They just need to make dressage boots for one size larger.

[Ajierene]

I have a somewhat opposite problem. I have size 5/5.5 (US) feet and big (read: adult size) calves, and short legs. I had a heck of a time finding nice paddock boots and currently show unrecognized so the paddock boots/chaps work but next year I plan to go recognized eventing and throw in some dressage shows and need tall boots. I feel like I’m going to have to shell out money for custom boots.

When I was younger I could find off the rack to fit me but when I was a teenager my calves were a lot smaller. I can theoretically find my foot size in children’s sizes but the calf width is prohibitive.

[emipou]

@Natalie A

So can one get away with an Ariat dress boot in the dressage world, then? May be looking at my first pair of tall boots since my IHSA Stateline Tack cheapies many years ago next year, and the comfort factor of Ariat is appealing - I have a reconstructed foot and ankle and different sized calves and am not looking forward to trying to find a boot that doesn’t either kill my feet or my checkbook…

If you go to facebook and join a group called DISCUSSIONS: Dressage Tack, you will see that I created a poll recently for what types of boots people where for every day schooling. The majority wear either dress or field boots.

Up to this point, I’ve always worn dress boots. I am not a fan of field boots. (sorry, those who wear field boots!)

[emipou]

@pluvinel

For schooling/training I ride on paddock boots…or even…gasp…running shoes.

Tall boots are reserved for shows (or maybe clinics) because my feet get tired and sore when I’m on my feet all day.

I have several pair of custom Dehner and Kroop boots. Personally I like the Kroops better than the Dehners.

I have not found any ridding shoe that provides a good footbed if you are standing on your feet a long time.

Running shoes!! TSK!

Here’s a story - when I was a kid and really wanting to get more into riding dressage, I worked an entire summer at my dad’s company in the warehouse so I could save up for tall boots. I saved I think $200 or so. Went to this little tack store near my trainer in Fallbrook and was ready to throw down for boots. It turned out my (damn) feet were too large even then for the tall boots. So I wound up with a lovely pair of Dehner paddock boots and half chaps. Those were some great boots. They lasted me for years until the abuses of not be properly cared for peels the leather and I was forced to throw them away.

I have gone to the Dehner web site many times in the recent past. They do provide fairly affordable boots in my size, just a little more than I was hoping to spend.

[pluvinel]

@emipou

Running shoes!! TSK!

…

How about pssst…

There are these things called stirrup cages

Getting drug by having a foot caught in the stirrup is the least of my worries…

I see no problem in riding in running shoes. Endurance people do it with or without stirrup cages.

And my feet are large enough that I can use men’s shoes/boots…which is what I would recommend if you have large feet.

[Libera]

Try Van Huett or Ooteman ruitersport, they have size 12. And the Petrie Padova or Petrie Verona are both in your price range at about $350

[BrokenArrow]

I’m currently saving up for a pair of Celeris boots, as they a completely custom fit. I wear a size 43 so I feel your pain on find any kind of shoe off the rack. Though they are around $900 so not really within that kind of price range.

I do believe Dublin boots do a reasonably priced tall boot for around $400 (Aussie dollars, the US conversion should be cheaper) and come in a variety of fittings. Ariats used to be great but the quality went down and the price went up meaning they weren’t really worth it anymore.

[anon68314200]

@emipou

Seriously. Why is it so flipping hard to find affordable boots in a size 12? >:(

I’ve been wearing TuffRider Baroque men’s boots for the past two years and they’ve been great, aside from the zipper replacements and elastic restitching. But I would like something a little nicer. Like the 300-400$ range. This does not exist.

Custom, sorry. I am 6’2" and only custom boots truly fit. On plus side, good quality hand made boots will last you decades. I have had mine resoled atleast 3 times and zippers twice (they are so old they were originally pull ons… zippers were installed afterwords. )

Also, keep in mind riding boots are for riding. If teaching, hiking around the farm or doing anything else take them off.

