Old custom boots don't fit. {Sob}

[ZuzusPetals]

I pulled out the 30-year-old Dehners and was surprised that I couldn’t get them on over breeches. Figured a good conditioning, a spray of silicone inside, a hot towel, knee socks and talcum powder would work.

HA!

I am so, so sad. I don’t know whether a gusset or zipper would help at this point. I can’t get them past the widest part of the calf. Send them to be stretched? New pair? Ride for a few months (I returned just a month ago) and see if the muscle tone returns? Smooth half-chaps and paddock boots? I do intend to work up to showing in equitation and/or jumpers at some point next year. These boots are so beautiful. No chaps/paddocks combination would come close, but that may be what’s in store. Sigh.

[Scribbler]

@ZuzusPetals

I pulled out the 30-year-old Dehners and was surprised that I couldn’t get them on over breeches. Figured a good conditioning, a spray of silicone inside, a hot towel, knee socks and talcum powder would work.

HA!

I am so, so sad. I don’t know whether a gusset or zipper would help at this point. I can’t get them past the widest part of the calf. Send them to be stretched? New pair? Ride for a few months (I returned just a month ago) and see if the muscle tone returns? Smooth half-chaps and paddock boots? I do intend to work up to showing in equitation and/or jumpers at some point next year. These boots are so beautiful. No chaps/paddocks combination would come close, but that may be what’s in store. Sigh.

No one will buy them.

You can get zippers and elastic gussets insralled in boots. They could help if the size difference is small. You could measure your calf and the boot to see.

When I exercise my calves get bigger.

The cost of good paddock boots and chaps is equivalent to off the shelf tall boots.

[ZuzusPetals]

You’re darn right no one will buy them: I’m 20 inches heel to knee. Sigh. Customs a must in my case.

@Scribbler

When I exercise my calves get bigger.

This soothes me. I took up the Water Rower and figure skating in the years I was absent from riding. Yes, I put on weight, but my calves look muscular rather than chunky.

Also, @Scribbler, thank you for the insight on how far a zipper or gusset would go. If I can’t get them on bare-legged, it’s not going to happen with breeches, even with alterations.

[outerbanks77]

Adding zippers can probably get you about a cm more room. Elastic gusset could also be possible, but I find anything other than a small top gusset wears pretty quickly.

You can get a really good price on Cavallos from Hufglocken in Australia if you keep an eye out for when they have a 25% or 30% off sale.

You might also keep an eye on sample boots from Reitenleder in Germany. They carry Celeris and always have lots of samples ready to ship at a discount. I’m about 19" height and have seen a few that would have worked otherwise but were too tall.

[ZuzusPetals]

This trend with the curvy boot top to elongate the leg? Looks beautiful on everyone else. Just lovely. On my legs it would KRAZEE.

[chestnutmarebeware]

Cobblers can stretch leather a surprising amount when there aren’t zippers to act as the weak point.

Mine only charged about $10 to do this. It might be worth trying it for a few bucks before you write the boots off.

[ZuzusPetals]

Worth a shot, @chestnutmarebeware. At least I could tell Mr. Zuzu’s Petals that I tried everything. If that doesn’t work, I’ll my attitude from: “Sob!” to “Yaaaay! New boots!” (Although I talked myself into them 30 years ago by saying they’d last a lifetime. Sigh.)

[chestnutmarebeware]

I even tried mine on at the shop after they were stretched and they were still a little tight. I asked if they could be stretched any further, and the owner said sure, come back in two days. Bingo!

(If you do this, don’t forget your boot hooks and boot jack— trying to get tight boots on and off without them was comical, especially to the store employees! )

[ZuzusPetals]

Which area of the boot was stretched? I need calf.

In the time I wasn’t riding I had both feet surgically rebuilt and one (but not both – sigh) gastroc muscle cut. It’s probably best for my feet to get new. Make them think that I love them.

[chestnutmarebeware]

@ZuzusPetals

Which area of the boot was stretched? I need calf.

In the time I wasn’t riding I had both feet surgically rebuilt and one (but not both – sigh) gastroc muscle cut. It’s probably best for my feet to get new. Make them think that I love them.

Mine were stretched in the calf as well— the shop had some sort of contraption that they could place in the exact area needing to be stretched.

