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How to take care of your riding boots? We have been inspired by a Facebook post from the danish company Rytters Rideudstyr: Here is a list of 9 important advice your leather riding boots would wish you followed. Find out how to extend the life of your riding boots. They deserve it – and so do you.
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Open the zipper completely before putting on your riding boots. Help the zipper by pressing the sides against each other when you gently zipper up. Always keep in mind that the zipper must be clean and dry.
Put the riding boots on immediately before riding, and off again after riding. Riding boots should never be used for stable work or washing horses. A good rule of thumb is that riding boots be worn on the horse, and not for anything else.
Leather riding boots should only be cared for with shoe polish - never with leather grease. The reason is that the grease penetrates and makes the leather more elastic, thus expanding the boot. Applie the shoe polish with a soft shoe brush, so that you get all the way to the sole and into the folds at the ankle.
It is better to polish with a thin layer often than to polish with a thick layer infrequently. A good tip is to have a fiber cloth or an old dish towel on hand so you can clean the them from dirt after each ride.
Use zipper spray regularly to keep sliders and zippers clean. If you are in a situation where the zipper has given up, something as simple as tightening the slider (zipper closing mechanism) may be enough, and something most shoemakers can do with pliers.
Pull the riding boots off by hand or a boot cradle. Be sure to put the boot in the bracket over the heel so that it does not pull off.
Remove any grease and sweat residue with a dry or damp cloth (see tip number 4).
It is important that the boots can dry both on the inside and outside. Do this by storing them at normal room temperature and not in direct sunlight.
Feel free to use boot stiffeners and make sure that these reach all the way to the bottom of the riding boots, so that the folds at the ankles are as stiff as possible. Alternatively, you can hang the boots up with clamps or with the bottom up.
We hope these tips help you take care of your leather riding boots.