[CanteringCarrot]

As another boot rant, I am trying to avoid custom, but it’s a little difficult. I’m going to order a few off the shelf pairs and see how that goes first. My problem is that I have a larger foot (41) but I am not that tall, and my calves not so wide. It seems if I am going to be a size 41 I should be taller and wider. Sigh.

[js]

And they need to make boots in a wide foot size!!! I’ve already gone up half a size to try and get something comfortable for my bad feet and still no comfort. I need a wide foot size, please boot makers and please no toe caps either. Men’s sizes do not run small enough; custom would be nice but even then things can go wrong with sizing v/s what is made and sent especially when doing the measuring yourself and then there is the cost.

[amb]

@slp2

I feel your pain, but not personally (I wear a size 6). However, my husband is tall (6’4") and wears a size 14 to 15 (depending on the type of shoe). He cannot get tall boots in his size unless he goes custom.

FWIW, I’m up in the same neighborhood and have found off-the-rack Blundstones work pretty well. They make up to Australian men’s size 13, aka US 14, and the toe box is hella wide–might be worth a look if you haven’t tried them. (Zappo’s has them and carries the full size range–lots of other sellers stop one or two sizes smaller.)

For tall boots I really hope my Kroop custom dress boots last forever.

[emipou]

@amb

FWIW, I’m up in the same neighborhood and have found off-the-rack Blundstones work pretty well. They make up to Australian men’s size 13, aka US 14, and the toe box is hella wide–might be worth a look if you haven’t tried them. (Zappo’s has them and carries the full size range–lots of other sellers stop one or two sizes smaller.)

For tall boots I really hope my Kroop custom dress boots last forever.

I think this will be next paddock boot, though the tuffrider paddock boots have done we well for their price range.

[Shagyas_Rock]

I can relate to these boot sizing woes- I have small feet (7) that are wide - fairly big calves - a tish over 15" - and legs that are fairly short from knee on down.
It seems most boots are made for people with fairly long, fairly thin calves. I have a pair of boots that I got semi-custom from an obscure little shop, but the boots are 15 years old and starting to become bit worn; I’ll probably need to go custom when it’s time for new ones. One thing I know: I do NOT want a zipper. I don’t trust them not to fail. . (even when meticulously cared for, zippers can be problematic). One advantage of custom boots is that I can get them made with a little elastic gusset at the back, so I can just pull them on with boot pullers. That completely eliminates any worry over zipper malfunction.

[emipou]

I mean the zipper thing hasn’t been a big issue. I paid dirt cheap for my current boots, replaced each zipper once, then replaced one zipper head (that was a big $$ saver), and these POS boots have lasted me 2.5 years. Which I seriously was not expecting. I ride 4-5 days a week and don’t take the best care.

[phoenixrises]

@netg

How tall do you need it? Because I figured out that if I were a size 7 (I’m a 6) there would be about 10 options for me and my 17" calves. Now, I can get the Tuff Rider Plus Riders off the shelf. They and Mountain Horse winter boots are the only options, and the Tuff Riders I don’t even use the wide calf - so they are probably too big for you!

First I checked, for example:
https://www.horseloverz.com/english-…hoCGlQQAvD_BwE

I believe Tuff Riders run wider than their claims, so they might work. They are shorter than the MH wide calves are.

[URL=“https://www.equestriancollections.com/ladies-riding-boots/english-riding-boots/dress-boots/tuffrider-ladies-baroque-dress-boots”]https://www.equestriancollections.co…ue-dress-boots

https://www.equestriancollections.com/ladies-riding-boots/english-riding-boots/dress-boots/tredstep-donatello-dress-boot-ladies

Thank you for that link to the Baroque boots I just bought a pair.

[netg]

@phoenixrises

Thank you for that link to the Baroque boots I just bought a pair.

Awesome!

[emipou]

Great cheap boot. I have a pair of the mens and they magically just seem to keep going with little pieces of maintenance every so often.