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Paddock Boots for Morton's Neuroma

Hunter/Jumper
#1

I contemplated putting this in the health-related forum, but I think I’ll get a wider response here.

I have Morton’s neuroma and I was riding today with my old Tredstep paddock boots. I could not post because the ball of my foot hurt so bad. I have good days and I have bad days while walking. I have orthotics in my shoes, but not my riding boots. Today is the first time I had to get off my horse because of the pain. I went and got my Ariat Volant tall boots to try, and they were much better. So I need to find a really good supportive paddock boot. I think the issue with the Tredsteps is that they are a little too flexible in the sole. I am looking at the Ariat Devon Nitro. Has anyone tried these? I need to be able to walk in them as well, not just ride. That’s another problem with my Tredsteps. I cannot even walk in them comfortably. I need a good arch support.

Anyone else out there dealing with this problem? I almost had tears in my eyes it hurt so badly today.

#2

Yes, I do. I’m struggling to find paddock boots, as well. I may look at the SG Walk and Ride. I have the Ariat Nitro, and for me, they were an epic fail. I could walk in them
for about a week, and then, not at all. Another thread talked about the Eco 7 being comfortable. Right now, I have on the Ariat Kendron Pro from Smartpak. From the outside, the footbed looks different from the Ariat in general, but w it on, my foot is screaming. If you can wear a size 6, I will send you my Nitros to try. I even took the insole out and put in my orthotics. Nope.

#3

Thank you so much for the offer. I wear a size 8. Bummer.

#4

I had this condition through the 90’s and 00’s and the all-time best paddock boot was the late great Dansko. After they sold their design to Ariat, Ariat ruined them by making the toes turn up. They were really painful. I ended up being mostly happy with the Ariat H2O in the men’s size. The sole was sturdier and they were just wider.

ETA they were the Cobalts, pricier than other Ariats, but waterproof and I wore them forever.

After years of wearing wider shoes and Birkenstock’s, the problem resolved. It used to feel like I had a chunk of glass in my foot. Oh, and cortisone shots helped, too.

Are you riding in wide stirrups, like the MDCs?

1 Like
#5

Forgot to say the Ariat I tried today is going back to Smartpak.

#6

Hi so I don’t have ‘Morton’s Neuroma’ but I have used the Ariat Cobalt paddock boots for years (which I think are the predecessors of the Devon Nitro). They are great for riding, and fine for the walking I do (moving jumps, putting a horse in the turn out). If I’m going to full on hand walk a horse though, I prefer sneakers. I had the Volant tall boots before, and I find the comfort of the Cobalt paddock boots to be similar. I also suggest riding in stirrups that are wider. These ones are amazing. They are light weight, which I don’t love, but the footbed is so nice and squishy and grippy (even when wet or muddy!), yes still firm enough to offer enough resistance: https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Compositi_Reflex_3D_Swivel_Wide-Track_Stirrup_Irons_/descpage-CORX.html?from=gshop&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6_vzBRCIARIsAOs54z7LCH4zmC9tNN01qx5JofCHc-NR-7muN6GEM3n16TSEEXCryKjQYVkaAmgtEALw_wcB

#7

Hi PF! I also ordered a pair of Grand Prix Saltare paddock boots from Smartpak at the same time I ordered the Ariats. I tried them on today. They.Might.Work! They have two zippers, but they are positioned more on the side of the ankle. For me, they are wide in the right spot of the ball of my foot. They have an insole, which I think is removable (I took it out anyway). I’ve had them on for an hour or so in the house. They are styled like the Ariat Monaco (square toe) paddock shoe which hurt the moment I put them on. I’ll report more later, but I’m cautiously optimistic.

#8

I’ve found going with a size larger than what is technically my “right” size helps. I have Morton’s Neuroma, mild diabetic nephropathy, and a bunion. Square toes work better than pointed toes for me; anything that gives the balls of my feet plenty of width to spread out. When I can find them, I try to get the extra wide width. I ride in a pair of Ariats that I got on closeout years ago, so don’t remember exactly what they are. I’ve had them for so long because I dread having to even look for something else that works. It is a royal PIT-,well foot.

I’ve liked my Herm Sprenger flex stirrups. They let me move around just enough to find the most comfortable foot position while keeping a proper leg alignment.

I tried Tredsteps in the past, but they are WAY too narrow for me both in the foot and the leg, even several sizes larger than my normal. I’m not one of those tall skinny bean pole type people, although I am tall. They are just dead wrong for my build.

Good luck, the pain can sure be nasty.

1 Like
#9

Tredsteps didn’t work for me, either. Nor did Blundstones, even though they seem wide. It hurt to scrunch my foot up get it into the pull-on opening; I think that fired the MN up right then and there. I also tried Parlanti w no success. For anyone who wears a size 6, there is a collection of lightly used paddock shoes at Middleburg Tack.

#10

I have MN, I have custom orthotics with a lot of padding under the ball of my foot. I bought “hoof and woof” paddock boots, my orthotics fit perfectly in them so they are working wll. I can’t ride in anything without the orthotics because I need that padding

#11

Thanks, all. :slight_smile:

#12

I’ve found sizing up a half or whole size has really helped. Also, I used my custom orthotics in Ariat paddock boots.

#13

I feel your pain!!! I have a Morton’s neuroma too. At one point, i had a Morton’s neuroma on my right foot and a broken toe on my left foot… it was the worst.

I got a series of cortisone injections in my neuroma at the end of 2016 to early 2017. It helped a lot. Now it just feels like I have a funny bone in my foot, but isn’t painful except for first 5 steps in the morning. I have really narrow feet, so I don’t have to worry about boots being too narrow and haven’t had a problem with Ariats. If you need a wider footbed, look at blundstone (not sure if I spelled that right). I hope you feel better soon!

Royal Rider stirrups helped a lot too since they distributed the pressure. I spent a lot of time riding without stirrups when the pain was at its worst.

#14

FYI Riding Warehouse is having a 15% off flash sale right now. I was curious about the Grand Prix paddock boots mentioned above, and turns they are a close out item. So instead of $199, they were $107. They only have sizes 40 and 41, lucky for me.

#15

I don’t have this condition, and don’t even really know what it is. But, if you’re looking for more room in a footbed, Ariat has round toed paddock boots that fit the bill. Not the most attractive, but durable and do have a ton of room in the toe box.

https://www.doversaddlery.com/ladies-ariat-heritage-iii-rt-zip-paddock-boot/p/X1-38208/

#16

These are the boots I was talking about, where they took Dansko’s design but made the toes turn up. This feature exacerbates the pain of MN, in my experience.

#17

Ah ok. I find them to not be turned up in a noticeable way, but without MN I probably wouldn’t notice.

#18

Bristol Bay, thanks for your sharp eye! I learned something!

1 Like
#19

Thanks, again!

#20

Hi all, I have been wearing the Grand Prix Saltare paddock boot around the house for a couple of days w no pain. They have a square toe which looks like the Ariat Monaco boot, which I could not wear. I’m going to keep these. I hope this helps someone- this pain is, well, painful.

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