Stiff dress boots

[Pocket_Pony]

How on earth do you buy these? Are there “off the rack” boots and you just try and ship back and forth with Dover or wherever? Do they drop? Zippers or no zippers?

I have zippered schooling boots that I wore in a show (usually I wear my h/j field boots because they fit me better but my foot was bruised and hurt to get in via just pulling on) and Mr PoPo declared that it is time for me to get some nice boots and that my schooling boots are just too ugly.

I have a narrow heel and narrow-ish foot.

Suggestions? I’m kind of a cheapskate and do not like to spend more money than I have to.

[emipou]

Well, first off - from what I understand: DRESS boots are the soft boots (essentially field boots without the zipper); DRESSAGE boots are the stiff boots (they have boning and tend to drop less).

I am currently gearing up to purchase my first pair. I am extremely hard to fit so it was some work (thanks to COTH) to find the place and boots to buy without going custom.
Since it’s an overseas purchase, I’m seeing this as one shot to get it right. Which means tons of measurements.
Dover and other places will have pages showing you how to measure. Get measured and do it correctly (have someone else measure you).

Anyone who rides dressage most likely could use saving themselves some money here and there. With that, I’d suggest going to the source that I intend to go to https://www.dutchridingboots.eu/ The Petrie Olympics can ship for under $400. Just don’t mess up the measurements!

[netg]

My stiff boots are somewhere close to 3 years old and have zero drop.

Mine were custom ordered, and I was measured at the World Cup in Vegas because we don’t have any local tack shops, and I wanted to make sure they were right. My next pair may be from Emipou’s link. DEFINITELY have someone else measure you, because the difference in the dimension of your calf muscle when you lean over vs someone else measures is significant.

[AppaloosaDressage]

Artist Monaco Zip Dress Boots. They’re wonderful. Zero breaking in process and fit like a glove. Highly recommend.

[emipou]

@netg

My stiff boots are somewhere close to 3 years old and have zero drop.

Mine were custom ordered, and I was measured at the World Cup in Vegas because we don’t have any local tack shops, and I wanted to make sure they were right. My next pair may be from Emipou’s link. DEFINITELY have someone else measure you, because the difference in the dimension of your calf muscle when you lean over vs someone else measures is significant.

I was going to ask my husband to measure, then decided that would not be the best idea. There is a boot repair near the barn that services all the local horse people and tack shops. That will likely be where I go. I’m just hoping my boots stay together long enough for this. The inside right calf has a huge hole in the leather like 3/4" x 2"+. It’s worrying me.

[emipou]

Also, OP - This is the form for that one site I sent. I am going to pay a little extra to make the boots partial custom since I am such a hard fit and don’t want to mess this up. There were three options of customization available for the Petrie Olympics. I was planning to do one of the middle options.

https://www.dutchridingboots.eu/measure-manual-form/

[Pocket_Pony]

@emipou thanks for that website - so many choices, how do you decide!? Please post pictures and a review when you get yours!

[Pocket_Pony]

Ok, here’s another question about breaking them in…

If the stiff boots don’t drop, are they short enough that they don’t poke you in the back of the knee (while having the higher cut on the outside)? Are they so stiff that you can’t get your heels down? So how do you know if you like them or not? Sounds dumb, I know, but I’ve not had these types of boots before…

[netg]

@Pocket Pony

Ok, here’s another question about breaking them in…

If the stiff boots don’t drop, are they short enough that they don’t poke you in the back of the knee (while having the higher cut on the outside)? Are they so stiff that you can’t get your heels down? So how do you know if you like them or not? Sounds dumb, I know, but I’ve not had these types of boots before…

Mine are slightly low in the arch which makes heels down an issue - 3 years later. I have used some boot stretch spray and it gets slightly more comfortable all the time.

They never hit the backs of my knees, never dropped, are totally uncomfortable for anything but riding so I put them on just before I get on.

I much prefer my soft and fit like a glove Vogels and ride two horses in them, but on my horse who is schooling the highest (semi-retired is trained higher, no longer schooling higher) I wear the stiff boots and they’re kind of great for ensuring I have her in front of my leg - I can’t get by with any little nagging.

[Pocket_Pony]

@netg

Mine are slightly low in the arch which makes heels down an issue - 3 years later. I have used some boot stretch spray and it gets slightly more comfortable all the time.

They never hit the backs of my knees, never dropped, are totally uncomfortable for anything but riding so I put them on just before I get on.

I much prefer my soft and fit like a glove Vogels and ride two horses in them, but on my horse who is schooling the highest (semi-retired is trained higher, no longer schooling higher) I wear the stiff boots and they’re kind of great for ensuring I have her in front of my leg - I can’t get by with any little nagging.

Could you explain this, please?

[netg]

Nagging can be cause or effect, but is usually incorrectly using the leg to squeeze or hold a nudge, etc., instead of precise and clear aiding. I can’t DO that with stiff boots. It’s use the calves to ask for more energy/forward, locate the leg to the right position for lateral work or changes, spur if needed but it takes effort to get on, so it’s not staying on unnecessarily. Because they don’t allow your legs to move indiscriminately, they ensure you’re only using them clearly and correctly.

