Booted

I can still hear it echoing in my ears…

“Clean those boots or you won’t get any more!” 

“WHY is she wearing those boots to wash her horse?” 

I’m sure you have your version of the same.  Whether paddock boots, field boots, or any other kind of boots, they are necessary for any equestrian and, while they do wear out eventually, we all tell ourselves that they won’t give out so often if they were KEPT CLEAN.  Polished even!!!

Ariat's Devon Paddock Boot

There are solutions, and we can help.  I recently watched my daughter carefully clean the mud off her boots after a rainy day ride, put the trees in, and stow them neatly in her boot bag.  Now that she is grown up (and maybe because she has been paying for her own boots for some time now), the boot lecture seems to have taken effect!  But if you have a teenager or a younger rider, it’s likely you are not yet where you can forget about those boots. 

I know it is tempting just to buy the cheapest boots you can find and forget about it.  But that solution is fraught with problems as those boots often don’t give much support, wear out REALLY fast (often negating the theory about they will outgrow those boots before they wear them out), and lastly, they look the part.  That is, even IF you try to keep them clean and polish them, they still look like, well, cheap boots.  I well remember the time my husband insisted he wasn’t going to pay the price for leather and went with the cheapest thing in the store.  Oops!  Worn out in no time, and I mean split at the seams with foot showing in the gaps.

 Ariat's Heritage Field Boot

So I would say look for sturdy leather, a reliable brand, and buy the leather cleaner/conditioner right from the start.  You should definitely try boots on if at all possible.  As you might expect, sizes and shapes differ by brand and style.  What about waterproof boots?  Are they worth it, and what are the pros and cons? And if you are getting tall boots, you should be measured by someone trained to do so. Taking your trainer along to approve the fit is always a good idea but seldom practical.  

At The Tack and Habit Shoppe, on the grounds of a working stable, our staff can share their boot knowledge, plus they know how to measure you and can call for a trainer if the fit is in question.  I’ve even seen our trainers call the customer’s trainer to discuss their preferences and describe the fit of a particular product on their student. 

Belvoir Leather Balsam