Paddock boots for wide foot/ high instep

[CymbalGirl]

I know this topic has come up before but it looks like some responses might be a few years old so I thought I would post this in case there’s been any new products released since… here goes:

I’m looking for new paddock boots for my daughter. She has wide feet and a high instep so it’s a challenge. Oh, and she prefers zip fronts and hates the laced style. Any suggestions? The high instep makes it a little difficult to get her foot in the boot. I’ve tried sizing up a half size and that helped a little, I just know she’s still pretty uncomfortable. She also tends to get ingrown toenails if the toe box is too narrow. Someone had suggested trying a pair of men’s paddock boots. Does anyone know if those might have a higher instep and wider toe box?

Really appreciate any feedback!

~Kirsten

[AllTheCarrots]

I have similar feet and find Ariat’s products fit me pretty well. But my paddocks are lace-up, and my tall boots are field boots. I need that extra, customizable give that laces provide.

A zip-up paddock is just going to be a harder fit, no matter which brand your daughter chooses. Depending on her age, you can veto her style preferences and get the laces, or get the zips and shrug your shoulders sympathetically when she complains about how hard her new boots are to get on and off.

[trubandloki]

I must have really wide feet not just wide feet because I find the Ariat boots to not be wide enough.

[Janet]

Me too. I have never found an Ariat I could even get my foot into.

[Janet]

Once upon a time I had paddock boots that had laces up the front (for adjustability) an a zip up the back (for ease of putting on). In this case, I ended up having problems with the zip “falling down” while ridng, but the concept is good. I do not know if anyone is making them nowadays.

I have VERY wide feet, and a moderately high instep. For many tears I have ridden in “Horse Shoes” by Roper. But they are laceup only. They are definitely designed for riding, but they look more like hiking boots than paddock boots.

[OfCourseItsAnAlter]

I have wide feet and a high instep. The ONLY off-the-rack paddock boots that fit are Ariat Heritage RT (Round Toe) lace ups. And the clerk at the Dover Saddlery store can confirm that. And probably hates me, because I don’t like the Ariat boots (don’t like the heel height) and I insisted on trying every single non-Ariat brand they had before I caved and bought the Ariats.

Round toe. The regular Heritage paddock boots come in wide and they’re still not wide enough. The round toe boot in regular width is much wider in the toe box than the regular style in wide width. How does that make sense? It doesn’t, but there you are.

Lace ups. The zip ups are absolutely a no go. I couldn’t even begin to zip them up.

I had to go up a half-size. My foot length is a 7.5 in the Ariat boots, but I had to buy a size 8 to accommodate my instep.

Heritage RT Paddock Boot

[2DogsFarm]

If she is done growing, I’d suggest customs.
My current Dehners are 18yo & though worn infrequently these days, stood up to many years of riding 3-4D/W.
I chose pull-ons because my last pair of zipped paddock boots had to go back to Dehner for replacements after a couple years of arena grit.
At the time, Dehner was the only place that carried the correct length zipper.

[ChocoMare]

As an adult, I’m in the same bucket as your daughter. While I love and practically live in Ariat Terrain boots, I cannot get my high in-step foot into any of their paddocks… or anybody else’s for that matter. I gave up.

Hopefully, someone will have an answer for you!

[luvmyhackney]

I have these in the zip and and they are the biggest toe box I could find for my feet. I rip these off as soon as I get off the horse. They are so tight on the top of my foot its painful. I have a higher arch than most, wide toes and narrow heel. They were out of stock on the lace ups and I needed them right them.

So avoid the zipper ones.

I’m much more comfortable in the Ariat Terrains if DD doesn’t have to wear paddock boots. They work fine unless showing.

[Highflyer1]

I have the pull-on Smartpak Chelsea boots and really like them. The soles are a little thicker than standard paddock boots but I don’t find it to be an issue and they are super comfortable. https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/ada-chelsea-boot-by-smartpak-18125?bvstate=pg:2/ct:r

[yaya]

I have wide feet and a high instep, and I’ve worn the Ariat Barnyard zip-up boots for years. Great arch support, and comfortable to wear all day long. I keep a backup pair in my closet in case they discontinue the model!

https://www.doversaddlery.com/ariat-barnyard-side-zip/p/X1-38199/26utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=NB_Search_Dynamic_GOOG&utm_term=Google_AdGroup&eid=X17A00U3222/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIusuRleeM7wIVx9XACh36nAyYEAAYASAAEgLsUvD_BwE

[Ruth0552]

I have a wide foot and a high instep. Worse, I prefer BROWN paddocks, godhelpme.

