so I like to ride in my tall boots every ride- 3-4 times per week. Of course that means I’m lucky if they last 2 years. Does anyone have advice for longer lasting boots? I currently have ariats. I would be willing to pay more if I knew that a more pricey type would last longer, but I’m afraid to spend more and be in the same boat.
What do you do to care for them? Do you wear them only to ride or do you do chores, etc in them? Unless you’re riding 10 horses a day 3-4x a week, I would think you should get more than 2 years out of a pair.
I’ve been riding in the same Ariat paddock boots and Kentaur half chaps for 7 years at 3-4x a week. My boots even have zippers so lasting that long is almost unheard of. However, I only wear my boots to ride. When I untack, they come off and I put on other footwear. I don’t bathe, muck stalls or stand in the dusty arena in my boots. I’d like to say I clean and condition them regularly but that would be a stretch.
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I ride in my inexpensive Ariat Heritage Contours every single day and have been for a long time, and they’re still in great condition. I put them on before I ride and take them off as soon as I untack my horse. They’re cleaned and conditioned regularly and live in a padded boot bag with boot trees.
I wear cheap old sneakers around the barn. Even the most expensive tall boots will fall apart if you wear them hard.
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I have never had daily rider boots that lasted for more than 2 years. Doesn’t matter the brand. I’ve had a lot more Ariat than anything else, but I’ve also had a variety of other brands including Der Dau, Vogel, Grand Prix, and many others. Granted, I ride 4-6 a day 6-7 days a week, and I also do all of my barn work (feeding, mucking, etc.) in them and end up wading through mud much more frequently than I wish I had to. So I trash my boots and then some. But short answer, 2 years is my average life expectancy for tall boots that are worn every day.
I will add, though, that by “last” I mean that they look as good as they did when I got them. My last 2 pair of Ariats (red stripe Volants and V Sport) are still completely functional - they just got stretched out and kind of “baggy” in the leg. So I gave the Volants to a friend and they’re still going strong 3 years later.
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Ok so I must be doing something really wrong.
the number I ride varies but usually it is only one. I do wash in them usually so I’ll stop doing that. The last pair I had the zipper completely broke and they have holes by the toe and in the calf. Current pair, at almost exactly two years has holes at the toe (where my toes flex when walking) and calf, one busted snap, and a zipper about to go.
I wont say always, but I usually wipe them off every ride with saddle soap, and for sure do if they are wet/ sweaty or dusty. They do live outside of a boot bag- I don’t have space for one. They are inside a trunk. Would the washing/ no bag make that much difference? Am I just unusually hard on them? Sigh.
Saddle soap and boots are not necessarily a good match. Some are harsher than others; I’d definitely stay away from using it for more than occasional serious cleaning.
It (saddle soap on boots) can turn into a bit of a religious debate and there are probably threads findable elsewhere here about that combination–some people would use much stronger language and much more absolute terms.
PS: I wear my tall boots full-time at the barn and would be horrified to only get two years out of them. I credit the protective mud coating with their endurance.
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Washing = hosing off/bathing your horse? Then yes that will really take a toll on your boots. I get $25 rubber muck boots from Tractor Supply for that. If you wear your tall boots as if they’re muck boots, then yes they will fall apart very fast. I don’t even wear mine out to the field to catch my horse because boots are expensive and I’d like for mine to last as long as possible.
I keep my boot bag on top of my tack trunk. Keeping them clean and out of the elements is really important to keeping them in good condition.
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Saddle soap may be breaking down the stitching. I would wipe with a damp rag only. Polish as needed. My VSports are going on 4 years old and cracking at the toe, but I do more than just ride in them.
By washing I just mean hosing off after a ride, not with soap. But ok, I’ll stop that. I mostly just feel bad and don’t want to make him wait - so itchy! 
So if you don’t use soap, do you just wipe them off only? Even when all sweaty?
Pretty much. Maybe a damp cloth, maybe a brush around the welt to get the crud out. Then polish.
