Riding Boot Care

When you are working around the yard and out riding a lot, there is no doubt that you will come into contact with a lot of dirt. That can cause lots of damage to a pair of boots if not cleaned properly. And, seeing as your riding boots are an investment, you won’t want them to get worn and fall apart straight away. Riding boot care is essential.

As with all of your riding gear, the more you take care of your boots, the longer they will last. So, you have to be prepared to put in the time and effort to ensure that you clean and maintain your boots.

If you are buying cheaper boots, you are most probably going to be more laid back when it comes to cleaning. However, if you have paid a decent amount of money for great quality boots, you will want to ensure that they stay in top condition.

Here at Equine Superstore we stock a large variety of boots, from yard boots to riding boots. Here are our top tips for riding boot care.
Riding boot care
When you have invested in a pair of boots you must ensure that you put in the time to care for the leather. If you fail to care for your boots properly, the leather can dry out until it eventually cracks and falls to pieces. This leaves you in need of another pair, costing yet more money.
Clean the boots
Firstly, you will want to get your boots nice and clean by removing all of the dirt. To do this, you should use soft shoe brush and some warm water to scrub the surface of the boots. You will want to ensure that the brush is soft, so that it doesn’t scratch the leather and leave a mark.

You can also use leather cleaners for a better result. These come in a number of varieties and you can purchase them in gel form, foams, sprays, liquids and also creams. Once you have removed all of the dirt, leave them to dry for a few minutes. Once they have dried a little, you should then shine the boots with a soft cotton cloth, or an old t-shirt.
Condition
You will now want to condition them. Some products will work towards cleaning and conditioning your boots, which means that this phase can be skipped. However, for those who don’t own the double use product, you will want to condition the leather yourself. This will soften and moisturise it. This process will help to protect the leather and keep it from drying out and cracking.

Get your hands on a clean sponge or cloth and use this to rub small amounts of conditioner into the leather. Keep doing this until the entire boot has been covered. Once a few minutes has passed, wipe off any excess conditioner that remains on the boots. The leather will only absorb as much of the product as it can, which means there will usually be some left over on the surface.
Polish your boots

The third step is to give them a good polish. Some polishes will contain toxic chemicals that can cause you problems if they get absorbed through your skin or inhaled. Therefore, you should always pop on a pair of gloves and work in a well-ventilated area to keep yourself safe.

Firstly, apply the polish to a small area of your boot in order to test that you have the right colour. When you are positive that the colour is spot on, you will want to apply the polish to the whole boot using a soft cloth, allowing it to dry out well once you have finished.

Once the polish has dried out, shine the boots by buffing them with a soft cloth.
Preservation and weatherproofing
 

In order to protect your boots from water and other elements, you will want to weatherproof your boots. Without this process, water and other elements can shorten the life of your boots.

When shopping around, you will come across different weatherproofing products that will all serve different purposes. So you should always shop around and choose your product wisely. You should be aware that some of these products will leave a build-up which alters the appearance of the leather.

Spray proofers are great for this process. They will provide a nice breathable barrier against wet conditions and dirt. They will also be virtually invisible on the outside of your boots.

You can now put your boots to one side ready for use next time you want to head out riding.
Extra tips and advice

If your boots are covered in a build up of old polish, use a pre-cleaner before you start the process. This will remove any old polish and give you a good starting point when it comes to cleaning your boots.
Some specific types of leather and boots worn in dryer climates will need to be conditioned more often. This is because they will dry out much easier.
Where possible, condition new boots before you wear them for the first time. This will ensure that they are protected from day one, saving you plenty of time in the future.

So, there you have it, our complete guide to cleaning and maintaining your riding boots and your yard boots. Find boot care products on site today!

Browse all boots here.

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    Equine Superstore
    Goddenwick Farm
    Ardingly Road
    Lindfield
    West Sussex
    RH16 2QX
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