When did riding boots get to be so good? When style, functionality and performance were combined, writes Jess Morton.
This past year we’ve definitely learned how much we value being outside with our horses. With riding hours still at a premium, it’s important to make the minutes count, and one sure-fire way to ensure that is to invest in a great pair of riding boots.
Sweden knows a thing or two about making quality riding wear, and the family-run company Mountain Horse is legendary for its much-loved boots and innovative line of equestrian apparel.
Lars Sjosward founded the company in 1988 with one product: the world-famous Winter Boot, created to keep his young daughter Catherina’s feet warm while she was riding in freezing temperatures. The success of this signature product jumpstarted the company and was soon followed by two international bestsellers: the riding shoe (a basketball style sneaker with a heel) and the waterproof riding coat (a lightweight alternative to oilskin).
Thirty years on, the Mountain Horse brand is well-known in equestrian circles. The company produces a full range of clothing and accessories, all in the same Swedish village in which it began.
Mixing style and functionality
Wear them in the stable. Wear them on a trail ride. Wear them to catch up with friends after training. The Wild River Boot is the ultimate all-rounder that’s hard to ignore.
Mountain Horse has reworked the silhouette of their original Spring River boot to create an ergonomically designed offering that’s seriously fashionable and wearable anywhere.
Premium full grain leather and a chunky shock-absorbing sole unite for a utilitarian, understated aesthetic that doesn’t lack character. Like a fine wine, they get better with age, developing a beautiful patina with wear and conforming over time to the contours of your foot and leg. Built to last, and last beautifully, purchasing a pair represents a sound investment.
How about performance?
Of course, the best riding boots must mix form and function, and Mountain Horse’s in-house technical expertise makes Wild River a go-to when it comes to comfort, durability, and protection from the elements.
Optioned in two colourways (brown and black), you’ll feel supported every step of your ride thanks to a waterproof foot, steel shanks, and hidden elastic gussets along the shaft. Adhering to the strong Mountain Horse aesthetic, the VertyCore™ sole is lightweight and slip resistant, with shock-absorbing qualities that enhance both function and comfort. The memory foam footbed cushions the sole of your foot, helping to reduce foot fatigue so you can ride better for longer.
Whether you’re looking for something practical to keep your feet dry over winter, or a pair of showstoppers made for more, the Mountain Horse Wild River range might just transform the aesthetics of your equestrian lifestyle and prove to be as functional as they are fashionable.
Feature Image: Mountain Horse Spring River paddock boots (lace or zip closure).
