How do you care for tall boots? New girl here.

[intermont_equestrian]

Hey guys! So I recently switched from western to hunter/jumper. So I recently purchased my first pair of tall boots. I purchased the Ariat Heritage Contour II Zip Field boots. I have NO CLUE how to take care of these. I have been looking at some different products but I have no clue what to buy and I’m super paranoid I’ll mess them up and in being a broke college student I can’t afford to purchase a new pair if I ruin these. I have worn them about three times to start breaking them in and my feet and behind my knees are killing me! So here are my questions:

1. Any tips on helping to break them in?
2. What are the best cleaners, conditioners, and polishes to use?
3. How often should they be conditioned, polished?

Thanks in advanced everyone!

[Bristol_Bay]

I find that frequent cleaning with any type of glycerin soap makes them attract dust. Here’s my routine:

First of all, I keep them at the barn and never wear them to do chores. I keep them in flannel drawstring sacks that came with an earlier, pricier pair, but two old pillowcases will do the trick. They always have boot trees in them. I think it protects the zippers.

After riding, I wipe all the dust off with a microfiber rag from the dollar store. Every few weeks, I use glycerin soap to clean the jockeys off, but I’m careful not to have too much soap in the sponge. Then I bring them home and polish them with Kiwi polish.

The important thing is that boots are not tack. You shouldn’t use the same products you use on your bridles.

[eclipse]

When breaking in I wet my socks and then wear the boots until my socks are dry. I also put a piece of mole skin behind my knees on the little tendon where they’ll rub raw! And those twolayered peelable heel raises will be your best friend until everything softens and settles.

For cleaning I keep them in a boot bag with trees in, I wipe the dust off with a soft cloth and clean the zippers with th a soft brush and lubricante it with zipperease. I use the boot polish my boots came with but never on the insides (they will squeak like crazy), I just apply with a brush and then use a polishing brush finishing with a rag to shine. Around the ankles, if they are stiff, I’ll put a bit of lederbalsam to help soften.

[Leave_No_Doubt]

Wear them everywhere. The barn, the grocery store, around the house, etc. (my friend from college wore hers under jeans to her internship for a few days). I second mole skin.

As for cleaning, the only things I touch my boots with are water and boot polish. Glycerin soap, saddle soap, etc. will strip the shine.

[Scribbler]

There have been a number of threads on this topic

Reading them I realize that people have largely forgotten how to care for good leather shoes. When I was a kid, everyone’s dad who worked in an office had leather shoes that got polished and shined regularly. They’d have polish at home and shoe shine stands around town.

You want the black paste wax polish like Kiwi polish that comes in cans, and some rags. You apply the polish, let dry, buff to a shine. Then wipe off dirt and dust that accumulates and reactivate the shine.

You don’t use leather balm or conditioner on them. Except maybe at the start to help the ankles soften.

I find the stress points on my boots are the foot bed, the inner calf and the zippers. Be prepared to replace zippers if they fail. Any shoe repair shop can do a good job of this.

For footbed, don’t wash your horse or muck stalls in your good boots. The damp and the pee really eats up leather.

The inside of the boot will gradually rub thin on the saddle.

[BackintheTack]

I have the same boots! I wear them both for schooling and showing. Mine gave me bruises on the back of my knees when breaking them in so I ended up using the bath tub method mentioned. it worked wonderfully. I also put in heel risers but I ended up keeping them in so long my boots molded to my leg shape with them so I never ended up taking them out (the Spanish top part rolls too far into the back of my knee on me which caused problems).

For cleaning, I only do it for shows but I show about every 3 weeks in the summer and have different winter boots. This is was I do and my boots are almost 2 years old and still show worthy despite 5x week use.

CLEAN:

1. brush excess dirt off boots
2. wipe down with sponge dampened with warm water.
3. apply glycerin soap, get the sponge sudsy. (I use the Antares brand soap but any glycerin soap will be fine)
4. get fresh warm water and wipe all the suds off with watery sponge
5. let dry completey

CONDITION: (the thing about conditioning is it makes dirt stick so I do is as needed, maybe every 2nd show)

1. apply conditioner and let dry (I use the Antares conditioner. its more of a cream and I like it a lot more than more oil based conditioners that I find more sticky)
2. let dry completely and wipe of any excess with soft cloth before next use

POLISH:

1. make sure boot is completely dry, dry, dry. I usually condition a few days before a show and use my paddock for a couple days
2. apply polish LIGHTLY (otherwise youll be working hard lol) but not the inside calf (as mentioned previously can color your saddle). also be careful of the top edges. for shows I just polish the parts the judge will see. I use Effax polish
3. let it dry (I usually give mine an hour or two or more)
4. buff it out. I use a rag but if you have a boot brush use that first and then polish with soft rag. quick brisk strokes are best

Also I use an old toothbrush to clean the zippers and nooks and crannies.
always store with boot trees.

