Emergency...need to break in boots FAST! LOL

[tbmorgan]

Ok, the timing couldn’t be worse…my trusty, broken-in everyday boots have blown out on the side by my pinky toe and I mean in a BIG way…and I have a clinic in 3 weeks! My alternate pair of boots is still VERY new (they are Ariat Maestro Pro’s…extra stiff… that I have only worn/ridden in 4 or 5 times…OUCH) and although they look fabulous and I’m sure they will be wonderful in time, I wasn’t quite planning on needing them this soon! I thought I’d be able to break them in at my leisure over the fall/winter! Now, I don’t want to show up at this clinic looking like a redneck with my comfy boots all taped together (I was at least thinking black electrical tape rather than shiny silver duct tape) but I can’t bear the thought of riding in not-very-broken-in boots for a weekend of Important Expensive Lessons! I would be in too much pain to be able to get much out of the lessons. I’ve started riding one horse a day in these new boots (done it twice so far this week) and thus far, I need a mounting block to get on my 14.3h Morgan as I can only bend my knee enough to get my foot about 18" off the ground, and my ankles think they are being sawed in half when I drop my heels down. Any suggestions on speeding the breaking-in process??

Many thanks,
Katja

[amm2cd]

Try using leather conditioner on the inside of the boots at and around the ankle, to help the breaking in process. Don’t use it on the uppers, since that part you want to keep stiff. It’s not instant (nothing in this sport is) but it will make the breaking in process quicker.
Best of luck!

[WW_Queen]

Do a search in the H/J forums. They have a million answers when it comes to questions about breaking in $$$ boots!

[atr]

Could you not get the trusty old ones fixed? I’d be running down to the local shoe repair shop, myself.

[tbmorgan]

Unfortunately, the trusty old ones were Methusela’s boots before they were mine…they have already been resoled 6 times and the last time I took them to the cobbler’s, he said it would be positively the last time he could put new soles on them as there was barely anything left to stitch to. They have since dry-rotted on the side, hence the blow-out, so there’s no fixing that, unfortunately. Thanks for the suggestions so far, guys…I appreciate it!

Katja

[goeslikestink]

cut a potato up and peal it, stuff the cut potato in boot where it hurts and then pack around it with old newspaper leave overnight – then if you need a tweak shove the boot over a broom handle and adjust it ie push the broom handl in boot and tweak it where it hurts

old remedy and boots will be fine

[Speedy]

I just recently soaked my new boots in a tub of hot water for about 4 hours. After taking them out and patting them dry, I applied pure Neat’s Foot Oil to the INSIDE of the boots, from just above the ankle down. I then laid them down on a towl to air dry and when about 1/2 dry, applied more Neat’s Foot Oil. I wore them to ride before they were completely dry. This works for me, I have done this with 3 different pairs of boots (2 of which were Ariats) without any ill effects.

The other thing that you can do to reduce the discomfort while you break them in is to buy the ankle protection socks that figure skaters wear. The socks are filled with gel around the ankle. It is great protection from the hard ridges that you get in the anke area of your boot as it sinks. Any ice skate repair shop will have them and they are cheap.

One more thing that I’ve done, which most people are way too afraid to do - but which works perfectly if the boots have zippers - take the boots to the ice skate repair shop and ask them to ‘punch out’ the ankles. There is a machine that they put the ice skates on when they are new to help break them in. They’ll ask you to pinpoint which part of the ankle is causing the most pain and do the work on that. The leather will stretch a bit at that point, but it relieves the pressure and mine have always kind of bounced back into shape afterwards - plus it’s where the ridges fall, so you can’t see it anyway. The boots need to have zippers though, or they won’t fit on the machine.

[Blkarab]

[QUOTE=Speedy;3600431]
I just recently soaked my new boots in a tub of hot water for about 4 hours. After taking them out and patting them dry, I applied pure Neat’s Foot Oil to the INSIDE of the boots, from just above the ankle down. I then laid them down on a towl to air dry and when about 1/2 dry, applied more Neat’s Foot Oil. I wore them to ride before they were completely dry. This works for me, I have done this with 3 different pairs of boots (2 of which were Ariats) without any ill effects.

The other thing that you can do to reduce the discomfort while you break them in is to buy the ankle protection socks that figure skaters wear. The socks are filled with gel around the ankle. It is great protection from the hard ridges that you get in the anke area of your boot as it sinks. Any ice skate repair shop will have them and they are cheap.

One more thing that I’ve done, which most people are way too afraid to do - but which works perfectly if the boots have zippers - take the boots to the ice skate repair shop and ask them to ‘punch out’ the ankles. There is a machine that they put the ice skates on when they are new to help break them in. They’ll ask you to pinpoint which part of the ankle is causing the most pain and do the work on that. The leather will stretch a bit at that point, but it relieves the pressure and mine have always kind of bounced back into shape afterwards - plus it’s where the ridges fall, so you can’t see it anyway. The boots need to have zippers though, or they won’t fit on the machine.[/QUOTE]

Wow–what great suggestions. I’m getting ready to purchase a new pair of boots and will keep this post in mind for when I’m ready to do the break-in process.

