Barn manager/Instructor Shoes

[Lmabernathy]

My ankles kill me at the end of the day. I get a lot of heel pain too. Boots (even really nice boots) aren’t cutting it anymore. I have tried inserts but normally my boots fit so snug once I add inserts it makes my feet go to sleep. I already wear mens boots to try to get a little extra room. My foot isn’t wide from left to right, its wide from top to bottom, I guess I have really high arches or something. Makes finding boots that are comfortable really hard!

I’m guessing I need to switch over to a leather tennis shoe. I would like to stay away from mesh/fabric because the dirt gets through and makes my feet dirty under my shoes and socks lol.

Depending on my lesson schedule I walk 7000-20,000 steps a day, usually 6 days per week. My horses are well behaved, I don’t have to worry to much about riding or being stepped on. Walking through mud or cleaning water troughs are the main concern, other than not hobbling around by the end of the day.

[mmeqcenter]

It sounds like you could use a visit to an orthopedist foot specialist (podiatrist) and get either custom insoles or orthopedic shoes.

[MissAriel]

I would look into hiking shoes/boots. I have a pair I wear for barn chores and they are waterproof so even some errant water in the wash rack isn’t a problem. Mine are low, but lots of styles are available with ankle support.

I would also second getting some advice and possibly custom inserts. Be sure you are trying on shoes with the inserts - don’t try to add them to the shoe later!

[furlong47]

Have you tried Ariat Terrains? Get the waterproof and lace-up model. They are comfortable and supportive, more protective than a tennis shoe, and you can hop on a horse in them if you need to do that.

[Lmabernathy]

@furlong47 Ariats are especially narrow from bottom to top. I can wear their paddock boots if I don’t add insoles but their cowboy boots are out of the question, I can barely get those on period. I wear their paddock boots now but its not helping my foot fatigue.

I’m not rolling my ankles, they are just really fatigued. I get them adjusted at the chiropractor regularly, its almost like they get jammed, if that makes sense…

@MissAriel The hiking boots sound like a good idea (do you have to wear big socks with hiking boots-those socks just remind me of hooter girls lol) Any brands you recommend?

I literally wear shoes out, as in I wear the sole off of them in 6 months or less (boots, tennis shoes, any shoes). Custom shoes sounds very cost prohibitive especially if they aren’t made to with stand the elements outdoors. I always want to do a meme with my shoes compared to “his”, you know the my hands look like this (dirty covered in grease) so hers can look like this (fresh manicure) that meme pisses me off so bad lol!

[MontysGal]

If your current boots are lace ups, it may be worth playing with the laces placement:
http://runrepeat.com/top-10-running-shoe-lacing-techniques

I have really high arches and I find “skipping” the cross over at the highest part of my arch really helps relieve the pain and also allows me the flexibility to add inserts where if I did them up normally they wouldn’t allow!

[MissAriel]

@Lmabernathy - I love Merrill, but I would suggest you go try a few different brands on, as they each fit a tad differently. If you can, go somewhere like REI or even Dick’s Sporting to try a bunch on. I wear a thicker sock than I would with dress shoes, but not the super thick ones some like. I wear Costco wool socks or athletic socks of a similar weight; whatever sock you want to use with the shoes, be sure to try new shoes on with the same/similar socks.

[NoSuchPerson]

@Lmabernathy

@furlong47 Ariats are especially narrow from bottom to top. I can wear their paddock boots if I don’t add insoles but their cowboy boots are out of the question, I can barely get those on period.

Terrains are not cowboy boots. They are lace-ups. I find Ariat English paddock boots to be uncomfortable. I wear them (Heritage RTs) when I need to (lessons, the rare show) but otherwise ride in my Terrains. I have a high arch and use arch support insoles and I find my Terrains to be at last as comfortable as my sneakers.

I took them on a trip to the Canadian Rockies where I was going to be trail riding and doing some day hiking and they were great. My feet never got sore, no blisters, no ankle problems, just perfectly comfortable no matter what I was doing.

I’ve got these, which come in the wide width that I need:
http://www.ariat.com/TERRAIN_W_FOO.html

[2DogsFarm]

Agree hiking boots may work best & the Ariat Terrains look very much like the Timberlands that worked great for me.
Great, until after 3yrs the soles cracked.
Timberland will replace a pair for free but I haven’t had the nerve to ask them to replace the free boots they sent me almost 4yrs ago.
Until the sole problem they kept my feet warm & dry, did not bother my Uber-high arched feet (I do the laces up so I can slip them on instead of having to lace/unlace each time) & in warmer weather I wore them barefoot. So no heavy socks required, but room for them in Winter.

[mroades]

I have the same issue and found a pair of pull on Keens that work very well.

[Guilherme]

@mmeqcenter

It sounds like you could use a visit to an orthopedist foot specialist (podiatrist) and get either custom insoles or orthopedic shoes.

This.

G.