I’ve had several pair of lace-up Ariats. The model with the round toe were better, the model with the pointer toe were AWFUL. I cannot get my foot into their zip up models. Now, the round toes are only made in the Heritage Line (they used to make other models with a rounder toe) and IMO the Heritage line is garbage. The don’t last. They might for a kid that isn’t wearing them 6 days a week for several hours. In all of the Ariat paddocks I have had, and my Ariat tall boots, the outside of my foot starts to hurt after I’ve worn them for a while, particularly while I’m riding. Not helpful.

I bought brown Blundstones. They are the best paddock boot that has ever happened to me. They are pull-on, so they fit a bit looser and it took a little getting used to. But they are really comfortable to ride in and once I broke them in a little really comfortable to walk in. AND, now that LL Bean has declared that they are stylish chelsea boots, they are trendy.

I have always wanted to try on Suedwind and Mountain Horse Aurora, but have never been anywhere that carries enough of a selection of those brands. Both are supposed to be wider and allow for a higher instep than Ariat. Also still hard to find in brown, but if she wants black, which is more in style than brown but I’m an old fart, that might work for her.

[CymbalGirl]

unfortunately she’s only 12… and her foot is already bigger than mine… much to her dismay, she got her dad’s feet… I’m no giant at 5’ 6" but she’s just about the same height too.

[M_al]

I am jumping on this old thread after I realized that I enjoy my casual riding less than I should because my paddock boots are torture devices. I have always thought paddock boots too narrow through the toe, no matter lace up Ariats or zip front leather bargain brand from the local tack store. I do not have a wide foot. I have a narrow heel and an average ball of feet/toes width.

I have half a toenail on my right foot and the blood is growing out from under my left toenail from my current pair … the bargain brand. I have had Ariat boots with the higher heel and they hurt my back after a while on the ground so I’m not inclined to get the Heritage style.

I wore jod boots (saddleseat pull ons) for years and see Horze Dresden Jod boots at Dover … but they’re synthetic leather! Everything else I see that’s real leather is back to the narrow toe box.

I think the Ariat Barnyard and the Chelsea style soles look too thick to be attractive, but damn what they look like! I’m ready to give something else a try! (I’d love real Blunnies but they’re so expensive!!)

Can we do a deeper dive besides pull on vs. side zip? Has anyone had both styles above? Any advice on which might have better arch support or what the heel fits like? Likes/dislikes?

TIA!

[M_al]

@Ruth0552

the outside of my foot starts to hurt after I’ve worn them for a while, particularly while I’m riding.

I also have the outside of my foot ache, then go numb, while riding! It hurts so badly when I get off the saddle that I actually can’t walk for a while - I limp along … probably grade 3 at least!

[yaya]

I have worn the Ariat Barnyard side zip style for years, and love them. I can be on my feet all day at a horse show, and stay comfortable. I have a wide foot (and currently a sore big toe joint, I think from a gout flare) and still they are comfortable. I keep an extra pair in my closet just in case they discontinue the style when these wear out. Even though they are my “barn shoes”, whenever I know I’m going to be on my feet a long time (and don’t have to dress up), they are the shoes I choose to wear. I have even gone hiking in them. They have very good arch support.

I tried both Blundstone and Redback, and neither were as comfortable. The Blunnies were tight across my high arch and made my forefoot go numb, which then turned into pain.

[Ruth0552]

I bought them from a Facebook group for $100. But my foot is a size 6, and those are often the ones left after all the other normal sized ones have sold.

[NaturallyHappy]

I’ve tried all of the above and they were crippling (except the Ariat terrain). I just stumbled on Schockemohle Tonic Space ll. They were expensive so I wore them around the house for a week before I ventured outside. They are still comfortable. They are wider in the footbed than Parlanti or Tredstep and do not put pressure on the top of my foot above my arch.

[Robin]

Late for the original poster but I recently found a source of boots for those who have similar fit problems. My feet are too wide for Ariats at EE width and too short for finding most mens’ sizes at womens’ size 7. I also need a high arch or my planter fasciitis flares. I found very small mens sizes in online marketers like Orthofeet and many options of work boots in other vendors. Mens boots are more readily available in wider sizes than womens.

To achieve convenience of a zip up and fit adjustment of a lace boot, I have in the past resorted to using a zipper insert in a lace boot. Have a good shoemaker take a stout zipper of suitable length and put eyelets on the outside edge on both sides to correspond to the lacing positions. put on boots with laces undone, close zipper and lace to eyelets. Perfect custom fit. to remove simply unzip. Best to have shoemaker produce two zippers as the first will undoubtedly break at some inconvenient time.