My Mountain Horse Sportive tall dress boots are 15 years old and dying. I have cared for them and replaced the zippers once. Now I am torn. What to replace them with?
I am a lower level rider. My budget is $300. I do not show.
Question is, would I benefit riding in an actual dressage boot?
Shower me with wisdom & advice COTH. I am feeling a little lost.
Erika
I used to have MH Sportives–they were great until they died. I got a good deal more recently on MH Firenze dress boots and just started wearing them. They are quite comfy and won’t take long to break in. I think mine were $125 on sale. There seem to be a lot of close-outs around. I don’t show, either, but personally I like the feel of dressage boots. If I were less arthritic/challenged, I would like even stiffer boots but Mountain Horse has been meeting my needs.
If you’re not showing, it would depend on what feels more comfortable for you.
I personally can’t stand a stiff boot and will likely always ride in field boots till my dying day, even in dressage shows.
I ride daily in paddocks/half chaps, so feel like the dressage boots are really different, and I don’t want that much change in what I hope is working at home when I show. If my horses weren’t responsive to the aids in my current wardrobe, then I might be more open to what a dressage boot could do for me. My main horse is a TB, and while not hot to me, she is sensitive - TB mare! So I feel like my leg can rest on her and be supporting, but still give clear aids, in the dress boots. And small brag, I was lucky to get my size on sale and could tell DH I saved $500!
Buy what you like! I school in MH Firenze also, and love them; found for about $200 somewhere and they were easy break in. But there is no rule against showing in field boots if you decided to go somewhere, so if they are your preference that’s fine. I do not like a stiff boot, and seem to be doing just fine, not sure there is any magic in them.
I have both but I prefer my field boots. I only got dress boots when I started showing PSG, I don’t like the stiffness of them, but I know other people who prefer them for that exact reason.
I like the front zips on dressage boots, but if you’re sticking to training/first level work, I doubt you’d like the stiff boots. Mountain Horse Victoria is softer but has a front zips. I found them comfy, but not tall enough for me.
Buy what is comfortable for you and fits your budget. Judges certainly won’t notice or care which boots you wear, although rail birds might. I scored a pair of MH Victorias on closeout for $100! Had there been two pairs in my size I would have bought one pair for showing and a second for schooling.
For soft boots I really like my Ariat Volant S boots. I don’t know how long they will last but they sure are comfortable.
Just got a pair of the Dublin Galtymore Dressage boots. They are not stiff at all… have a front zip, nicely comfortable foot. Nice leather and quality. $245 any where in the US. I ordered from the UK, because the Regulars were too tall. UK has shorts. I don’t understand that one… but… Because I hate back zippers I would do these over the others.
Galtymores look interesting, I may try a pair when I replace schooling boots next few months.
DEAL OF DAY: If anyone including OP is looking for dress boots, Mountain Horse Victoria pair on sale at Dover for $69.99!!! Only size is 6, slim calf. Side zip, regularly just over $300.
I got a pair of Middleburg Dressage boots and love them. They are like wearing slippers… If you don’t show wear what is comfortable for you and on your horse.
I have nice dressage boots, but I almost exclusively ride in my Ariat V-Sports these days. I loff them. I relegated the dressage boots to shows and clinics only, which basically means they’re hardly ever going to get worn for a while because I am poor. I basically just start schooling in them maybe a week or so before I’ll be needing them to get used to them again, and we’re all good. Mine aren’t super stiff and I don’t ever plan to get a pair that is, even if I get to the upper levels. Life is too short to wear uncomfortable shoes.
Thank you for the input everyone.
I am planning on stopping in at tack shop close to my work which has a consignment section. Maybe I will get lucky. My wife calves at 16.5 inches can pose a problem with some brands of boots.
Additionally I am eying up a pair of boots from Divoza Horse world. It’s their house brand of boot but even with the exchange they are in my price range and looks like fun. I am waiting to find out the exact sizing on a pair of boots.
I am going into this adventure with an open mind. Luckily my boots will keep working for now, but hopefully in a month or less I will be sporting a new pair.
Erika
I got my Koenig dress boots used for $200ish. They’ve lasted me almost 10 years so far.
I did check out a tack shop yesterday that offers a consignment section. If I had smaller feet & calves I could have come away with a number of Cavelo dressage boots for less than $150.00.
The shop owner was great and I tried on a lot of styles of Ariat boots. Just to see what was or wasn’t going to fit. I am not sure that the Ariat brand works for me.
I am a member of a couple of Facebook groups selling tack. Something will come up. I just need to be patient.
The search continues.
Dude, what size shoes do you wear? I wear a size 10 and have the XW V-Sports to fit my 16.5-17" calves. Trust me, I understand wide calf frustration! However, I will say that they’re maybe just smidge too tall for me, but I make them work.
Not to hijack, but I went on line to look at Mountain Horse dress boots, and it looks like they are no longer making them…
Their website has only field boots; major tack shops only seem to have them in the clearance/sale areas – great prices, outlier sizes. Can anyone confirm???
I am a size 8 foot. I am also 5’4. While an xw fit easily in the calf it was gapping way out at my knee. While I am petite by most standards, I am not when it comes to my leg. Regular height boots fit me just fine. I am planning on visiting a few other tack shops in the next week and trying on a variety of brands. The one shop I have visited mostly had Ariat.
Not all tack shops in the USA ship to Canada. It would make my life easier if they did. Almost all of those deals that pop up aren’t available to me.
I really appreciate all the help. It’s nice to know I am not the only wider calved gal in a seemingly slim calved world. 
I’ve strayed away from Mt Horse a few times and have always come back. I think they are the most comfortable economy-priced boot.
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