My custom boots came in! They fit perfectly, but are v-e-r-y snug, as new boots are. I need to break them in.
Any recommendations for how to go about it, and how long before I can expect to be comfortable enough to show in them? It’s been a long time since I’ve broken in a pair…
Wear them, wear them, and wear them some more. I unintentionally did the wet/dry, wet/dry thing and it worked wonders.
My boots are fully-lined Dehner’s, so perseverance was the key. I got through it with no blisters, however!
TWO HOLIDAYS!!! That’s it… I’m calling your Boss… BTW, did you remember to put the cat out this morning?
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jumper:
What about Konigs or DerDau’s??<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I can’t wait to get my Der Daus!!! They were slightly cheaper than Vogels and I will have them in the middle of November!!! Yeah!!!
Wow…reading all these accounts of tight fitting customs makes me feel extremely fortunate that mine fit so well! I have Vogels, and they fit me absolutely perfect…they did since the day I first put them on. I wonder how much of it has to do with the person actually measuring for customs. I went to one saleperson at the local saddlery who was highly recommended for her measuring abilities. When my trainer ordered hers, someone else measured her. It takes 2 people to help get her boots off…one to pull and the other to hold her in the chair so that she doesn’t get pulled out of it. It’s so funny…I always crack up during these episodes because I swear it is like she is giving birth!!!
VTRider — Fabbri. And tell Duffy to put that menacing credit card DOWN … and walk away slowly…
Does the wet/dry thing alter or ruin the look of the leather?
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DMK:
BTW, did you remember to put the cat out this morning?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Yep - He’s up for adoption though - he’s gotten a little wormy - Don’t know why?!?! Any vets out there that can make some recommendations?
[This message has been edited by VTrider (edited 10-26-2000).]
VT Rider -
You will love your Der Daus. Mine are very old semi customs and they took almost no breaking in time at all.
TB Hunter - are you still growing? You may consider semi customs over full customs - Just the calf is custom, the foot is standard. They fit and look just like customs at a lower price.
I agree with you, AAJumper, the person measuring makes a huge difference. I had such a disaster with the Dehner’s fit that when I decided to order Vogel’s, I called them directly and asked them who they could recommend in my part of the country. On their recommendation, I went to a tack shop 50 miles away I would never have thought of, but both pairs were well-fitting. I admit, Vogel’s enticed me into the second pair with their special offer of free-of-charge options! I had not been planning on them, but when their advertisement came in the mail, I jumped at it! (No pun intended)
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by 3eme:
And tell Duffy to put that menacing credit card DOWN … and walk away slowly…<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
That was a little hard to do, given the circumstances…it was freshly sharpened!!
I too just got new boots. Vogels arrived in early September and I just jumped in and started riding in them. The first couple of days were murder! They weren’t especially slipperey, but they wera so stiff behind my knee that I got rubs there and had to ride a couple of times with an ace bandage.
Also, the ankle area was pretty painful when I put my heels down. My solution was to ride a lot in two point which helped on a lot of levels.
I have also been wearing them to bathe horses, etc. The only thing I haven’t done on the advice of the tack shop owner, is walk in them very much.
After about a week they were starting to get really comfortable believe it or not!
I forgot to say that during that first week I was riding three horses a day as opposed to my one that I usually ride so I think that helped…
[This message has been edited by CWP (edited 10-26-2000).]
O.M.G. My Vogels were absolute and pure hell to break in!! I got them for X-mas, and I had to have them drystretched 3x!! in order to even GET them on! I would have to ice my feet before I took them off b/c my ankles were sooo swollen! 
BUT, I LOVE them now! LOL 
Stupid me, I got them in Dec. and didn’t even wear them riding until 2 days before the show. ggrr But they broke in soo fast and now they are really comfy! 
~Sarah
I’ve done the hot water, but not on the inside of the boots, I stood them up in a tub, 1/2 up the calf. Then put on a good pair of sports socks with lots of cushining aon the foot, and an extra pair of “tops” around the ankle. (cut an old pair about mid foot so that you have the protection at the ankle) and then a pair of knee lenght nylons ontop of that. Stand on the steps with your heels down, go up on tippy toe, then heels down. Builds the muscles and softens the right places.
I also used heated mink oil on one pair, softend them right up, but after a few years the leather started breaking down right on the front of the ankle. Don’t know if that was the reason, but I’ll stick with water now.
I got my custom Konings and showed in them the second day I wore them, the leather is so soft they broke in and were comfortable after the first ride. I did ‘break’ the stiffening at the ankles before putting them on (I don’t know what to call it other than stiffening … it feels like the stuff they put in collars on men’s shirts) … just bend it back and forth a few times and then it won’t dig into your ankle bone!!
Ok, so a good friend of mine works in a tack shop and made this suggestion - after fighting for two weeks to break in my Vogels and crying the blues - she told me to boil water and fill both boots. So I did. And then I carefully set them on the kitchen counter to dry over a period of days. HA…well she forgot to mention the key point of this exercise - when the boots have cooled, put them on and walk around and stretch them to your foot and leg / and break in the ankle.
So here I am, heading off to the show, no time to check that they fit. I wrenched my back (2 week problem) trying to get them on, used a full bottle of show sheen ($20.00 - but it did help!), and was sweating profusely in a dark blue show shirt (not pretty). However, the moral of the posting…it really worked. They were like butter and have never bothered me since. So take my advice, pour clean, boiled water into the boot, air cool and THEN put them on!! Good luck.
Funny this came up, or that I opened my eyes to see it.LOL
I just got off the phone with Dehner, with regards to the new paddock boots I had just gotten. I didn’t remember my last pair digging into my ankles as much as this pair. She suggested using leather conditioner on the inside as well as the outside and work the leather. I will let you know how it pans out. As far as filling custom boots with water- I can’t believe it. I would have never had the nerve to even try it.
yes i have definatley stopped growing, im almost 20…the only way i am growing is out nowadays i was thinking that if i ordered customs maybe that would be a big enough investment for me to stop eating like a cow…who knows? but before i seriously consider getting customs, I need to know about how much the different brands run. It sounds like the brandname is all personal preference, as is the breaking in methods. I wouldnt even know where to get measured for boots!! I dont live in a highly “horse orientated” area! is there a webpage or 800 number?
didn’t alter the look of mine one bit (Dehners - 3/4 lined, BTW)
My old “bull-ridin’ cowboy” date used to say they poured a pint of whiskey in each boot when they got new ones. Put 'em on until they dried. Worked like a charm.
And believe me if that bunch would “waste” a pint of whiskey on boots, it had to have been worth it. Ah, the good ol’ days.
So, I have to say the warm water method sounds good. I’d watch the boiling part though, I wouldn’t risk doing something to the finish or interior glues in soles, etc.
About the water thing … when I worked at the tack shop, and we had to put boots on the stretcher - you got them good and soaked with hot water, then put them on the stretcher and cranked til they measured what you wanted, then let them dry. In a real rush, you turned a hair dryer into the top to speed the drying, but mostly it was just air drying.
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