Not so much with my softer boots which I ride the other two in - I can do anything I want with those on! I don’t wear spurs with the softer boots, I ride with stirrups shorter because of how those horses fit my legs, and I need that freedom to move my legs to help the baby understand and to stay on random bucking sprees from the big dude.

[emipou]

@Pocket Pony

@emipou thanks for that website - so many choices, how do you decide!? Please post pictures and a review when you get yours!

It’s really a good thing that I’m not much of a shoe person. I might be with smaller feet. Every shoe decision ever made in life depends on one major question: Does it come in a size 12? :lol::lol:
It makes all the questions that follow much easier.

From what I’ve been gathered, the Petrie Olympics seem to be a good all around beginner type stiff boot.

Those two factors, and the price, sold me!

[emipou]

@Pocket Pony

Ok, here’s another question about breaking them in…

If the stiff boots don’t drop, are they short enough that they don’t poke you in the back of the knee (while having the higher cut on the outside)? Are they so stiff that you can’t get your heels down? So how do you know if you like them or not? Sounds dumb, I know, but I’ve not had these types of boots before…

Check out all the sizing options. There are a ton of available heights and widths available off the shelf. Make sure you measure yourself correctly - since these don’t drop. I would imagine they would be very painful if too tall.

[soloudinhere]

Well, a stiff boot will flex a little at the ankle. You wouldn’t be able to get on the horse if it didn’t move at.all.

that said boots are such an individual preference. Some like them super stiff others can’t deal with any stiffness.

that being said, they do encourage you to ride with your whole leg and not just the back of your calf. I ride in a semi soft boot and prefer that. My schooling boot is the Petrie Athene. If you’ve never had stiff boots before I would start with something like that or the Olympic. I had Konig Favorits as well for awhile and they are similar stiffness.

[Samantha37]

Omg stiff DRESSAGE (not dress- the above poster was correct, dress boots are usually soft but just don’t have laces like field boots) boots are the best! I love how much more accurate my legs are with them. Mine did break in a bit - they were too tall for me to comfortably bend my knees and they have dropped probably 1/4 inch so now they are perfect. Mine are not crazy stiff though.

I got measured and sent the measurements off to https://www.classicdressage.com/ and ordered the Konig Favorit model but paid an extra like 65 pounds to have them custom cut (I have exceptionally wide calves) so they are essentially custom boots and I think I paid like the equivalent of $600 USD for what are essentially custom boots.

I would start with getting measured and then seeing if you can fit into a brand off the rack. Then order from overseas where it is so much cheaper.

[outerbanks77]

I bought Petrie ANKY Elegance stiff boots from Van Huet (dutchridingboots.eu) this spring. The always have a list of boots for 25% off - customer returns or whatever. After stalking them intermittently for a long time, I finally got some in my size! The ankle is broken in nicely now, but they provide more support so you can’t ride with your ankle jammed down like in a soft boot. They dropped very little, so you wouldn’t want to order them too tall expecting them to drop.

An intermediate choice would be a soft dress boot, though they usually have a back zip instead of a shin zip, and those seem to get stressed and broken more frequently, IME.

Be aware that if you get a stiff boot, it will be difficult to impossible to ride in short stirrups with them. That is to say… if you want to also wear your boots for jumping or galloping - get soft boots.

[normandy_shores]

I bought my stiff boots off ebay… I wear rectilignes in a soft dress boot, but saw a stiff pair with my measurements. They fit absolutely fabulously and only needed slightly softening in the leather in the top inch or two to zip it up.

I can not get my heel down. They do help my keep my leg still and toes pointing forward, as you can’t cheat and nag and niggle with your heels or anything. They keep my honest about how I use my leg. Calf pressure, spur, or positioning. I quite like them for dressage, but they are uncomfortable for anything but riding.

[Pocket_Pony]

Hmmmmm…I don’t plan on galloping in new boots - I have schooling boots for every day wear, these would just be for show. But I do switch up my length of stirrups from time to time depending on how my hip is feeling. I don’t ride too short, but I do ride a pony so short enough to have my leg on.

Thanks for the input!

[FatCatFarm]

I got practically brand new Aria Tempos off of eBay. Beautiful, very stiff boots; very elegant and very uncomfortable for anything other than riding. I put them on before I get on and take them off immediately. I almost sold them in favor of soft boots which I much prefer just from a comfort standpoint but posters encouraged me on here to keep them if I were going to get serious about showing dressage, for reasons listed above.

[soloudinhere]

@Pocket Pony

Hmmmmm…I don’t plan on galloping in new boots - I have schooling boots for every day wear, these would just be for show. But I do switch up my length of stirrups from time to time depending on how my hip is feeling. I don’t ride too short, but I do ride a pony so short enough to have my leg on.

Thanks for the input!

Can’t say I recommend riding in soft boots daily then trying to switch into a hard boot. They really are a very different feeling both for you and for the horse.