Horse riding: Stupid Question

[jahaze]

Not afraid to admit I know nothing about horses, so I'm going to ask a potentially dumb question. I have a guided horseback elk hunt this fall. What kind of boots should I wear in the saddle? For perspective, I've worn cowboy boots everyday for 40+ years, do you recommend I wear those, or just regular old hunting boots?

I know, laugh all you want, but I'd really like to know...


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[Pony Soldier]

In snow, I wear my pacs. On bare ground I wear my whites loggers. You can wear whatever you walk in. Long trips, walking in cowboy boots, in rough and rocky terrain tends to be
memorable and not preferred.

I just recommend not sinking your boots to deep into the stirrups. Wrecks occur and its always best to be prepared to abandon ship. I rarely have my feet any deeper into the stirrup than my big toe joint.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Wear your hunting boots unless you have massive feet and the stirrups aren’t oversized. I have a size 13 shoe and always swap my stirrups out for oversized so my hunting boots fit. As already mentioned, don’t put them all the way in and if the trail gets hairy just ride slide them out a little further so the balls of your feet are in. Danger with not wearing cowboy boots is your foot could slide through the stirrup when things go sideways and get caught up and drug behind the horse

 

[Poser]

So long as you show up wearing spurs, you'll be good to go.

 

[5MilesBack]

I used to do a lot of late season elk hunting on horseback, so I'd wear my pac boots. But I always had oversized stirrups that would fit my boots. Definitely wear whatever you're going to want to hunt in.

 

[307]

Crocs.

Trust me.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

The only dumb questions are, the you don't ask.

 

[BCDJR]

Every horseback hunt I have been on the outfitter had the oversized stirrups. Like others mentioned your regular hunting boots . If you have no experience I would suggest you find a place to ride some. Will help you understand how to mount and dismount the horse

 

[jahaze]

Every horseback hunt I have been on the outfitter had the oversized stirrups. Like others mentioned your regular hunting boots . If you have no experience I would suggest you find a place to ride some. Will help you understand how to mount and dismount the horse

Thanks for all the responses. Yes, I need to get in a horse, I've been putting it off, but it needs to happen soon...


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[mtbn]

With bulky boots or tight stirrups, you can just not lace the upper part of the boot in the hope that it will come off if need be.

 

[WVelkhunter]

My first horseback hunt was with a buddy that didn't know i wore a size 13 and I didn't know enough to get oversize stirrups.....so i rode bare foot. My buddy got a good laugh and referred to me as hillbilly the whole trip.

 

[7mm-08]

Pony Soldier's (and others who have also posted) advice should not be taken lightly. If you get lazy/complacent and forget to keep just the very front part of your foot in a stirrup, that's when that 1,000 pounds of dynamite under your butt will decide its time to explode and kill you, which can take a nanosecond. Seriously, when riding virtually any horse, try to anticipate when/why a wreck will happen.

 

[BCDJR]

I’ve come closer to being killed with horse situations than grizzlies, mt lions, Cape buffalos, leopards, snakes and pick up trucks combined!

 

[jahaze]

Now you guys are making me scared...maybe I should just walk I already am intimidated by those big beasts. This is my first "once in a lifetime" backcountry adventure, and the excitement is building.


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[wjohnson1983]

I've only done one guided hunt in my life and that was a Gila elk tag in 2023. I've never been on a horse in my life. I was going to take lessons if I needed to, but outfitter promised that they don't use horses and listed the reasons.

Fast forward to September when I show up in NM, and I ended up with an overflow guide that used horses. My horse riding lesson was about 30 seconds long at 5 AM, and then I was riding through the Gila behind the guide.

• I wear a size 13 hunting boot, and I was fine with the stirrups.
• Your but is going to be raw the first two days and then it turns into leather I guess
• By the third day my knees were killing me to ride more than 1-2 miles. I would ride that, then walk about 100 - 200 yards. I'd be good for another 1-2 after that.
• If you're uncomfortable about something, speak up. There were some sections that were fairly steep that I wasn't comfortable with. I would either dismount and walk up/down or we'd find a different path. (Yes I know the horse has 4 wheel drive, etc. Guess it's a mental thing about being on my own 2 feet or not having a tumble from the top of a horse)

My guide's horse went stupid about 20 minutes in after daylight on the first day and threw him. That didn't ease my nerves any.

 

[akcabin]

I'd use a good hunting boot n gaters or a pair of muck arctic boots if you are in snow. Have some ice cleats in a pack. Walking n trying to stay sure of foot is going to save energy and better shooting

 

[5MilesBack]

• Your butt is going to be raw the first two days and then it turns into leather I guess

Wearing a base layer under your pants will help with that.

 

[roosiebull]

Now you guys are making me scared...maybe I should just walk I already am intimidated by those big beasts. This is my first "once in a lifetime" backcountry adventure, and the excitement is building.


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I would find a barn close to you and take a couple lessons, if nothing else just to be around horses a little before your hunt. I used to have the same perspective about horses as you, but have been around them daily the past few years and interacting with them, and am very comfortable around them, because I now understand their behavior, it doesn’t take long to get a basic feel for that, and will make you safer and more at ease.

They used to intimidate me, they were big sketchy ass animals, but I like them a lot and can’t see ever not having a horse going forward. I am also still very aware that even a good horse can wreck you in a second, but knowing how they behave gives me a piece of mind that I will see it coming. You will have fun and be fine, but I highly recommend that you get some exposure to them so you understand how they behave

 

[downthepipe]

You’ll be fine. Wear your hunting boots. They will give you the best horse. Lean forward on uphills and lean back on downhills. Always watch the saddle horn and keep it centered on the horse… if it’s slipping to one side or another, tell the guide and he will straighten it - you don’t want the saddle to roll, but the guide will constantly be tightening the under belly strap. Get off and walk whenever you want… either ask the guide to attach your lead rope to his horse, or more commonly you will have the lead rope in your hand and walk in front of your horse… only issue there is some horses are not great with their manners and will trail behind closely making you feel uncomfortable… just move you hands towards its face and get it to back off. The guide may demand you walk on steep downhills as that is the toughest for the horse. Horses sense who is the boss and that will be you. Never walk directly behind it close by and honestly anytime you approach always be talking to the horse so it knows where you are. Dismount uphill… the dismount is where most accidents will happen… be methodical and you will have a great time.

 

[downthepipe]

Oh yeah - if it rains while riding, your biggest wet spot will be your upper thigh. Have a great pair of rain pants.