Breaking in tall boots fast!?

Ok, I've just bought a new pair of Ariat Heritage Field Boots. My past ones have all been pull ons and I finally bought zips. Unfortunately, I've always had a while to break them in but now I need to ride in them this Saturday to try a new horse. (long story short: i went to check and make sure my old tall boots would still fit and they cut off my circulation --i haven't shown in months due to my horse's injury, blah blah blah) Anyways, my paddock boots have at least 5 holes each so those won't work (plus my half chaps are strips of leather held together by a few stitches!).





How can I break them in really fast. I am riding tomorrow (thursday) and then I'm leaving Friday afternoon and will see and ride Saturday morning. I'm scared to get them wet, though, like many people say. Will it damage my boots? (zips, etc.?) If not, how long would they take to dry? I'm trying out this great jumper and need these boots to be comfortable!


Help! And I need instructions! (so I don't mess up!)

Breaking in tall boots fast!?
Put them on right now and leave them on. Stretch in them walk around your house in them, do your errands/chores in them. If you do this everyday for as long as you can, you will be good by Saturday.
Reply:Getting them wet won't hurt...I knew this lady last summer who needed to break in her boots, so she soaked them in warm water until they got really nice and wet, then put them on and wore them all around her house until they dried. Now they fit her PERFECTLY, drop really nice in the heel, and she's never had any problems with them.


If you want to break them in that fast, I would have to guess that that is the only way to go.


Hope I helped!
Reply:You can't,well not if you want them to have a long and productive life....But yes I have to agree with the afore mentioned get the dam' things wet through and wear them...That can lead to blisters and all sorts of problems....You know it might be an idea to replace things before they are rags and tatters
Reply:Yea I got my tall boots the thrusday before my satuday show. I wore them to school for the whole day...(with covers on them) and then wore them while I was working at the barn, rode in them once. Put some stick tide on the inside to help. Also while you are in the car on the way there work on your ankles.
Reply:oh the good old days of breaking in high boots..


i used to put mine on (the good old fashion pull on's) and i'd wear them everywhere... to school under a pair of jeans, around the house, to the barn obviously.. any where that required shoes, i wore them..





have fun breaking in your new boots, and good luck trying out the new horse!!
Reply:DON"T GET THEM WET!


Instead wipe them down with leather conditioner. Also, walk around the house in them for awhile. do body lunges to flex the leather around the ankle and behind the knee. I feel your pain. I got my boots in on a Monday and had to show with them that weekend. :) Good Luck!
Reply:wear them! when your at home, wear them around the house. go against the wall and stretch your calfs with them on. it is best in the long run if you just break them in this way. by using leather softener you could make them too weak to hold up your leg while riding, it happened to me!
Reply:I know this sounds funny but put them on and wear them all around (in the house ect.) Then at night (if you can stand it) sleep in them. I do this every time I get new tall boots, and so do a lot of my riding friend. It really helps.
Reply:no water wont damage then but it will take them a day or two to dry
Reply:put on a couple of pair of socks and wear them. Its the only way
Reply:Well....ask your instructor...i dont wanna tell you the wrong thing...:)
Reply:I got a new pair of boots two days before a show, about two weeks ago. What I did was play frisbee in them! You should also try to wear them as much as possible. If you go out to the store, throw on a pair of sweatpants. Do NOT get them wet on the insides or you will ruin the leather. Until you get them properly broken in, wear a thicker sock so the folds you'll get at the ankle don't hurt too much.


You should also do stairs in them to get the tops broken in, right behind the knee. My zipper ones give me bruises because they don't break in as well where you need them to.
Reply:i have the same boots, and i didn't even need to break them in.. the leather is great [= i would just put them on at your house and walk around.. or vacuum (that's what my trainer had us do) they should be fine by Saturday if they fit you right.


it'd be hard to get the boots THAT wet.. I've worn mine at muddy horse shows etc. and not had a problem..


unless you get the insides wet, the water should just fall off.. boot leather is waxed/polished so that its waterproof... therefor it wont soak up water like a saddle/bridle would.
Reply:Lol this reminds me of when one of my dogs chewed my dress boots the day before Stuart Horse Trials three or so years ago. I called my best friend who owns a tack shop and harassed her until she got out of bed (at four in the morning mind you) and open her shop for me to buy emergency tall boots. I got the Devon Aire and i wore them all the way to the show, covered them with the rubber footie things walked around the course with them and did squats. I had blisters and sores, but they worked. Unfortunately you're probably going to be in pain....however you mentioned hunter riding, so it tends to be more about looking good than comfort anyway. Good luck.



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