Tell your rep they need to be remade. Unfortunately you’re not the first who received boots that were not made to measure properly.
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These? Silipos 10845 Gel Tubing Ankle Sleeve. The one tube can be cut to make two. Pretty sure they’re the same as the Equifit ones. Thank you, Ice Skating Forums.
https://a.co/d/1iw6AZC
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Leather is a natural material and can cope very well with being wet but not necessary hot and wet. Use tepid rather than hot water in the bathtub. The BIG THING is to make certain the boots can dry out slowly. Drying leather too fast can cause cracks and other problems.
When my long boots are wet enough to have water in them (riding in the rainy UK) I dry them by first stuffing them with dry newspaper (other absorbent materials will do) and then stand them in a warm room well away from a direct heat source. I change the paper at least daily. As the boots are well polished and so fairly waterproof, it usually takes three or so days to get the job done.
@shadesofbay3 Personally, if I had paid for a pair of made-to-measure boots and one didn’t fit, I’d be furious! I do hope the problem can be resolved.
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If they were custom made to measure then I would think they should zip up first time. Especially if they measured your legs and they were different widths (which is normal). Some leathers do not stretch, such as patent. Are you sure you were measured correctly by your rep?
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How did you pay for the boots? If you did it through your credit card, you could open a dispute through them and keep any emails, documentation of your issues. I know more riders who have had problems with LM than positive. I would NEVER order boots from them even though someone posted recently that their management had resolved quality issues like yours.
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Personally, I wouldn’t do anything to stretch them. that isn’t your responsibility. All custom boots I’ve ever bought have been snug until they break in, but never painfully tight, w exception of back of ankle, which is true of shoes in general. It’s manufacturers responsibility to make it right. As JS says above, check the measurements you gave LM against the actual measurement of the boots. Keep track of all communications w LM in case you go to cc company for relief.
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update - last night i got so sick and tired of it all i decided to try the alcohol method 
warm water and alcohol (3:1 solution) and i sprayed the inside of the right boot … i will admit, seeing that beautiful leather get sprayed did make me want to vomit but by some small miracle they zipped up (same socks, same time of day in late afternoon… yes i know thats not the best time to do it)
it didnt hurt nearly as much… snug but bearable and i wore them for about three hours. took them off for a few hours and then tried to put them on again and were pretty easy to put on.
the only problem now is they feel a little high but i know they will drop about 1/2 inch so i can get some stuff to put behind my knee and maybe some heel lifts
totally agree that i shouldn’t have had to do any sort of manipulation, especially at this price point… but i do love the way they look and feel
pictures to show off:
^^^ i grayed out my second initial, obviously it doesnt look like that
^^ last night - a new look, PJs and tall boots 
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do they make these for the backs of your knee? this is what i need lol
wonder if you bought inflatable boot shapers, sprayed the inside of the boots w just rubbing alcohol then over inflated the boot shapers and left them in overnight, that would do the trick.
Maybe a thin knee brace?
I’ve solved that issue in the past with heel lifts. It raises your heel enough that the back of your knee is above the top edge of the boot. Also has the advantage that it doesn’t press the top of the boot down. You can usually find them in a drug store.
I had a DQ period and, at least at the time, those boots had rods of something stiff inserted into the back of the boots so they would hold their shape. Fun times
Yes! Great find!
If you have any stairs at your house you can also wear them and work on the ankle flexion on the stairs which will help a little bit towards them dropping. The tighter they are, the more they will resist dropping but they should drop as they limber up since the leather is soft.
They look nice!
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I also haven’t tried it for back of knee, but the Equitape kinesiology tape is extra sticky and might stay on in that location and provide some protection for rubs. I’ve used it on my hands and wrists at the barn, and it does stick better than most tapes or bandages.
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those are GORGEOUS boots!
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Or you can do what I did with my first pair of custom boots. I pulled them on (back in the pre-zipper era) and went off on a trail ride by myself. I got dumped about two miles from the barn, and horsie headed home. I walked back in those new boots. I had numerous blisters and rubs, but when they healed the boots fit great.
Dehners, forty years old now and I still use them for schooling.
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Oh, I have broken in multiple pairs of boots in PJs and yoga shorts/pants!
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OP, those boots are beautiful!
I am one who does the water method and I’ve never had any issues.
Here is my process for anyone who is interested:
- Put on whatever breeches and socks you typically wear.
- Wrap your calves with saran wrap.
- Fill a Home Depot orange 5 gallon bucket (or equivalent) with hot water
- Hold new boots by the heels. Dunk the boots upside-down, from top to ankle in the hot water.
- Leave submerged for 30-60 seconds.
- Remove boots from water.
- Let excess drip off or wipe down with cloth while still holding upside down.
- Put on over breeches, socks and saran wrap.
- Go to barn, ride, do chores, etc. By the time you come home, they should be pretty much dry.
- When you take them off, put in boot trees or inflatable boot inserts
- Ta-da! Most of the hard work of breaking in boots are done.
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FWIW, I have soaked every pair of boots I’ve ever owned in warm water to break them in. I’ve never had any issues.
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