My shoes smell like pee

[enjoytheride]

During the summer I do all my barn chores/cleaning stalls first in a pair of shorts and sneakers with no show socks to attempt to not get a “horse people tan” (although my stark white feet don’t look so good in sandals).

My sneakers always end up smelling like pee after a couple weeks, like can smell them from several feet away smell. I do use whatever pair of running shoes I’ve downgraded to “barn” shoes but I’d really rather not put on the pee shoes.

Any way to prevent/cure this? I’d really rather not wear paddock boots and shorts.

[dreamingofdressage]

Hmm… If you solve this, I need to hear about it

Maybe you could get a separate pair of sneakers just for the barn?

[dotneko]

Yes - me, too. I end up rotating my sneakers through the barn on the end of their life cycles. They last about 4 months before I can’t stand them or they fall apart in the washing machine. I use bleach and hot water on them LOL

[enjoytheride]

I do have a seperate pair of sneakers for the barn and when I started using my new barn pair/old work pair they smelled like pee in less then 2 weeks. They smell from several feet away and God help you if they get wet.

[KateKat]

wash them often? Or you could spray them with Febreeze (or Natures Miracle or something) after every wearing and let air dry.

[nickers1]

Are you mucking straw stalls? Because there is no way to avoid pee foot while doing that. I’ve had straw stall shoes that could clear a room , a room of skunks!!! I would just chuck them in the washer more often, and then leave them in the garage when you get home.

[Giddy-up]

My “good” sneakers graduate into barn sneakers too. :lol: I throw mine in the washer & dry in the sun. Eventually they just get so old they aren’t comfortable/supportive & get tossed out.

Maybe dedicate the worst pair in the sneaker rotation to stall duty & then switch to barn sneakers for the rest of the chores/day?

[enjoytheride]

Not straw but sawdust but there isn’t always a way to avoid the pee spots. After barn chores I change into breeches and boots which I sometimes wear home depending on how hot it is and what I have to do after. However, the pee shoes still have to ride home with me in my car and sit in my shoe closet.

[SGray]

splash some white vinegar on them - if it can take away cat pee smell it should work for horse pee

[dreamingofdressage]

I gave up on the whole “avoiding the rider’s tan” thing- I just wear rubber muck boots around the barn.

[clanter]

Much of the inexpensive leather coming from India and Pakistan has been processed using curing with urine

[HungarianHippo]

I’d try hosing them down at the barn each time when you switch to boots, and set them in the sun while you ride. To help them dry quickly you could take the footbed/lining out before you hose off, since it’s probably just the outside cloth/sole that’s stinky.

Or maybe switch to something like this? These are ugly but I’m sure you could find something similar

[HungarianHippo]

these are a little more unobtrusive: LLBean Mocs

[Ticker]

You could try wearing rubber Tinglys that will slip on over your sneakers. I also use a pair on my dressage riding boots to protect them as well.
http://www.tingleyrubber.com/product/natural-rubber-overshoes.html

[leaf]

Buy cheapo shoes.
Wash or replace as needed.
I wear muck boots year round though. With shorts. I’ve got the very close veins. The boots hide that. Sexy boots.

[rmh_rider]

I get those slip on muck boot garden shoes, not clogs. Rubber ones. My current ones are pink with grey checks on them. I have had lilac with purple on the bottom also. Usually folks get the standard green. I like to have fun with barn shoes!

I try to keep my “princess shoes” clean, and try to forbid myself from doing any barn stuff, or mud walking in them.

[PRS]

I clean the soles of my boots with Clorox Clean up bathroom cleaner with bleach. It seems to work fairly well. It is really embarrassing to be sitting at the conference table during a meeting and have eau de horse pee wafting up from under the table :o

[mroades]

its worse in the winter when you have the heat on in your car…lol

[Foxtrot_s]

It is a pretty pervasive smell - I go to Zurich to visit my daughter quite often and when I open my suitcase she says “Oh, Mum, it smells of Langley!” So help me - everything is fresh washed before I pack it! And I do not take any barn clothes with me. We just don’t smell it here.

[Zu_Zu]

Keep smelly shoes in plastic bag in trunk or out in the garage !

[I]:eek: keep smelly shoes in a plastic bag in the trunk of the car or in the garage !

or better yet leave smelly shoes at the barn changing in and out after work is completed ~

smelly shoes are basically an element of barn life ~Breathe deep ! :eek::lol:

** tennis socks would help immensely ~[/I]