So, I'm looking into steel toe paddock boots. I'll be using them around horses, horses that I don't know and that are rescue horses. I'm currently looking at Equitector the Moorland paddock boots. They're $200, and I think I have to order them online. I like boots that are this style (the Moorland style)... Is there any other brand of boots that has steel toe paddock boots, that are cheaper or that I can buy in stores?
I bought a pair of plain old Dublin paddock boots from my local tack shop for about $50. I'm not sure if they're steel toed, but I've been stepped on countless times by big quarter and draft horses and never been hurt by it. I'd say, even when working with unfamiliar horses, any good quality paddock boot that fits will be fine, so don't worry about the expensive ones.
Steel toe boots are good for working in construction or industrial type situations. But around horses, they're not necessarily the best choice. If a horse steps on you while you're wearing steel toe boots, the steel has the potential of bending and crushing your foot. And since it's steel, it won't bend back. It'll stay bent into your foot until you can find someone to help you get the boot off. I suggest buying paddock boots that are designed to be a bit safer around horses.
I personally know a trainer who is friends with a cowboy who got his toes amputated by a horse stepping on his steel toed boot. I personally prefer a broken toe or a bruised toe. I wouldn't recommend them. If you get your toe stomped and you happen to be standing on pavement or other hardpacked surface...you're going to regret you ever bought them. there's a reason why not a lot of horse people wear them. As for price....$200 is an average price for good boots of any kind. My first western leather boots were Tony Llamas and they were $200. I bought them YEARS ago and they're still just great.
Hi! You can hike in steel toed boots, but I wouldn't. They aren't designed for hiking, no matter what the manufacturers says. They're built to protect your feet from hazards on a job site. I bought my first pair of decent hiking boots for $10/month on layaway at an outfitters. It took forever, of course, but I didn't have the money to buy them right out. Until then, I hiked in a pair of tennis shoes. Sneakers are just fine as hiking gear, though remember that you will have no ankle support, so you need to be more careful on rocky trails. Use a pair you don't mind getting dirty and make sure they have decent ankle support. Also, this is a great time of year to buy boots if you can scrounge the money together. Most outfitters are swapping over to their spring lines and have shoe/boot sales going on. You don't have to use an outfitter, either. Lots of regular shoe or department stores sell boots that will work just fine until you can afford some nice top-line boots.
