Do you clean you paddock boots?

[ceciley13]

For shows, generally even schooling shows, I wear my tall boots. But 99% of my riding is done in my paddock boots and half chaps. My tall boots I keep spotlessly clean. I have never cleaned my paddock boots or half chaps. Unless getting them wet while bathing a horse counts. I am going to a VERY low key schooling show tomorrow, and it’s going to be bitterly cold. I’m going to wear paddock boots and chaps, because they are much warmer than my tall boots. Do you think anyone will notice or care that my paddock boots aren’t all shiny and clean? Not sure how to even start going about getting them clean. Then I started to think… do other people clean paddock boots/ chaps regularly? Have I been a slobbey slackers all along and just was blissfully unaware?

So who here cleans their paddock boots? Should I clean mine for tomorrow? I’m certain that no amount of elbow grease can make them shine like my tall boots. If so, what should I clean them with?

[bornfreenowexpensive]

Yes. Clean and condition them all the time.

I do not polish them often but clean/condition pretty much everyday. Same for my half chaps.

ETA: because I do it often, it takes no time at all. Only a minute or two.

[yellowbritches]

I wipe mine off every time I wipe my tack off. So, several rides a week (wish it was every ride, but I don’t have time to clean tack beyond rinsing my bit when I ride before work). Boots and half chaps get wiped. When I have time, I also lube up the zipper on my half chaps and condition my paddock boots. Things last longer if you care for them. I like nice things, so I baby my stuff.

I would probably start with a damp rag to get any big chunks off, then saddle soap on the boots and half chaps if they are full grain leather (mine are). Depending on what kind of boots you have, polish them with boot polish and give them a good buff. My boots are Blundstones and don’t really take polish, but most paddock boots will. If you have full grain leather half chaps, you could probably polish them, too.

If your half chaps are suede, it’ll be hard to get them really nice, but a damp rag and/or brush might help. You can wash them in the washer with a leather wash, and hang to dry, but may not have time before your outing.

After all that, care of your boots just as you would care for any of your other leather goods (assuming you don’t neglect your tack, as well).

[yellowbritches]

PS- I also try to avoid doing any wash stall duty in my paddock boots, not would I muck in them. Both are VERY hard on them! If I do end up wearing them in the wash stall, I am extra certain to give them a good soaping and conditioning.

[enjoytheride]

Ummm, nope. If I have a lesson I’ll hose them off in the wash rack and I’ll try to hose them off before I switch to my winter paddock boots but otherwise nope. I wear them 5 days a week for mucking stalls and riding and my last pair lasted me 4 years.

[Cruiser12]

I would clean them and put a little black polish on them. I use mine for schooling shows regularly, and I only clean before the shows as a general rule. A quick clean and polish and buff and they look like new again! Same with the half chaps. Mine are at least 5 years old (Mountain Horse) and still kicking (literally sometimes!)

[Ajierene]

I always plan to clean them, but don’t. I will wipe them down before a schooling show - we go to a winter jumping series. The jumper series we go to is more about fun and comfort than fashion. People are encouraged to dress for warmth - no one wears a show jacket and while most people dress up at least a bit, sweaters and jackets are common.

[CindyCRNA]

If I am riding by myself, my paddock boots/half chaps are a dusty mess. If I am in ANY type of lesson, I put on my decent, clean stuff. It doesn’t matter how low key the schooling show is, it is disrespectful to show up in dirty boots or dirty anything.

[avesane]

Yes, I wipe mine off every few rides and I polish them when they look like they need it (weekly). Just give them a good wipe with a wet/damp cloth or sponge and put some boot polish on them! It only takes 10 minutes and your show outfit will be complete. I cannot imagine showing, even at a schooling show, in dirty anything, but that is my very very traditional trainer’s attitude showing through!

[ACMEeventing]

My paddock boots take a beating. I wear them from sun up to sun down almost every day (minus the days I’m on call). Mucking, grooming, washing, riding, they do it all. I think I’ve conditioned them, let me think, yeah, never. The more broken in the better and they tend to last 2-3 years.

If I were you, warm socks and the tall boots. You won’t be in them that long.

[jcraig10]

I agree with ACME. Well, I did clean them once…because I bought some new leather cleaner and wanted to test it on my paddocks before using it on my show boots. I do all barn chores and lessons in my paddocks. Half chaps are suede and have never been washed.

