I wish I could answer that but I have never even put on normal tall riding boots. The heel is very similar, but they are very hard in kind of antique way. Nothing like the ariat paddock boots I have. I am glad you mentioned Dehner because that’s where I got my custom polo boots. I wonder if they still have all my info from back in the day!
This is so helpful, thank you! I have a kind of dumb question… What is the purpose of the laces? Will I be ok doing any show without the laces? I cannot stand the way laces look.
For your Deniros I have had great luck getting boot calves stretched by the cobbler when the old water trick was not enough. Strangely my calves have grown a little in the last 15 years and those Dehner polo boots get mighty painful if I dare to gain more than 4 lbs or so. So annoying.
For hunters, you could buy either field boots, with the laces at the ankle, or dress boots, which are plain. Either is highly acceptable but black is your color. Nothing with bling or gobs of crocodile trim, etc., though a tiny bit of pizazz at the top of the boot is OK. Look at the Ariat boots that are on the upper end of the spectrum, that have the “cobalt” foot bed. That has an extremely high arch support and is very comfy ( and I have sciatica issues, too). I think the Ariats are perfectly fine, and they generally tend to last forever. Between the height options, calf size options and style selection, you can get an almost-custom product from them.
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Sounds like you want a nice hunter-ring appropriate dress boot, which is simple enough these days.
Come visit us at Manhattan Saddlery when you visit NYC this summer! We have a fabulous Vogel fitter who has been working them for 30 years available by appointment in the shop - no need to trek to Brooklyn. Plus, tons of Ariat and DeNiro off the shelf if you don’t want to go custom. There’s really no need anymore unless you have truly unusual proportions, or just want to add something fun.
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That sounds fabulous! I am pretty sure I will be fine in something off the shelf, the more I look at everything. I just dont have tiny little grasshopper legs like the teenagers at the barn. I am so glad I don’t have to get the laces! I don’t know why they bother me but they do. I am also so glad everyone here is so helpful. I really did not want to be the mom at the barn asking some 19 year old weird boot questions and trying to be cool.
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Those “leather sock” boots you’ve been admiring are made of very soft leather. They do not have much of any break-in tome, but if you want boots to last a long time and use them a lot, they aren’t a good choice. On the plus side, they are in style.
I agree with those who have been recommending a classic brand like Vogel. Personally, I like a classic look but want the convenience of zippers, so when I replaced my 70s-era Dehners (which I still wear for schooling), I went with customs by Randy Kroop. She didn’t want to put the zippers in, but she did it at my request. And by the way, mine are dress boots with a round toe.
Good luck in your boot shopping.
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I still have my Fabbri boots from my junior years. 
But, I am currently looking at Tredstep. I love their half chaps that have stood the test of young horses chewing on them, mud, cold etc…I am returning to the show ring; and am still of the opinion, plain and simple is better. I usually measure for customs in the afternoons with show breeches on and change to daily breeches and measure again. No one pinches new boots anymore. 
My old Dehners came pinched, so did the Fabbri. This time I shall go for zippers. Never have. Still have my boot hooks too. Tredstep I have seen on others, kind of a semi custom boot. Not willing to shell out a ton of money…not yet.
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Maybe I’ve just been lucky and therefore am naive, but unless you’re riding multiple horses a day, you should be fine with the “leather sock” boots with the thin (and comfy!) leather. I have two pairs of Parlantis, one of which has been beaten to hell and back - traipsing through mud puddles, mucking stalls, etc… after 5 years, the soles are justttt starting to look like they might need to be reinforced by a cobbler. Never had zipper issues with either pair. I clean them after every wear and make sure there is no gunk in the zippers, but then they just get tossed in a tack trunk. Love them to death.
I’d recommend Parlanti, Tucci or Fabbri off the rack. If you want some sort of custom cosmetic change to, say, Tucci, I believeeee you can still order standard sizing with the custom additions (i.e. punched toe cap or something like that). That way, you get the unique boots you want without the potential nightmare of custom sized boots.
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If it hurts to walk around in your tall boots, don’t walk around in them. I wear other shoes to the barn, put my boots on before I mount, then take them off immediately when I’m done. It helps preserve them, IME.
