Classic Saddlery close out deals.
They have Devon-Air Dress Boots.
http://www.classicsaddlery.com/closeouts/ridingclothing.htm
DevonAire Dress Boot-Leather no zipper Size 6XW 15 3/4" calf 18" height
DevonAire Dress Boot-Leather no zipper Size 8.5 W 15 3/8" calf 18 1/2" height
Monday, July 11, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Tools of the Trade
Tools of the Trade
Putting on boots can be an ordeal. You’d think that this finely crafted piece of leather would slide on as smooth as a glove. But sometimes putting on boots (as well as removing them) is like giving birth to a child. There’s a whole lot of pain, blood, sweat, tears, but when they are finally on (or off) a great sense of rejoice. If they fit. ;)
I got my first pair of boots when I was 12. I had taken lessons for about 3 years before the horse show bug bit me. I was content just riding at first, but those pretty ribbons get addicting after a while. So in order to succeed I needed the tools of the trade. I was much too old to stay in jodphurs and paddock boots so off I went to Double L Tack Shop in Stafford, VA.
Your first pair of tall boots is likening to your first car. I remember walking into the store and told the clerk I need to get my first pair of tall boots. She got excited and off we went to the boot section.
So the clerk pulls out these important –must have- tools:
*Socks
*Boot Pulls
Optional Tools
*Baby Powder. (Can help make it easier to slide boots on and off.)
*Boot spray.
When you first try to pull on your boots you should be wearing your breeches and your pair of stretchy socks. See Zocks post for more information. If you’re uniform is still being made wear something similar to breech material like maybe yoga pants or something stretchy (but not grippy)
Your boots should have these little tabs inside the boots (one towards the inside of your leg and outside). You take your boot pulls and hook them in these tabs. Then you pull them on like a rain boot.
When you first try on boots a properly fitting boot should have some resistance. To create that nice smooth look, there shouldn’t be any major gaps. The boot is supposed to feel snug, but if you feel if your leg circulation is being cut off, the boot is too tight!
Once you have the boot on. Put the other one. Just because one fits doesn’t mean the other one does. My left calf is ½” bigger than my right. Once you have them on there shouldn’t be any gappiness in the ankle area. My customs before I had them resized were too big in the ankle so when I rode/walked they were uncomfortable. Considering you’ll be walking a lot at a con make sure they fit.
What if it’s tight but I don’t feel like my leg is dying?
Keep the boot then. Leather does stretch some. So as long as it’s not ungodly comfortable. If you can find a boot stretcher some can stretch the boot out for you. I personally avoid this technique because if I’m spending $200+ on a boot I don’t want to spend any more money on it. Plus stretching too much can damage the boot over time.
What if it’s too tall?
As the area around your ankle gets broken in, the boot will drop 1 to 1 ½”. It’s actually good to get them a touch too tall than your normal measurement. It may mean you’ll be uncomfortable while you sit for a wee bit. I actually drove in my tall boots to tell break them in. So the back of my legs weren’t very happy until they started to drop.
How the hell do you get these things off?
Stay tuned for the next post. ;)
Putting on boots can be an ordeal. You’d think that this finely crafted piece of leather would slide on as smooth as a glove. But sometimes putting on boots (as well as removing them) is like giving birth to a child. There’s a whole lot of pain, blood, sweat, tears, but when they are finally on (or off) a great sense of rejoice. If they fit. ;)
I got my first pair of boots when I was 12. I had taken lessons for about 3 years before the horse show bug bit me. I was content just riding at first, but those pretty ribbons get addicting after a while. So in order to succeed I needed the tools of the trade. I was much too old to stay in jodphurs and paddock boots so off I went to Double L Tack Shop in Stafford, VA.
Your first pair of tall boots is likening to your first car. I remember walking into the store and told the clerk I need to get my first pair of tall boots. She got excited and off we went to the boot section.
So the clerk pulls out these important –must have- tools:
*Socks
*Boot Pulls
Optional Tools
*Baby Powder. (Can help make it easier to slide boots on and off.)
*Boot spray.
When you first try to pull on your boots you should be wearing your breeches and your pair of stretchy socks. See Zocks post for more information. If you’re uniform is still being made wear something similar to breech material like maybe yoga pants or something stretchy (but not grippy)
Your boots should have these little tabs inside the boots (one towards the inside of your leg and outside). You take your boot pulls and hook them in these tabs. Then you pull them on like a rain boot.
When you first try on boots a properly fitting boot should have some resistance. To create that nice smooth look, there shouldn’t be any major gaps. The boot is supposed to feel snug, but if you feel if your leg circulation is being cut off, the boot is too tight!
Once you have the boot on. Put the other one. Just because one fits doesn’t mean the other one does. My left calf is ½” bigger than my right. Once you have them on there shouldn’t be any gappiness in the ankle area. My customs before I had them resized were too big in the ankle so when I rode/walked they were uncomfortable. Considering you’ll be walking a lot at a con make sure they fit.