Oops.

Now I feel like I need to go clean them. Thanks a lot! Haha!

[WNT]

I’m with yellowbritches, I give them a quick wipe down after I ride. I avoid saddle soap, as it attracts too much moisture, but a swipe with Leather Therapy Wash after most rides keeps boots and half chaps looking nice. I maybe polish them twice a year with Urad cream, but it’s not high on the to-do list. I also keep a pair of wellies for stalls and chores, since urine, mud and pine oils are very hard on leather.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

[QUOTE=ACMEeventing;7859134]
My paddock boots take a beating. I wear them from sun up to sun down almost every day (minus the days I’m on call). Mucking, grooming, washing, riding, they do it all. I think I’ve conditioned them, let me think, yeah, never. The more broken in the better and they tend to last 2-3 years.

If I were you, warm socks and the tall boots. You won’t be in them that long.[/QUOTE]

Not sure how you get that many years out of yours. I’m hard on mine too but do take care of the leather. I didn’t use to be as good about it and my paddock boots would have cracks and holes within a year. Now they last longer.

[yellowbritches]

[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;7859547]
Not sure how you get that many years out of yours. I’m hard on mine too but do take care of the leather. I didn’t use to be as good about it and my paddock boots would have cracks and holes within a year. Now they last longer.[/QUOTE]
I agree. I’ve heard that a lot and never understand how people get so much time out of boots. My Blunnies used to last me six months, tops, when I worked all day in them. This pair is going into their fourth year, but might not make it the whole year, DESPITE good care and rarely doing more than riding and grooming. I have other boots and shoes for washing and the occasions I muck. I guess I am brutal on boots!

[Luseride]

I clean mine but I also wear them to school until they don’t hold a polish anymore, ag teacher here. Sometimes I forget but no one notices as we have a garden and animals at school and they probably figure I do something there before daylight.

[Highflyer]

I’m lucky to get a year out of any paddock boots, and gave up on half chaps because they wore through in about six months. I’m going to an event tomorrow and I’m taking like eight different options so I have plenty to choose from-- my dressage is at 8 and I jump at 9:20 so it’s going to be COLD. At least my fuzzy horse will be comfortable!

[ACMEeventing]

[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;7859547]
Not sure how you get that many years out of yours. I’m hard on mine too but do take care of the leather. I didn’t use to be as good about it and my paddock boots would have cracks and holes within a year. Now they last longer.[/QUOTE]

I have no idea, to be honest. I think there was one time that I used Bensmom saddle soap on them to try it out, but that was a one time deal for sure. Maybe the climate here is just forgiving enough that they last longer?

Usually I’ll buy a new pair after about 18 months to have a lesson/show worthy pair and continue using the others for another year. Kind of like running shoes, one new pair and one old pair.

I also get 3 years out of my breeches which is shocking because I do all my chores in them and throw them in the washer and dryer. Maybe the tack gods know I have 3 expensive children so they go easy on me in the leather ware department :lol:

[subk]

Sometimes, generally when I were them off the farm, so maybe once every couple of months.

I wear them most days I ride and often end up doing farm chores in them–mowing, shoveling compost, gardening–as well as getting them wet in the wash rack, tromping though mud to catch horses, and such. I can’t imagine being any harder on them. I buy Ariats that are waterproof every 2-3 years at Rolex.

My latest pair I’ve done a little more than usual because I really need to replace my tall boots and I’ve been procrastinating. I even wore them once to a H.T. when I forgot to pack my regular boots (brown half-chaps in dressage–shudder!)

[BAC]

I clean and condition my paddock boots frequently and polish with a good boot cream periodically. I throw my Tredstep suede half chaps in the washing machine and wipe down my leather Tredstep half chaps with a liquid cleaner, usually Effax Leder Combi or Belvoir Liquid Leather Cleaner. All my tack, boots and other equipment are the best quality I can afford and keeping it clean and well conditioned prolongs the life of everything plus I just don’t like to be dirty.

[AmarachAcres]

My boots last for years, but I only wear them when riding. I don’t ever take them into mud, I have muck boots for hard labor.

They get wiped down with baby wipes after almost every ride, along with my bridle, saddle, girth, etc…