If you can make it out to Thermal, it would be great to be measured by an expert. I don’t know where you live, but the boot ladies at Damoors by LAEC really know their stuff, also.
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What brand are those?
i know simple talllll black is in style, at least where i am (southern usa). i went to a small tack shop with an owner who has 40 years of experience and she told me as tight and tall as will fit on your leg
i have ariat heritage field boots and theyre suuuper comfy and look nice! i used to get blisters walking around at shows but i bought some regular gel heel lifters and now i can wear all day. theyre plain and simple do they work for lots of things.
theyre moderately priced which is a plus (i got them for $300). i find them easy to keep clean and looking nice and the leather has stayed hydrated with minimal care so far. highly recommend them if youre looking for something lower on the price end!
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i believe the laces make the ankles more flexible and therefore cause you less pain when you put your heels down. they also make walking around in the boots more comfortable because, again, flexibility. im not sure about big rated shows but i would assume no laces is okay at least in the majority of shows. they dont change the look drastically so i wouldnt think you would have any problems? except wearing all day may not be comfortable. someone correct me if im wrong!
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they are Ovation Maribella. I paid $165 for them. Havent recieved them yet but can let you know when i go!
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I wish I could take my boots off during the day but I have to ride too many horses and walk them to and from pastures. The only time I have ever been stepped on is when I am moving them from place to place, so I promised myself no changing out of boots until I leave the barn. Hopefully I can sneak away to Thermal when I am there, and if not there is a big show near where I live coming up soon so I can go there and peruse. No fancy tack shops in my town, unfortunately.
One option that a bunch of my friends have that are totally custom and didn’t break the bank are La Mundials. They have tons of customizable options and everyone I know that has them really likes them!
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I know nothing of custom or super fancy boots…I bought my DD a pair of semi custom deniro’s…they fit beautifully! The leather is luscious and when we pulled them out of the box, there was no chemical smell. They smelled delicious, like leather, citrus and olive oil! And so far, they wear like steel…only super comfy!
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This is all really good to know. I have a really awesome leather repair guy who has done magical things to other boot zippers, so the famous Parlanti zipper issue really does not scare me too much. I am dying over your ankle flex. How on earth do you do that? The fact that I am about to own boots where that kind of movement is even possible is so exciting to me. Words can’t accurately describe how stiff and uncomfortable polo boots are.
One frightening side effect of this fancy boot shopping spree I have been on is that I now see that some of the fancy comfortable boot makers actually make polo boots, although I have never ever seen them in use on the field anywhere in the country. I doubt they would offer enough protection, but it is cool to imagine having comfortable feet while playing, haha.
I’m hard to fit and don’t like riding in paddock boots/half chaps. I thought I was going to have to go custom until the tack store in town started carrying the new second line Di Nero offers. They were about $399. Not cheap, but still nowhere near the cost of customs. No break in period and they’re extremely comfy for walking. I really got to test them the other week when I ended up leading my horse back to the barn from our hack when we encountered the hunt. Lol. About a mile over rough ground leading a bouncy horse and they were as comfy as my gym shoes.
Boots seem to vary so widely by manufacturer. I was poking around on Olsen’s yesterday. Somehow, I am a medium wide to wide calf and so short I’m not on the size chart for most companies. But I am a perfect N in ready made Konig according to their size chart. That’s the smallest, most narrow calf they make. What gives? For reference, I’m 5’2", 115 lbs, but with size 8 feet. Humans definitely come smaller but I’m fairly petite for a grown up. Maybe the Italian brands consider my calves muscular like yours? Lol
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I noticed Konig makes polo boots - they’re calling a “new style” polo boot . Even here, where people have enough money to buy whatever the heck they want, I haven’t seen anyone in those yet. Maybe they just get traditional style polo boots custom made? Tri-County Feed has a huge selection of polo clothing and equipment. I’ve have to poke my nose in and see. You’ve got me curious now!
I am almost positive that Parlanti has upgraded their zippers in the last few years. Not sure if it was before or after 2016, so doublesstables’ boots that blew could be with the new zippers, but the zippers on my two pairs are different from one another. Neither has busted (yet), but I love them so much I’ll probably just replace the zippers rather than shell out for new boots.
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