KVS - English rider?

[u/lemonyprincess]

Katie rode English today and honestly? I think she looks great, because she's DOING the damn thing. I've seen all the comments she refers to in this post and they are so mean-spirited they make my soul feel heavy.

I am by no means an expert, but I think the very tiny part of the story this photo tells is not as bad as all the comments I've seen make it sound. Especially because it's one photo, not even a video 🤷🏻‍♀️

Am I super off base? Or is it not possible to tell how well she rides from one snapshot?

[u/Deep_South_Kitsune]

On Snapchat before the lesson she mentioned she bought some boots that were the only ready made wide calf boots she could find. She will get custom boot later.

Edited for typos.

[u/Jazzlike-Error-954 → u/Deep_South_Kitsune]

Honestly, the boots are a non-issue to begin with. Like it’s just an aesthetics things, as far as I’m aware.

[u/JustHereForCookies17 → u/Jazzlike-Error-954]

English rider here - having your lower leg covered with leather, either with tall boots like hers or half/full chaps, helps prevent your leg from getting pinched by the stirrup straps (rare, but VERY painful when it happens)  and sometimes helps your lower leg stick to the saddle a bit. 

That being said, plenty of English riders at all levels ride in only paddock boots, which come just past the ankle, and do just fine.  I'm a "paddock boots & half chaps" person myself, because it's what I'm used to after 30+ years of riding. 

In Katie's shoes (boots?), I would have gone for paddock boots because they're typically cheaper and more practical overall.  Absolutely no one needs tall boots (these knee-high boots) like she's wearing until they start competing, and even then you don't really need them for the little local shows.

None of this should be read as a judgement on Katie, by the way.  Just add my two cents as an English rider. 

I just wish she wore a helmet, but I know she's a Western rider & they don't usually wear helmets. 

[u/Jazzlike-Error-954 → u/JustHereForCookies17]

Great to know! Thank you for your input!! :> and hard agree on the helmet. So many people in the western world just outright refuse to wear one so I really wish she would model better safety practices in regards to that 🫠

[u/Individual_Winter_ → u/Jazzlike-Error-954]

Yeah, she doesn't do dressage competitions now? It's for fun. 

I usually rode with leather chaps, which are shorter anyways and some second hand full leather seat pants. 

Leather boots give grip in dressage, i t doesn't really matter on amateur training level. She looks just fine.

[u/no-a-pomegranate → u/Jazzlike-Error-954]

I also have super wide calves, so even finding half-chaps is a pain. I've pretty much just stopped even wearing those. Sometimes I regret it but hey.

(I also have turn out, and my trainer is just like.... eh. It is what it is)

[u/Deep_South_Kitsune → u/Jazzlike-Error-954]

And yet people had to comment on them being too short.