Coincidentally enough there’s another thread right now on boot care in Off Course which I think has a bunch of good advice: https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/off-course/10110465-boot-cleaning
Individual wear does vary. For instance I must hit the branch of the stirrup with the inside foot on one foot because all my boots crack there first.
Don’t get your field boots wet. I have destroyed two pairs of paddock boots in under 2 years each
, blundstones and Ariat H20 twin gore by being too lazy to change into gumboots when I hose off the horse. My winter H20 paddocks are fine probably because I don’t wash horse in winter!
You can also buy a boot cleaner/boot conditioner. Der Dau makes one. I’ve never used it before, but it gets good reviews.
My paddock boots are Ariat Cobalts circa 2005. I mean I wouldn’t walk a runway in them but they look fine. I have used them 2 days a week on 2 horses, more or less, for years. I also have a 3 year old pair of 2-3 day per week Volant S boots I love and would show in, they look great.
my “secret” is to not do stalls in them. I think ammonia from pee breaks leather down fast. I always hose off in the warm season in my boots. And never change out between horses. I do use the Der Dau conditioner once a month or so, and wipe them down most days with a wet rag unless I am in too much of a hurry. Sweat sitting on them will hurt them over time too.
I also am a very good polisher. I used to have a student who was the daughter of a cop and my dad was in the army. I can shine a boot to kingdom come even if it ain’t new!
Steer away from the super soft calfskin types. They are gorgeous at first but too thin for horse sport if you want them to last.
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I ride in my boots daily. Often more than one horse. And they last longer than 2 years. I found buying quality is the difference.
I have Sergio Grasso boots. They fit me like custom. I do hose off my horses in them but the wipe them off. My Ariats were good boots but didn’t last as long (or fit as well).
I do think walking too much in them may break them down quicker.
Today’s boots are made from much softer leather, because buyers get so pleased when the boot is super comfortable right out of the box. But that also means that they don’t last like they used to. I would recommend a pair of Cavallo boots. Their 2nd-cheapest line uses full-grain leather that will be more durable. They’re custom and run about $750.
Hmmm. Ariats have really gone up a lot the past couple of years, at least in Canadian $. The very cheapest line discontinued too. I got the entry level unlined Heritage in 2010 for under $200 on sale and a backup pair of lined Challenge discontinued for about $150 in 2012. Still wearing the 2010 boots with zipper replacements and a few stitches, haven’t needed to put the 2012 into regular use. This is riding daily spring summer fall but also alternating with paddock boots and half chaps.
Now Ariats seem to be starting at about $450 CAD. That’s getting expensive for boots that aren’t that sturdy. Though if Cavallo is $750 USA that will be over $1000 CAD…
Not only have prices been going up, but again, that soft buttery leather may feel great, but there’s a consequence. I used to wear Mountain Horse religiously, but they changed their leather about 2 years ago and their boots don’t hold up anymore. Keep looking for boots that use full grain leather so that you can keep them for a while!
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Thanks for so much good advice everyone.
Sounds like the “secret” is just a combination of needing a bit better care, plus maybe getting not the soft ones. Honestly I chose the ariats because I could afford them- $750 for boots is a bit much for me. Though, if they last longer than 5 years I would have spent the same amount…so maybe time to start saving!
there are more brands out there than I knew about too. Maybe some good looking around will help me learn more too.
Does polish actually protect the leather? I thought it just made it look shiney.
I have the Ariat V-Sports which actually have quite soft leather…they felt custom right out of the box…and they’ve lasted me a good 5 years. I’ve abused them, too. I absolutely love these boots and would recommend them to anyone. The sole is just now starting to separate but everything else still looks great on them. They’re about $300 I believe.
I think Ariats are notorious for zippers breaking. I was just showing in mine and I don’t think they lasted a season. My everyday boots are Mountain Horse tall boots and they have been going forever (at least 5 years) and still look pretty good. My previous pair was also Mountain Horse, and they are still perfectly functional.
