortably, comfy to walk or run in all day, and sturdy enough that they don’t hurt so much if you get trodden on!

 

[stangs]

Steel toe caps are lethal around horses, and I won’t let any of my staff wear them.

This. I was always taught that the steel will cut right into your toes should a horse ever really step on them.

 

[PurBee]

My daily boot is a hiking boot - Karrimor brand - ive tried a few, and i can wear karrimor’s all day/evening long trundling around the farm. Most wellies/boots aggravate my feet when in them for hours - but the Karrimor’s are tough yet light, comfy. I added an extra insole.
They have toughened leather toes, rather than steel/plastic in-sown caps.

If i were to be accidently stood on in them by a horse, they’d feel my boot more under their hoof, and step off quicker than if i was in trainers, which would squish under their feet, so definitely safer.

 

[PurBee]

One warning about hiking boots - those that have the metal hooks that the laces wrap around, toward the top of the boot - can be hazardous IF you leave the bow of your laces out. I’ve had the looped bow from one boot hook onto the lace hook of another boot, and fall ass-over-tit! One particular cheap brand of boots i had was lethal for it.

My work is physical, i twist and turn, bend, lift stuff, step gingerly over objects, run, crouch, so boots are very close together often - and ive never had an issue in the Karrimor’s.

Its never happened in the Karrimor’s - the lace hooks might be angled better - i tuck the laces deep inside the side of the tongue into the boot. Never have the lace loops dangling free - tuck the buggers in! Have long laces to allow good length to tuck-in well.

 

[clinkerbuilt]

Proper hiking boots WITHOUT steel toe caps. Steel toe caps are lethal around horses, and I won’t let any of my staff wear them.
I swear by the Cotswold hiking boots. Light enough to run in and swim horses comfortably, comfy to walk or run in all day, and sturdy enough that they don’t hurt so much if you get trodden on!

Ditto, I got told this for the steel toe capped mountain horse boots, despite me feeling they're handy for glancing (!) blows. If you get a full weight lean they're supposed to make slicing off your toe a possibility...

 

[DirectorFury]

Proper hiking boots WITHOUT steel toe caps. Steel toe caps are lethal around horses, and I won’t let any of my staff wear them.
I swear by the Cotswold hiking boots. Light enough to run in and swim horses comfortably, comfy to walk or run in all day, and sturdy enough that they don’t hurt so much if you get trodden on!

+1 to the no steel toe caps. I was a member of an American horse forum about 15 years ago and a poster there lost at least 3 toes due to her horse standing on a steel toe cap and the metal edge bending and severing them. She also had really bad injuries to the remaining 2 toes but I can’t remember the outcome for them.

 

[BBP]

Proper hiking boots WITHOUT steel toe caps. Steel toe caps are lethal around horses, and I won’t let any of my staff wear them.
I swear by the Cotswold hiking boots. Light enough to run in and swim horses comfortably, comfy to walk or run in all day, and sturdy enough that they don’t hurt so much if you get trodden on!

Good tip, thanks. I’ve had mine for years but I can see why you say that.
I’ll check out some of the suggestions.

 

[MereChristmas]

+1 to the no steel toe caps. I was a member of an American horse forum about 15 years ago and a poster there lost at least 3 toes due to her horse standing on a steel toe cap and the metal edge bending and severing them. She also had really bad injuries to the remaining 2 toes but I can’t remember the outcome for them.

I remember my blacksmith in the 1960’s saying how dangerous steel toecaps were. Apparently his friend, also a ‘smith, lost 4 toes.
Although I expect boot design has changed I wouldn’t wear them.

 

[rabatsa]

I am not sure that you can get Equitector boots anymore. Nico who owned the company retired last autumn and stopped making them.

 

[Caol Ila]

I started out with proper yard boots last year, when Hermosa was clueless and unhandled, but I am now lazy, she has ground manners, it is warm, and I lead her around in trainers. *slap on wrist*. I have a pair of Lowa hiking books I sometimes ride in (they were not the right fit for mountaineering but okay for pottering around the barn), but they are at Fin's yard.

 

[Lois Lame]

+1 to the no steel toe caps. I was a member of an American horse forum about 15 years ago and a poster there lost at least 3 toes due to her horse standing on a steel toe cap and the metal edge bending and severing them. She also had really bad injuries to the remaining 2 toes but I can’t remember the outcome for them.

Or, even if the steel cap doesn't sever the toes, it can squash and trap the toes. A horrifying thought.

One warning about hiking boots - those that have the metal hooks that the laces wrap around, toward the top of the boot - can be hazardous IF you leave the bow of your laces out. I’ve had the looped bow from one boot hook onto the lace hook of another boot, and fall ass-over-tit! One particular cheap brand of boots i had was lethal for it.

It's good to know this. And something I've never thought about.

 

[sbloom]

Better worn with trousers than breeches for the laces reason.

 

[Dasher66]

You can try leading with two people, one each side, if the youngster is very wobbly. Saves being leant and trodden on until he gets the idea.

 

[Hackback]

I have the Ariat zip Terrains, they are the comfiest boot I've ever had. I wear them all day for work (I work from home at a standing up desk), round the yard and walking the dogs. I don't actually ride in them as I prefer long boots to chaps. Had current pair for at least 3 years and they are still perfectly serviceable, although a bit scruffy looking now, so I've just ordered a new pair to wear to the Yorkshire Show. I found they were a very generous fitting - I had to go a whole size smaller.

They do cover the ankle bone but I'd still be a bit worried about a clumsy horse catching you above the boot. I'd actually probably wear a long boot if I was in your situation, but I am a jessy ?