I need assistance locating a source for vegan horse riding boots for
men. They can not contain any leather/suede/etc. - they must be fully
synthetic. I have found women's english style shoes through many
sources, and men's english style shoes at www.veganwares.com. But I am
in need of western style boots or endurance shoes. They must be
specifically meant for horseback riding.

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Request for Question Clarification by umiat-ga on 10 Mar 2006 23:05 PST

Hello, veganhorse-ga!

Please let me know if either of these sites provide what you need:


Dover Saddlery - scroll down to Riding Boots
http://www.doversaddlery.com/category.asp_Q_c_E_1930


Toggi Men's Synthetic Long Riding Boot
http://www.saddler.co.uk/acatalog/Toggi_Mens_Synthetic_Long_Riding_Boot.html

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Request for Question Clarification by umiat-ga on 10 Mar 2006 23:21 PST

One more:
http://www.equestrian-tack.com/cotcrafsynri1.html

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Clarification of Question by veganhorse-ga on 10 Mar 2006 23:38 PST

Thank you. However, those are english style - not western or endurance.

Oh, those poor horsies.  You won't eat them, but you will ride them. 
How'd you like some other species climbing on your back and yelling,
"Giddyup!"

Now I recall my uneasy feeling about this question:  the thought of a
Vegan wearing anything that someone could construe to be leather,
maybe also wearing western style boots, suggesting a cowboy style that
would relate to raising cattle for market.

But that is just a personal impression, no criticism of the "Veganhorse's taste.

As a fellow vegan rider, I know how hard it can be to find everything
you need, without any animal products.  I even shelled the $300 for
the hobbyhorse ultrasuede show chaps, instead of the $75 for suede
ones.  (which are worth every penny, by the way).  I'm very proud to
say that the only animal product in my entire tack room is the strings
of the waterloop straps on my reins.  Synthetic's too strong to allow
for the break-away safety I need.  It's an exception I had to make.

Anyway, the boots I ride in are western lacers.  They're listed here
as "english" but I actually show western pleasure in them.  You don't
need ropers for western, contrary to popular belief.  And, I'm sure
they'd be fine for endurance riding, too.  All synthetic, top to
bottom.  http://www.horse.com/products/sku-ERA17.html

And if you haven't discovered beta biothane, I must make my
recommendation.  It's the greatest material in existance! 
http://tackatack.com/ is where I get mine.  Even if she doesn't have
it listed, if you can descibe it well enough, she'll make it.  Clean,
great work, awesome prices.

Let me know if you need any more recommendations, or if you find
synthetic ropers, by chance!

Happy Trails!
~Jess sonorabloom@gmail.com