Good luck OP with the clinic.

[Jay-N-Jete]

What I did with the Maestosos -
I figured out after a painful ride! The boots finally started to give, when I got them sweaty!!

So, before each ride, I would just sponge down the ankle on the inside of the boot. (where it HURTS and where its going to wrinkle) Just wet enough to change the color of the leather…not we enough to get your foot wet!

Then I’d do “side lunges” - squat and put one leg out to the side, sole to the floor and encourage the wrinkles on the inside ankle.
Then do “heels down” on the step into the tack room.
Then ride in 2point for the first 5-10 minutes while horsey was walking out.

Took about 10 rides and I realized they weren’t hurting anymore!!

[pintopiaffe]

Search for “Cavalry Crease”, I think Jessica Jaheil (sp?) has it on her site. It is the best way to break in new boots without ruining them.

You don’t WANT them soft. You just paid big bucks for stiff “dressage” boots. The ankles are not SUPPOSED to be soft, they are supposed to keep you from lifting your heel to niggle, help you use your calf, not your heel, etc. etc No, they’re not entirely supposed to draw blood… but you spent a lot of money, be careful what advice you take. :uhoh:

I creased mine correctly, and used vetrap. And I always use a mounting block anyway, under the premise of the horse’s back, but more because of MY back and knee.

[swgarasu]

I have the maestro pros, and they weren’t too bad to break in- I think it only took about 3 weeks. I did work them pretty good when i wasn’t riding- mainly just bending the ankles at various angles while holding the boots in my hands [not with my feet in them of course ]. I would not walk around in them after you ride till they are broken in because I think that will cause more pain/damage to your ankles than riding. I love the vet wrap idea, I think if I were you I would try hard not to get an open wound from the rubbing because that makes it take so much longer while you wait for healing. I know people talk about soaking the boots but I still believe that it cannot be good for the leather, and I don’t believe it’s necessary for these boots anyway.

[Trevelyan96]

You can also put some moleskin on the inside of the boot in the ankle area that hurts… I did this with a new pair of paddock boots and it was like night and day!

[Icecapade]

we used to break in combat boots two ways…

wear them to death in the house…

hot water then wear them to almost death. heating up the leather softens it, so that is usually a good way to go…

the sweat comment = same effect!

good luck

[IceQueen]

Saddlesoap

Feibing’s saddlesoap. Coat the inside around the entire ankle worked great for my brand new feild boots. LOL I think I can still feel the pain of when I tried breaking them in w/ out it.

Cat,

[Jane_Savoie]

TBMorgan,
I always get the stiffest Koenig boots, and break them in in one day. Here’s what I do. I soak the entire inside in rubbing alcohol and then wear them while they’re wet. (Alcohol is the major ingredient in shoe stretch products.) The inside of my boots mold to my foot and leg so they’re instantly “custom” from the inside out.

ONLY do this once!!! Otherwise, you’ll really do some damage to your boots. But you’ll find that once is enough…and I’ve never had a problem with longevity if I just do it that one time.
Good luck!

[egontoast]

I’m dealing with this same problem and a very credible source told me to fill them with Schnaps and let them sit for 24 hours. The boots, I mean, not the friend. Well, her too.

I only have some pino grigio here and I sure hate to waste it although I may be able to rebottle and sell it on ebay to strange people afterwards.

[Jazzy_Lady]

Did the person who fit you for them not crease them for you?

When I bought my cavallo’s, the man who fitted me at the tack shop also creased them. I’ve been able to wear them to ride since day one. I’ve done no conditioning, no soaking, nothing.

Take them somewhere who knows what they are talking about and have them set the natural crease for your ankle.

[patch_work_farm]

I am surprised to hear that your Ariats have been such a problem, I have had 4 different pair of the Maestros and all of them felt broken in from day one. When I bought my Konigs, I bought heel “risers” so that they wouldn’t hurt as much around the ankle and that worked perfectly, never had a problem. I did put Journeyman’s conditioner on the inside as well as the outside of the boots.

I have to say, of all of the suggestions you’ve gotten, the potato was the most interesting.

Also get really thick socks and wear your boots around the house, while watching TV, doing things other than riding and just keep giving yourself breaks. If you do this every night, in 3 weeks you should be set (try the heel lifts too).

[CDNJumperGirl]

Two words:

Heel Lifts

[tbmorgan]

Wow, guys…thanks!

Wow…I haven’t been able to check messages for a couple of days due to work/time constraints, and I came back to LOTS of help!
I’m liking the alcohol idea(s)…rubbing alcohol for the boots and Schnapps for my belly! LOL
I’m going to try it, but in the meantime I have ridden in them about 3 more times and I can tell they are (gradually) starting to get better. I have hopes that they will be comfy by clinic time! Only 2 weeks to go now!

Thanks again,
Katja