I splurged on a new pair of Ariat Heritage II riding boots. With a back zipper no less! The boots were a Christmas / birthday present for myself. I love them but I still haven’t worn them for riding. It’s been what? six months now?
My first excuse was “It’s winter. That’s winter riding boot weather.”
Then “It’s spring. I’m not going to ruin them tromping around in the mud and puddles.”
Then “They’re too pretty.”
In reality I just didn’t want to break them in. I love my old, cheap Stateline Tack boots. They’re so broken in that I no longer need to use boot pulls. Any minute though a hole is going to appear. They’re no longer safe for that very reason. In the meantime I continue to wear my old boots.
I’ve wore the new boots around the house in a pathetic attempt at breaking them in. I purchased a regular calf width. I can zip them up, barely. They’re quite tight even with the top gusset. I’d like to think it’s because my calves are muscular. <cough>
When I wasn’t trying to wear them I stuffed them with a heavy beach towel. It helped a little. Then I decided to wear them for a practice ride. I stuffed my legs in and snapped them closed. I have a five minute walk from my department to my car. Then about an hour of driving during S-L-O-W hour.
I barely made it to my car.
My legs were numb. I couldn’t feel my feet. “I’m sorry about the accident Officer but I couldn’t feel the brake.” That wouldn’t be good.
I literally ripped them off when I reached the car. On went my old friends.
So the struggle continues…I put them on at the house and sit, stand, walk, pray. I don’t snap them.
I tried to wear them again to ride. The left leg was almost normal and the right was a little tight by the time I left the building. Once again on went my old friends.
Back at the house I put them on again. This time I zipped them with a Nylabone in each. (I have dogs. What can I say.) Granted I couldn’t zip them up all the way but I thought it would help to s t r e t c h them a bit.
Why, oh why, do pretty new boots have to turn into instruments of torture?
I’m running out of time here.
Confessions of a Struggling Dressage Rider 
6 comments
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July 13, 2009 at 10:23 pm
onthebit
haha…I was lucky that my moutian horse boots were so easy to break in! And I know from my old boots that if you bring your boots to a cobbler or other shoe repair person they can strech them out for you. As pretty as they are they are not sculptures! I think they will look better on your legs! Keep stretching them out, or bring them somewhere to do them for you so you didn’t spend all that money in vain!
July 14, 2009 at 12:20 am
dressage rider
They’re not? (Quickly moves gold leaf away from boots.)
Laugh all you want OTB but they’re pretty and they’ll never look this again. Sigh. I’ll try them again tonight and with any luck I’ll use them tomorrow. Stay tuned!
July 15, 2009 at 11:44 pm
mtinnkeeper
lol… your stateline boots look like my ariat heritages tho i have another pair for show ! Trust me i feel your pain.. tho I actually found those to be pretty comfy from the jump…
love these boots
trot on friend
gp
July 16, 2009 at 12:53 am
dressage rider
Thanks! I think I’m just a big chicken. I actually wore them to the barn (unzipped) then took them off. *sigh*
Hey did you pick up your blog award? I gave you the Honest Scrap. Pick it up on my Blog Awards page.
July 25, 2009 at 9:20 pm
dressage rider
Update: I wore my new boots to the barn, while riding and home again! They were quite comfy!
January 22, 2013 at 11:13 pm
Lyndsey
I am having the same issue with my new boots. I received them as a Christmas present, and love them so very much. I wore them once while riding, but my toes were numb by the end of my ride, and I had bruises on the backs of my knees from them being a bit tall. I still need them to drop in the ankle. Since that ride it has been much too cold to wear non-winter boots, so I may have to postpone break-in period until March.