[furlong47]

Terrains basically are hiking boots, designed so they can be used for riding (I believe they were originally marketed toward endurance riders). I have very high arches and my feet are very picky about shoes in general, but I love these. They are a million times more comfortable than tall boots. I say don’t discount them without trying a pair on.

[Trot_On]

First go to a podiatrist and make sure that is not just the boots that disagree with you, it may be that you have a “lameness” issue brewing. Horse people will call the vet but delay going to the doctor, but it is hard to run a barn or teach on crutches. I put off going to the doctor until I had a stress fracture in my heel and I could hardly walk. If I had gone earlier and worn an insert with different shoes I could have saved myself months in an ortho boot. I got a first hand education on how collateral lameness develops. Getting the right insert and making sure I wear it has prevented future problems.

I teach in Columbia hiking boots (men’s are best for me) and trail running shoes in the summer. They do come in waterproof styles. I live near a Columbia outlet store and pick them up on clearance, but they have a good return policy if they wear out too quickly. Dick’s Sporting just gave me the fish eye when I tried to return my defective Merrill’s. Another thumbs up for Terrains, good boots (with an insert) they were my go to until I discovered my cheaper source of hiking boots. I walk through everything in about a year.

[JenEM]

@mroades

I have the same issue and found a pair of pull on Keens that work very well.

I have a pair of Keen hiking sneakers that are my default barn shoe if I’m doing stuff around the barn, or getting loaded up and driving to a horse show. They’ve held up well, including to a lot of actual hiking, plus they’re water resistant. Something similar to that would be what I’d look into in your circumstances. But definitely go try on a few brands somewhere, see what fits your foot best.

[Dutchmare433]

@Lmabernathy

@furlong47 Ariats are especially narrow from bottom to top. I can wear their paddock boots if I don’t add insoles but their cowboy boots are out of the question, I can barely get those on period. I wear their paddock boots now but its not helping my foot fatigue.

I’m not rolling my ankles, they are just really fatigued. I get them adjusted at the chiropractor regularly, its almost like they get jammed, if that makes sense…

@MissAriel The hiking boots sound like a good idea (do you have to wear big socks with hiking boots-those socks just remind me of hooter girls lol) Any brands you recommend?

I literally wear shoes out, as in I wear the sole off of them in 6 months or less (boots, tennis shoes, any shoes). Custom shoes sounds very cost prohibitive especially if they aren’t made to with stand the elements outdoors. I always want to do a meme with my shoes compared to “his”, you know the my hands look like this (dirty covered in grease) so hers can look like this (fresh manicure) that meme pisses me off so bad lol!

If you’re wearing your shoes out that fast, I’m guessing they don’t really fit that well. I went to an outdoor gear shop with a guy specifically trained to fit shoes. They put you on a tread mill and video analyze your gait, measure you, etc etc. That might be a good option for you, and I ditto whoever suggested hiking boots. Good support and very comfortable. My only other suggestion is to switch shoes out during the day. I have 3 pairs of running shoes that I bring to shows/wherever I’ll have to walk a ton and wear each pair for a few hours, helps my feet from getting sore.

[DogIsMyCopilot]

I know their image precedes them, but Birkenstocks are by far the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever had. There’s a reason nurses wear them. I’ve only ever had their Boston clogs, but they make boots too. Might be worth a look.

[wsmoak]

I… did not realize Birkenstock made boots. I only have their hideous sandals that I wear all the time inside to save my feet from our hard wood floors. Definitely going to take a look at those, thanks @DogIsMyCopilot .

For outdoors, I am currently happy with a pair of Columbia “Newton Ridge Plus” hiking shoes – I found a grey pair on sale at Academy and then found them on Amazon so I have a brown pair in reserve.

These: https://www.amazon.com/Columbia-Womens-Newton-Ridge-Hiking/dp/B006A11X1I

I think six months is reasonable to replace shoes that are heavily used – the insole gets crushed and especially if your gait isn’t perfect, the sole gets worn so you’re not landing correctly anymore. Which will make your knees/hips/back hurt…

-Wendy

[Angela_Freda]

@furlong47

Have you tried Ariat Terrains? Get the waterproof and lace-up model. They are comfortable and supportive, more protective than a tennis shoe, and you can hop on a horse in them if you need to do that.

I have bunionettes and a funeral toe [long story] as well as lower back/Sac issues from a fall [miss you Yo!].
I found some Ariat Terrains on sale and gave them a go… LOVE Them!
Nice wide toe box, nice support without being heavy or cluncky.

Back when I was walking miles and miles working at ISF I bought myself a pair of Nike Hikers… those things were awesome too and lasted quite a bit. Wish they still made them.

[gypsymare]

Keens are known for being wide with a roomy toebox. They have several hiking shoe models

[Curb_Appeal]

Ariat Terrains. I’ve been fighting a particularly nasty bout of plantar fasciitis for almost a year now. My Terrains are by far my most supportive and comfortable boots.