Olathe polo boots: Would they be So Wrong?

[mvp]

Do you guys know what I’m talking about?

Here, check it: http://www.tackeria.com/contents/en-us/d14.html

Scroll down to “19 Inch Retanned Mule Hide Boots (Riding Heel)”.

These bad boys are a tall, tubular and tough-as-nails Western thing adopted by the polo crowd.

I have always wanted a pair, justifying them in terms of their height (must have that), durability and price.

Of course, they would be completely unorthodox, though I’m not afraid to mix-n-match the best of multiple horse disciplines/worlds.

So

1. Would it be so wrong if I got some of these? (They’d still be kicking after I have died, so this is a big commitment. Think carefully).

2. What say you about wearing these in DressageWorld. Do you double-dog dare me?

or

3. Meh, someone you know in the show world has already done this and really deserves credit for bringing tall Olathe buckaroo boots here?

[SweetMutt]

I think you might be off your rocker, and I like it. :yes:

Personally, I’d be worried about fit and comfort in the calf. But I have short, voluptuous calves and get cranky and fall off when they don’t feel right.

But otherwise, I like where this is going.

[Manni01]

I Love them too and I am seriously thinking about getting some… Check out the HP from Texaspolo, a friend of Mine told me that these are the one to get . He is a poloplayer.

[Belmont]

Not sure about Polo boots, but at my old barn a ton of people wore these:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t1.0-9/199608_1734325150439_7839001_n.jpg
https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1.0-9/206574_1734331230591_3366196_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t1.0-9/q75/s720x720/10478200_769892179721546_6857053797178871695_n.jpg

They aren’t polo boots. They get them custom made by a company in Montana. Every year they go up for a Fox Hunt in Montana, and they always came back with beautiful, custom boots. I wish I could find a picture of the pink topped ones!

[Old_Mac_Donald]

Are they actually made of mule hide, or is that a term for… I dunno, hide of long-eared cattle, extra polishy? Coz I would be a bit squicky about wearing mule boots made from actual mules…

[Manni01]

Wow they look awesome, do you have an Adress??

[The_Crone_of_Cottonmouth_Count]

I love it when people rebel against horse industry fashion orthodoxy. I have dreamed of a green and black buffalo plaid shadbelly.

[JBCool]

Belmont, those look like tall top buckaroo boots. I work in a western wear store and we’ve ordered a lot of those in louder top colors to dressage folks as well as western folks.

Old MacDonald, yes, it’s actual mule hide. Tough as can be; lasts forever.

[mvp]

[QUOTE=Belmont;7632446]
Not sure about Polo boots, but at my old barn a ton of people wore these:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t1.0-9/199608_1734325150439_7839001_n.jpg
https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1.0-9/206574_1734331230591_3366196_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t1.0-9/q75/s720x720/10478200_769892179721546_6857053797178871695_n.jpg

They aren’t polo boots. They get them custom made by a company in Montana. Every year they go up for a Fox Hunt in Montana, and they always came back with beautiful, custom boots. I wish I could find a picture of the pink topped ones![/QUOTE]

Yes, we need to see the pink topped ones. And Olathe, as well as other boot companies will make you any kind of Vegas-show-girl-costume boots you’d like. In some corners, the really tall**, loud-colored buckaroo boots are making a reappearance.

In short, I think mixing well-done, durable equipment from multiple disciplines is the Height of Bad Assery.

** Now, spreading the mores from HunterWorld abroad, I will take this opportunity to remind everyone that Too Short Boots are a grievous sin. No, I don’t care that those are acceptable in buckaroo world or even walking-around-Manhattan fashion world. Too short boots anywhere, any time are heinous.

[Appsolute]

OMG - I kinda really want tall buckaroo boots now!

I LOVE those tooled english saddles like this - So dreamy!

My half chaps and paddock boots about the kick the bucket - and I have been browsing for a replacement. I don’t show these days, and I spend a lot (like 5+ hours a week) of time on the trail - hummmmm really thinking about some kick butt cowboy boots!!

[Appsolute]

Oh and here are some reasonably priced, off the self - pink trimmed ones (I am not into pink - otherwise I would be snapping these up!)

[BAC]

I think they are kind of ugly, but I don’t like Western apparel anyway, and it would bother me to wear mule hide but if you like them you should get them. I’m sure you will get your money’s worth out of them, if you wear them for the next 20 years that works out to about $15 annually, a bargain. :yes:

I’m not sure how well they would go over in Dressage land, at least for shows. And who cares if you’re just schooling?

[mvp]

Yes, the mule hide looks ugly.

But I’m not sure they have to stay that color. I have seen these in the flesh and they don’t look better (still matte, dust colored), but only because the polo players don’t care for them at all…. at least the ones I knew didn’t do anything for their boots. I never saw a pair of these that looked old or worn out. I’m not sure Mule hide will allow for wearing out.

And FWIW, I believe I have seen a pair in black, same gold stitching. But this could just be a hopeful hallucination.

At $300, I think these would be a better deal-- amortized over time-- than even the stoutest half chaps and paddock boots. That’s one of my rationalizations.

With respect to buckaroo boots. Nothing wrong with that, but the traditional way of wearing them-- big ol’ dog ear boot straps and short enough that your tucked-in jeans bunch out above the tops? Does nothing for this hunter princess.

“Go tall and pretty, or go home,” I say. And if you get tall enough, I don’t care what colors you get.

[JBCool]

For boot eye candy:
http://riosofmercedes.com/rios/?page_id=2287303

http://www.olatheboots.com/olathe/olathe-boot-gallery/

Trust me, my boss would love it if this became a trend! :lol:

[BAC]

mvp maybe you could oil them to darken, like we do with new tack? I think they would be much more attractive in a darker shade, and black boots would be better if you plan to use them for dressage.

But I would not let anyone else’s opinion discourage me, you said you have always wanted a pair so treat yourself, life is too short to deny yourself. I paid $400 for my DuBarry boots and every time I put them on I think to myself how glad I am I spent that money, they are worth every penny to me and that is all that matters.