If you soak them in warm water and then were them around the house it helps
Rolling the leather back and forth in the spots you want softened does wonders. And I mean rolling tightly. Think of folding a new leather rein back on inself and rolling that one folded spot back and forth for ten or twenty minutes.
With boots it will take time, effort, and crampy hands but it is worth it There is no magic chemical to match it , and you don’t have to climb stairs in new boots, which is what I used to do to break the ankles down.
Just park yourself in front of a good show or movie, and have at it.
I think 14 years on she probably managed to break them in. This thread is from 2008.
I sure would hope she has broken them in by now!
Or breaking in her next new pair as we post.