What dressage boots have a wide toe box/ are suitable for bunions?
I’m pretty sure my riding boots have contributed to me getting bunions, as most riding boots have quite a pointed/ narrow toe. Are there any that offer a wide toe box? I’m willing to get a custom pair if need be.
My custom Petries were made on a wide last with plenty of room for my x-wide feet. I just sent tracings of my foot per their instructions and they chose the footbed. I went through Dutchridingboots.com.
I have non-custom Petries for my bunion and neuroma riddled feet.
Same problem as you have. I’ve gone up a full size in boots to accommodate. Don’t pick boots with a toe cap, the seam on top caps lands right on the bunion and can be quite painful. I know of no off the shelf boots that are made in a wide foot. If you can go custom it’s probably your best bet. I’m currently wearing a pair of Ariat V Sport, they are comfortable. I have an older pair of MH Victoria which are also comfortable, but I bought them used so someone else broke them in.
I just went to men’s boots, due to my bunions. Wider. I wear paddock boots and chaps. I don’t show, so no need for tall boots. Maybe this approach wouldn’t work with tall boots, due to men’s calf sizes normally being wider. No idea.
I wear Ariat Devon Nitro paddock boots. Great boots. Really and truly are waterproof. And comfortable, at least for my feet.
In a women’s, I wear a 9 1/2. With men’s boots, an 8 is the same size. Their stock medium in men’s would likely be a wide in women’s.
Had to get wider stirrups also, to accommodate the wider boots. But my feet are now WAY happier.
That link doesn’t seem to work for me/ load.
Did you get them through this place? : https://www.dutchridingboots.eu/
Oops, sorry, yes. I’ve bought 2 pairs of custom boots from him and had a barn mate go to see him in person. Great experience. I have extra, extra wide feet and also have had neuromas (had the surgery but still have some discomfort).
My local shop (shout out to EquusNow!) had me go up a size in a tall boot and it worked. That was Ariats and they feel great meaning I DON’T feel a thing on that spot. I like the idea of custom though too just maybe pricier? I have big nasty bunions and determined to avoid surgery.
Over the years it’s always been recommended to buy men’s boots and maybe that’s an idea for you too?
Yes - custom Petries are definitely the way to go. Only boots I can ride in with my duck feet (short and wide).
Just curious why no one has mentioned Dehners if you are going for custom boot?
I owned Dehners for 20 years. Despite being custom they never fit right. The price is higher than my custom Petries and I didn’t like the boots as much.
My current boots are by Deniro. I’ve had them for a few years and have had to get them repaired a couple of times (the stitching came undone on one heel and the zippers kept popping open on both boots), and now the leather on the inside calves are almost wearing a hole.
They’re convenient to get as a local tack store sells them, but I don’t think they come in different footbed widths and I wasn’t totally happy with the quality.
For ordering the Petrie boots on the dutchridingboots site, are they just ordered by submitting the “Measure manual and form”? The “Customize your boots” option just takes me to the page to buy stock sizes.
For getting a custom Petrie boot, does anyone know if you can mix and match styles between boots? If I’m getting a custom pair there are a couple of (aesthetic) details that I’d like to add to their traditional dressage boot. Not sure if they do this? I emailed to ask, but thought I’d ask here to see if anyone had done anything similar before!
I don’t know but Peter Van Huet, the Dutch Riding Boots guy, is very helpful. When I bought my first pair from him, I wanted the Anky Elegance boot but in a more durable leather and he was able to tell me that Petrie did offer that boot in cow rather than calf leather even though it wasn’t advertised as an option at the time.
I’m talking with Peter Van Huet at Dutch Riding Boots now and he is very helpful! He has recommended a couple of different models and is able to use my measurements to customize them. I’ve also asked for a couple of aesthetic changes and those are all doable too. Hopefully we can get the rest of the details sorted out and I’ll have a new pair of boots on the way!
I hope you have as nice as an experience as I have.
If you have a good shoe/leather repair person, they might be able to stretch the spot you need on a leather boot. They have stretchers with bunion attachments.
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