Sorry for another boot thread, but I just wore my pair of Konigs tonight for the first time, and they hurt like crazy! I know they need to break in, but I’m scared they’re too tall–I had to lengthen my stirrups a hole, and even then, if I bent my knee slightly (couldn’t even hardly get up the mounting block) they dug in the back! The width around is perfect, but should they be this tall starting out? They’re the grandgesters if that helps! TIA!! I don’t remember my last pair being like this… and I had them measured by a tack shop–I didn’t do it myself.
If they have zippers, they don’t fall much at all, so just barely higher than where the back of your knee bends. Unzipped fall more, but I’ve heard no more than 1/4".
Maybe try putting some heel lifts in until they drop and see if that helps. I fit people to boots all the time, and I usually tell them that the front of the boot should hit mid-kneecap to start with, allowing room for the boot to drop 1/2" (give or take) so that it will then be where it is supposed to be. However, I think people have a little more leeway with dressage boots because most of them have a top that helps elongate the leg more than most field boots do. My dressage boots were pretty exact when I got them and are now maybe a smidge short in back, but I don’t care because they have a super high Spanish top to them so it isn’t even noticeable.
How tall should they be you ask? IMO, as tall as possible with spanish cut on the outside.
Most boots will hurt at first, especially behind the knee. You just have to deal with it. What I do is buy those round make-up sponges and put them behind the knee and in other places where I’m getting rubbed.
I have new Konig Favorits with zippers. I was told to order 2cm taller than what I measured out to. When I first started out mine fit like yours, perfect around the calf but felt crazy tall. I basically had to walk with peg legs and it was a major struggle to mount (impossible from the ground, getting up mounting block steps also very challenging…). Fast forward about 15 rides later and I can now walk normally, even squat to remove polos/boots and one is genuinely comfortable to ride in while the other still rubs a little bit behind my knee. I think in 5-10 more rides I’ll be golden. It’s a painful process though. The back of my knees are not a pretty sight in a sundress but those should fade and I’m happy with the boots.
Thanks guys! Heel lifts and suck it up then (; The thing that worried me was that I couldn’t use my leg–I couldn’t bend my knee enough that my lower leg could touch his sides and had to carry a dressage whip (which I never do with my guy bc he doesn’t need it.)
I just got a new pair of Petrie’s this past week and I’m dreading the break in process! :no: I’ve also heard the suggestion about putting sponges behind your knees for a little padding. Other than that it sounds like we just have to stick it out like everyone says!
Glad I wear dehners They have made me 4 pairs of boots over the years and I’ve never had discomfort breaking them in
I know that everyone wants really “tall” tall boots, and I did too. But I ended up returning my Ariat tall boots due to the pressure they put behind my knees during break-in. It actually caused nerve pain and damage in my ankles due to the Achilles’ tendon pressure. It is taking months to recover from. So, my thought is, form over function is not always best! I hope that your break-in time goes quickly 
I’m a h/j gal (so I know our boot styles differ) but I feel your pain! I ordered REALLY tall custom DeNiro’s, and basically had to ride with them ‘un-buttoned’ and slightly unzipped for like 5 months until they dropped some :lol:
Photo proof here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BJQezrkD14y/?taken-by=kelly_baylor
Good luck!!
Bumping this thread up–I did get heel lifts, but even so I have between quarter and golf ball sized bruises behind each knee! Any other suggestions?
Try Equifit Gel bands . It’s a band you put around your leg with a gel inside that protects you from rubs. I am using them now while I break in new Cavallos. Mine actually rub me the most on the inside at the top so I actually stuck a few squares of gauze to pad where they are pinching and that made a huge difference. Honestly though I do thing boot fitters go a bit crazy trying to make bots as tall as possible. I have had much better luck measuring myself and ordering online
I have new petries, and at first I was worried I had bought them too tall- they hit mid kneecap but felt so high. However, about 5 rides in they are staring to break in and drop.
I don’t know why people hurt themselves this much breaking in boots though- yes, I get tender, but the first couple of rides I wore them for about 20 minutes- just walk and some posting trot- then I hopped off, changed back into my old boots, and got back on and finished the ride. I waited a week to 10 days for my legs to feel perfectly normal, then rode in them again for 20 minutes or so, repeat. Now that I have about 5 rides in them, I can wear them longer. I know they will eventually break in, but I see no purpose in giving myself open sores or lasting bruises. I suggest you take your time breaking them in.
I’ve always ridden in Petries and found it took a dozen rides for them to fall enough to be comfy. Golf ball size bruises sounds extreme to me. Do you have any recourse where you bought them?
When I worked at Dover, I was taught to offer these tips:
1 - Heel lifts
2 - Gelbands
3 - Leave unzipped at top (0.5"-1.0" or more)
You can try any combination of the above. Heel lifts work by relieving a bit of the pressure behind your knee, and gelbands help by preventing friction rubs. For boots with rear zippers, don’t zip all the way up even while riding until they break down enough to be comfortable. For boots with side zippers, leave unzipped at top while you groom and tack up, then zip them up right before you mount (in general, you can’t leave them unzipped while riding or the zipper will mar your saddle.) For boots without zippers, cry. :o
Cry!! Good one!
I just ordered a pair of Cavallos through Dover and they told me that they would only fall 1 cm so I ordered them for just barely above where I could comfortably bend my leg. One thing they had me do too was to sit on a dummy horse when I tried on the boots because they wanted to see how they rested when I was in a dressage saddle which is not something that I would have thought of trying. Interestingly, the boots were a bit too tight around the calf when standing but not so when I was in the dressage saddle.
So I think I found a good fit. Now on to the break in process!
I just ordered a pair of Cavallos through Dover and they told me that they would only fall 1 cm so I ordered them for just barely above where I could comfortably bend my leg. One thing they had me do too was to sit on a dummy horse when I tried on the boots because they wanted to see how they rested when I was in a dressage saddle which is not something that I would have thought of trying. Interestingly, the boots were a bit too tight around the calf when standing but not so when I was in the dressage saddle.
So I think I found a good fit. Now on to the break in process!
My Goodness- is it REALLY necessary to suffer to have nice boots? Does it improve your riding significantly to have boots so tall you can’t walk or mount?
Devil’s advocate here, I can’t concentrate on my riding if my equipment causes me discomfort.
Have to agree with demidg and madams747. If they are leaving bruises and are still hurting after using lifts etc., return them before they are too “used”. Would it be so terrible to have boots that are a tad bit shorter and be comfortable? The old adage no pain no gain is silly.