But I ride in paddock boots and either half- or full chaps, and only wear tall boots for shows/clinics.

If I could justify new custom boots, though, I would! Unfortunately, I can easily wear off-the-rack boots, so fancy boots are hard for me to justify!

[ZuzusPetals]

As a young rider my parents wouldn’t cover the expense, and I had ill-fitting stock boots. The customs represented a big grown-up moment because I had paid for them by myself, while living on my own and focusing on riding over most everything beyond work. They challenged me to earn them on every ride. I developed one heck of a leg and felt so much pride as the calves wore to the leather’s original color.

So many good horses left their imprints on those boots. So many good memories.

[erinmeri]

My old custom Dehners don’t fit either. I was sad. Rather than having them stretched, I got a pair of new boots with zippers (DeNiros) after riding in paddock boots and half chaps for a year.

I have to say that although the zippers falling down occasionally drives me nuts, I can’t imagine going back to boot pulls and a jack (or foot on a friend’s butt) ever again. Zippers are a blessing!

[S1969]

@ZuzusPetals

You’re darn right no one will buy them: I’m 20 inches heel to knee. Sigh. Customs a must in my case.

I am only chiming in to say that my breeches inseam is 26" so…you must be tall.

LOL

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

Absolutely get zippers. Even if you stretch them and get them on, you may not get them off again without extreme pain.

Zippers will have a slight stretch around them. It’s worth a try.

[2DogsFarm]

@erinmeri

Zippers are a blessing!

Amen!
My circa 1989 custom Vogels have been back to NYC over the years for:
*Gussets
*Full zips
*Repair 1 zip
All over the course of the 30+yrs I’ve had them.
They still.polish up great, only the calfskin lining is showing wear.
Worn a lot for schooling & many shows, now rarely worn, but still eminently wearable.

@ZuzusPetals Call Dehner & ask them what measurements they need to remodel the calf and/or foot on your boots.
Then ask prices.
My 2¢ says it’s worth getting the boots re-customized as no OTR boot is ever going to fit your foot as well.
The full zips are a blessing, no more struggle to get on or off.
I have an uber-high arch & no more excruciating cramping when putting on or taking off boots.

[Scribbler]

You also need to consider if your feet still fit. Mine have gotten wider since I was 20.

[Pezanos]

One thing that has changed for the better in 30 years is that off the shelf boots come in many more sizes than they did. The Petrie Luca comes in sizes that can easily accommodate a 20" high calf. https://www.dutchridingboots.eu/petrie-luca-black-laced-ridingboot-with-107193098.html and is about $300 shipped from the Netherlands. Even Ariats have a Tall that depending on foot size is over 20" in calf height. Parlanti’s too, if that’s your thing. (You might be shocked at them after 30 year old Dehners, which I also had. Parlantis are tissue-thin and incredibly soft.)

[ZuzusPetals]

Dehner recommends adding at least 1 1/4 inch to accommodate drop through the ankle. The person who measured me 30 years ago added 2 full inches, and that worked out real well. When I factor that ankle crease on even the tallest stock boots, I’ll be left with not enough height. Story of my damn life. Freaking tall genes.

[Pezanos]

Newer boots do not drop as much as older, stiffer boots. The Petries go up and over 52 cm, depending on foot size though I am guessing your foot size isn’t a 12+. Plus, new full custom Petries (yes, they are my favorite brand, apologies for going on and on about them), are just about $500, which is less than my first pair of custom Dehners. Boots have changed dramatically in 30 years. You may be disappointed because the fit and materials are so different, but that doesn’t change the fact that 1) boots don’t drop like they used to b/c of the snug fit and zippers and 2) there are a billion more options out there.

[hillary_again]

OP, you should estimate how much add you need and contact Dehner. Brace yourself: I don’t know if they will work on boots that old. See if you can find some super tall half chaps, order them, and see how well they fit. Yes, sob. My Dehners are too small in the ankle. I can’t get my foot down into them. I gave them to a young riders. Yes, lots of those same kinds of memories. Mine are almost 50 years old. You sure don’t want to spends hundreds on repairs and then find that they aren’t comfortable, etc. Sob it is. Hard decision!