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I live in the Peak District, an area known for its wind- and rain-swept moors, so decent waterproof gear is a must, when riding and caring for horses.
However, 2025 bucked the trend and the summer when I was testing the new Two Bare Feet horse riding robe proved to be exceptionally dry and warm! But now that autumn is upon us, I have had plenty of cold, wet days to put this long riding coat through its paces.
So far, the Two Bare Feet hi-vis waterproof lightweight riding robe has proved itself more than up to the challenge.
I have two horses. Seamus is a 15.1hh Connemara with whom I have had some fabulous fun over the years – from trail-hunting with my local pack and fun rides to adult pony camps at Somerford Park.
However, at 20 years old he’s slowing down into retirement and I also have my beautiful ex-racehorse Daisy, who has the temperament of a diva and is a bit of a work in progress.
My first impressions
My first impression of this coat is a real confidence boost. I am a size 14 and 5ft 5ins tall and the first coat I receive is a medium. Normally I would need a large, so I feel quite chuffed!
However, the medium proves to be much too big. You could almost have fitted me and the horse inside! I exchange it for a size small, which whilst still roomy is a much better fit.
This coat is available down to an XS, but I wonder if this might still be too roomy for genuinely small riders.
The riding robe has evolved from Two Bare Feet’s changing coats for sea and wild swimming and offers a much looser fit than your average long riding coat.
Its manufacturers describe it as an extra-long, oversized robe that provides ample coverage over your riding wear and even doubles as a convenient changing robe – hence that roomy fit.
I swerved the trend for wearing dry robes for everything from dog walking to school pick-up when they were so popular a few years ago, as I thought they were rather unflattering, and this coat is similar in that regard. But what it lacks in fitted style it makes up for in warmth and dryness.
Fit
Wet weather mid-July is a chance to give it a first try while feeding the horses. The Sherpa fleece lining means it is very warm and cosy during the rain. I wear it with a t-shirt and shorts on underneath.
Yes, I probably do look a little unusual and Seamus and Daisy look at me askance when I wear it with the hood pulled round my face – but they have their fly masks on so have restricted vision too!
The robe hits the sweet spot of being very dry (thanks to its Bionic-Finish Eco water-repellent technology) but remaining breathable on a warm day.
This is unlike my old waterproof riding coat, which makes me feel like a boil-in-the-bag meal.
The Two Bare Feet lightweight riding robe has zips under each arm pit to allow good air flow on warmer days, though I find these a little scratchy on bare arms.
I find the coat rather bulky on the ground, with the front zip making it stand out from my body in an unflattering manner.
My arms are a little on the short side, and the cuffs come down well below my fingertips, but there is a Velcro strap on each cuff so I can fasten them round my wrists, which makes the sleeves a bit puffy but allows me to use my hands.
I think I would prefer a Velcro fastening down the front as well, as slotting in a zip from somewhere round my calves seemed quite onerous.
Wearing it in the saddle
Its most important test was riding and I’ve had plenty of opportunity to try it out on wet days this autumn.
I don’t normally get on with leg straps as they seem to be in the wrong place for me, but I find the straps on this coat, coupled with the front and side-zip, very easy to use and they keep my breeches dry in damp conditions.
The hood is also big enough to fit over my riding hat so I am confident that no rain would go down my neck.
I have opted to wear an additional fluorescent tabard over my coat when riding, but my riding pal says that the hi vis reflective binding stands out well in the gloom.
The coat stays in position well when riding, not bunching up or slipping to one side, and I feel comfortable and able to move easily.
A warm cover-up
I also take the Two Bare Feet lightweight riding robe on holiday to the North Yorkshire coast and it is in its element as a warm cover-up after a bracing dip in the North Sea!
I’ve not washed it yet – the blue colour being forgiving of general yard grubbiness – but the manufacturers suggest using a mild, non-bio detergent and washing at 30°C or below, without a fabric softener.
Overall, I prefer a more tailored coat to ride in, but this robe is very warm, dry and snuggly and is ideal for doing yard chores on a cold, wet day.
