Tall boots

[Pehsness]

I blew the side out of my first pair of cheap horze paddock boots recently. Replaced them with a still cheap but appeared to be better quality zip up horze paddock boots. Well, the zipper broke. So now I’m considering just getting tall boots to get used to them since I would like to show next year. I know half chaps are acceptable for training level but since I need boots anyway…

Any tips for the middle aged wanna be with muscular calves? Years ago I had the unicorn pair of tall boots that fit and weren’t torture to get on. Who knows where they went…

I will have a budget, but it won’t be limited to cheap fake leather anymore

[Willesdon]

This side of the pond, we don’t expect agony and DVTs when wearing long boots. Comfortable ones can help you ride better as you are not constantly thinking of DVTs and the agony. Find a pair that fit you. Dressage people tend to be a bit older and less driven by what social media and ‘influencers’ say are the current best-thing-ever. Also, at a show, the judges, sitting several metres from you, will be focused on your performance rather than looking at the brand of your boots. Comfort, every time!!

[js]

Ariat have always been my go to boot, they’ve always been a good fit for my muscular calves. I’m now wearing MH Serenade boots as they are a better fit for my foot issues, they also fit a larger calf and elastic inserts the full length of the back so a little extra stretch.

[Pehsness]

Any suggestions for brands? If I can find them used that would be great, but not sure how to tell if they’re quality.

I think they will improve my riding.

[Pehsness]

Oh, thanks js - I have MH winter boots. I’ll look at those and artiats to start.

[outerbanks77]

I recently bought a pair of Mountain Horse Estelles, which have a polo boot style, but are stiffened a bit on the outside. They have elastic in the calf and a regular was a perfect fit for me, when I usually have to go with a full or wide calf, so a wide would be quite generous in the calf. They are sadly on closeout, so you might be able to find a pair in your size on clearance. Mine are brown, I think I saw them in black at one point, but not sure. The first time my instructor saw mine, she went on and on about how she had a pair she loved, and wore into the ground, and was trying to find another pair in her size. MH also has some sharp-looking field boots that I think are the same line in terms of leather and fit, but with a back zip.

However, I also have a pair of MH Venezia field boots, and they are much poorer fit and quality, being one of their “lower” lines. I just bought them because they were cheaper than replacing my half chaps/paddock boots at the time. So not all of one brand are created equal. Ariat also has several different lines of varying quality.

[Scribbler]

Ariat has Full and Wide calves on many of their models and can be quite comfortable out of the box. They may not be the longest lasting boot but then I’m not sure what is. Also you can get zippers replaced on boots at your local shoe repair shop.

All tall boots have zippers these days. But be careful buying second hand, there are lots of good deals on lovely lightly used quality boots with no zippers.

[outerbanks77]

@Scribbler

All tall boots have zippers these days. But be careful buying second hand, there are lots of good deals on lovely lightly used quality boots with no zippers.

A teenager at my barn made this mistake. I mean, non-zippered boots were fading out by the time she was born, so it didn’t even occur to her. She and the other teens at the barn thought the process of getting her in and out of those boots was absolutely hysterical, but I think the novelty wore off and she went back to her half chaps.

[JenEM]

@outerbanks77

A teenager at my barn made this mistake. I mean, non-zippered boots were fading out by the time she was born, so it didn’t even occur to her. She and the other teens at the barn thought the process of getting her in and out of those boots was absolutely hysterical, but I think the novelty wore off and she went back to her half chaps.

Yep. My first two pairs of tall boots were back in the dark days before zippers, and I was slow to make the switch, but have been so happy once doing so. Then I started doing sidesaddle, and had to have non-zippered boots. OMG, every time I put them on and take them off, I remember why I’m so so happy to have my regular boots have zippers now. Maybe for a ridiculous deal on the perfect pair of high-end boots, but not worth it for a bargain price on a low- to mid-level boot.

OP, you might find a good deal on some of the Tredsteps. I know people have had mixed results with them, but I’ve been happy with the mid-range pair of them I have; I bought dress (not dressage) boots, and have done both rated hunters and recognized dressage showing in them quite happily. The price point was around the Mountain Horse boots, which I also tried, but those didn’t fit my legs as well.

[Pehsness]

Oh, I’ve been looking at the tredsteps. They look pretty decent.

And here I thought I was the only one who struggled in to boots without zippers. Man they were humbling, back in my slimmest and fittest days!

[AnotherRound]

I too would rrecoomend Ariat from long years of depending on their quality and reasonable prices and choices. However, I can’t comment on zippeer boots, as I always buy boots without zippers.

[Jo]

@Pehsness

Oh, I’ve been looking at the tredsteps. They look pretty decent.

And here I thought I was the only one who struggled in to boots without zippers. Man they were humbling, back in my slimmest and fittest days!

Tredsteps are notorious for blow outs. Mine lasted about a year - to the dot - with 3-4 day a week wear.

I replaced with the Ariat Kinsley and have been pleased so far. Pretty minimal break in, comfortable out of the box.

[ParadoxFarm]

Personally, I would not recommend Tredsteps. I had a pair of tall boots, and they were the MOST uncomfortable boot I had ever worn. I couldn’t walk around in them for more than a half an hour. They were terrible. I do have a pair of Tredstep paddock boots, as well. While I like the quality of the leather on them, they, too, are not good for walking around in like the Ariats. And one zipper falls half way down every time I ride in them. I love the feet of walking in Ariats, but all my paddock boots (admittedly, the lower-end paddocks) have had leather issues. I’ve patched a few pair until I couldn’t patch them any more.

[ParadoxFarm]

P.S. I ride dressage in my Ariat non-zips. I love them, honestly. If you can find a good pair that fit and are easy enough to get on an off, you can get a great deal. And no zippers to worry about breaking.

[lorilu]

I find Mountain Horse to be the most generous in the leg, and they last well.

[Scribbler]

@ParadoxFarm

P.S. I ride dressage in my Ariat non-zips. I love them, honestly. If you can find a good pair that fit and are easy enough to get on an off, you can get a great deal. And no zippers to worry about breaking.

I think folks with slimmer calves find it easier to do nonzip boots. I have muscular calves, they don’t even seem that big to me :), but I need zips on knee high fashion boots as well as on riding boots.

[angelssix]

@Scribbler

I think folks with slimmer calves find it easier to do nonzip boots. I have muscular calves, they don’t even seem that big to me :), but I need zips on knee high fashion boots as well as on riding boots.

Same. I was also told by one of my instructors to stop wearing boots walking around the barn and grounds. He said: “tall boots are for riding, not walking”. He does have a point!

[eightpondfarm]

i had a pair custom made and they fit so tightly i ended up not being able to endure the breaking-in process. Sold them for about a sixth what i paid and was happy to get rid of them! i dislike breaking in boots and tack. New leather is not fun.

[lorilu]

@angelssix

Same. I was also told by one of my instructors to stop wearing boots walking around the barn and grounds. He said: “tall boots are for riding, not walking”. He does have a point!

and also those of us with high instep/arches have a hard time with no zippers or zippers that dont go down for enough.