Now that the holiday season is behind us, many people are just getting around to trying out all the new gifts they received. If you’re the horse enthusiast in the family, you may have been lucky enough to get a new pair of riding boots. While anyone would feel blessed to receive a pair, for the first few weeks, they may feel like a curse. Horseback riding boots have notoriously stiff, uncomfortable leather that is known to cause serious soreness and in some cases bleeding. Before you mount your horse, it’s important to break in your boots, or else you’ll hardly be able to move your leg. People have been dealing with this problem for decades, and luckily for the modern rider, there are plenty of ways to break in your boots before setting foot in the ring.
No matter how uncomfortable your new riding boots may feel when you first purchase them, after you successfully break them in, they’ll be even more comfortable than your favorite pair of riding gloves. This is because the leather becomes shaped to your foot and leg — the very reason most riders are so reluctant to give up boots that they’ve owned for years, no matter how worn down they are. However, to get to this stage, you’re going to have to spend a lot of time wearing your boots. So, when you first leave the tack shop, don’t bring your boots to the stable — instead, bring them back home with you. Wear them around the house while you perform regular tasks, such as vacuuming, doing the laundry, or cooking food. Odds are that you’ll be walking around and bending a lot while you do these things, which will help to stretch and soften the leather. When you first begin doing this, make sure to wear a pair of thin, comfortable socks to prevent against chafing.
If your house isn’t the place where you can break in your boots — wear them when you’re running errands! It’s no secret that equestrian clothing is a fashion statement among the general population. Dress fashionably while you act practically — tuck in a pair of jeans or leggings into your tall boots, or throw on a pair of flared or boot-cut jeans over your new paddock boots. Not only will this earn you style points, but it will give you even more opportunities to break your boots in. After a few weeks of this, the leather will be supple and ring-ready!
The more you wear your boots, the more quickly you’ll be able to break them in. However, if you’re short on time, leather conditioner and oil will be incredibly helpful in softening the leather. Apply generously to the area, and let it absorb into the leather. Take care to focus on areas such as the ankle, since this is where the most movement occurs. Before you put your boots back on, make sure that you completely wipe your boots off. If you combine all these methods, you’ll have your boots broken in and ready to go in no time!