[doublesstable]

Fun… you will love it. Sounds like you purchased a very nice pair of boots.

This has been my basic routine…

Break in -
ride in them.
They should break in fine if they fit you decent.

Storage -
If you have trouble around the ankle with break in and need more room you can use a small block of wood to stretch when they are stored.
Use boot trees when storing and lay flat in a soft lined boot bag. I don’t set them on the soles… causes too much breakdown.

Daily care -
Ride only, change into a slip on type boot that you can bathe, brush, clean stalls etc in. (I personally love my Uggs)
Wipe down with Effax Speedy Leather Shine. Don’t put on inside of the calf area.
Use a small stiff brush to brush off the soles of the boot and the zipper.
Every few days if you have sweat on the insides (calf) of the boot, use a glycerine soap and water to clean off the sweat. Only for the inside calf of the boot that touches the horse.

Once a week or so -
Wipe boots with Peitre cream boot polish. Let sit. Then use soft rag to create shine. Do not apply cream to the inside of the boot where the leg goes on the horse.
Apply Bickmore Bick 4 conditioner to the insides of the boot, where the calf touches the horse.

That’s it…

[hoopoe]

GAAAAAhhh DO NOT USE SADDLE PRODUCTS ON BOOT LEATHER

they are not the same, you don’t treat them the same you don’t need soap, and NEVER oil

damp cloth to clean off dirt and body oils.
boot polish paste-wax kind.

allow to dry in normal air. If they get wet or damp on the inside, allow them to dry out naturally, not from hot blown air or heaters.

maintain with boot trees

you can used some mink oil around the sole welt for waterproofing.
in wet environments, galoshas ( rubber overshoes) help preserve the foot

[ParadoxFarm]

To protect areas that rub, these are life savers. I’ve used them to break in Ariats behind my knee (they make different sizes, but that link gives you an idea.) https://www.amazon.com/CRS-Cross-Ankle-Gel-Sleeves/dp/B071HBSZLX My DH wears one every ride for a spot that rubs.

Good luck.

[doublesstable]

@hoopoe

GAAAAAhhh DO NOT USE SADDLE PRODUCTS ON BOOT LEATHER

they are not the same, you don’t treat them the same you don’t need soap, and NEVER oil

damp cloth to clean off dirt and body oils.
boot polish paste-wax kind.

allow to dry in normal air. If they get wet or damp on the inside, allow them to dry out naturally, not from hot blown air or heaters.

maintain with boot trees

you can used some mink oil around the sole welt for waterproofing.
in wet environments, galoshas ( rubber overshoes) help preserve the foot

Looks like there are some people that say not to use tack leather cleaners etc on boots… I have had several boot companies and reputable tack stores suggest certain products for boot care that are for leather.

I have the same boots I rode in when I was 20, now 50++ and they look great. Of course I don’t ride in them because they don’t have zippers. I found zippers very easy after years of fighting it.

I have Treadsteps that look brand new and are 10 years old - I only retired them because the zipper broke. Not worth fixing.

I bought Parlantis two years ago and they still look brand new and I ride in them every day and show in them too. From my experience the products I use works so far. I disagree with not conditioning or caring for the insides of the boot where the sweat accumulates. I do agree with no oil on boots.

I have heard years ago not to use Hydrophane oil on bridles and saddles because it will rot the stitching and will damage the leather durability… I have found with experience that hasn’t been the case for me either. I don’t do it often but still go to the oil for bridles and saddles.

I do live in a very dry climate maybe reason I do care differently for the insides of the boots where the sweat sticks and maybe the oil on tack.

[OutsidersOpinion]

I use regular tack soap, then condition the inside (instead of sticky spray) or where the boot may rub if new, and then polish at shows. I use tack soap after every ride with a wet sponge then wipe off. I have sergio’s and parlantis that I alternate depending on the day. No issue with either of them, and my last boots held up 5 years doing that I only needed new ones because of sizing. I also rarely use boot trees, ride several horses a day, and bathe horses in them.

I don’t think theres any stead fast rule to boots, but I will warn you a friend of mine who wears Ariats ends up buying a new pair about every 6 months because the leather around the toe rots(best description i can give). My best guess is due to water? I’ve never had that problem so not sure. I wouldn’t stress too much just maybe get some rubber booties.

[Scribbler]

I got rubber overshoes at one point but they actually were quite a tug to get on and off, and when on definitely made the boot foot tighter. I find it easier to just switch from tall boots to paddock or rubber boots for chores.