What if it’s tight but I don’t feel like my leg is dying?
Keep the boot then. Leather does stretch some. So as long as it’s not ungodly comfortable. If you can find a boot stretcher some can stretch the boot out for you. I personally avoid this technique because if I’m spending $200+ on a boot I don’t want to spend any more money on it. Plus stretching too much can damage the boot over time.
What if it’s too tall?
As the area around your ankle gets broken in, the boot will drop 1 to 1 ½”. It’s actually good to get them a touch too tall than your normal measurement. It may mean you’ll be uncomfortable while you sit for a wee bit. I actually drove in my tall boots to tell break them in. So the back of my legs weren’t very happy until they started to drop.
How the hell do you get these things off?
Stay tuned for the next post. ;)
Monday, July 4, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Custom Boot Option
First of all to all the dads, Happy Father's Day. ;) I got my dad Season 1 of SW Clone Wars for FD.
Now with all these companies I can only just forewarn you that anything could happen. If you have a good/bad/indifferent experience with a company, email me. There can be lemons/bad days, odd production screw ups, etc. So always take a review with a grain of salt.
I found this website when searching for custom boots. Go TallyHo.com I know nothing about this company.
A pair of custom boots for $395 does seem a little cheap. The only review I could find is someone recommended them in a horse forum. So if you're an awkward shape, maybe take a risk.
Brown boots have become a popular thing in the dressage community. I'm not fond of the color brown, but really like them in a boot. Really tempted to get a pair. They can make it in light brown or dark brown at this company. ;)
Now with all these companies I can only just forewarn you that anything could happen. If you have a good/bad/indifferent experience with a company, email me. There can be lemons/bad days, odd production screw ups, etc. So always take a review with a grain of salt.
I found this website when searching for custom boots. Go TallyHo.com I know nothing about this company.
A pair of custom boots for $395 does seem a little cheap. The only review I could find is someone recommended them in a horse forum. So if you're an awkward shape, maybe take a risk.
Brown boots have become a popular thing in the dressage community. I'm not fond of the color brown, but really like them in a boot. Really tempted to get a pair. They can make it in light brown or dark brown at this company. ;)
Monday, June 13, 2011
Boot Reviews
There are so many boots out there. I am only knowledge about a few certain boot companies that I've had experiences with. So just shoot me an email dressapp@gmail.com and we'll talk. :)
**Contest**
So I was originally going to post this after the Zocks post. But life got real crazy. So here it is!
Prize: a pair of black Zocks socks
Answer the questions correctly and get a chance to win.
1. What’s my favorite hockey team?
2. What breed is my horse?
3. What brand are my boots?
4. For basic cleaning what’s better for the boot as recommended by Dehner?
5. Name one Olympian I’ve mentioned in my blog.
6. Name one of my favorite Imperials.
Email me your entries: dressapp@gmail.com by July 1st, 2011. Winner will be announced that weekend.
Prize: a pair of black Zocks socks
Answer the questions correctly and get a chance to win.
1. What’s my favorite hockey team?
2. What breed is my horse?
3. What brand are my boots?
4. For basic cleaning what’s better for the boot as recommended by Dehner?
5. Name one Olympian I’ve mentioned in my blog.
6. Name one of my favorite Imperials.
Email me your entries: dressapp@gmail.com by July 1st, 2011. Winner will be announced that weekend.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
I was!
Star Wars, USA, and horses. Three of my favorite things. ;) I was born 27 years ago in Seoul, South Korea on a military base. My first introduction to Star Wars made me cry. The scary aliens in the cantina scene scared me to bits. (I've always been a pansy, I still don't watch horror movies. But I love vampire and werewolf films, if done right.) It wasn't until closer to 11 years of age where I actually re-watched Star Wars and fell in love.
In 6th grade I could recite the entire first movie. By 7th I was trying to remember Empire Strikes Back. I've read all the books up to the Youghuasdlkfsv, whatever those crazy aliens started popping into the books. I wasn't a big fan, so I stopped reading. Though I do read Timothy Zahn's book every now and then. I probably should get new copies mines getting a little worn. I <3 me some Thrawn baby.
I've dressed up as Princess Leia twice. Once properly when I was in middle school, though my honeybuns came out running to the school bus. And second time where I was goth corseted version of Princess Leia. A vice president at school looked at me, smiled, and shook his head. We saw the midnight showing of Phantom Menace that night.
501st is my newest goal. I can't wait for my uniform and start the process of trying to get in. I don't ever call myself the biggest Star Wars nerd in the world. But gosh darn it, it does make me a happy camper.
I have a Stormtrooper fetish. When I was a kid I hated seeing them being shot down. Why are they the bad guys? I mean come on Imperials are sooo much cooler. Their uniforms are far superior to the rebels. :P
If only I could find a man who dresses up in a Stormtrooper uniform, is rich, has season tickets to the Capitals, won't mind the ponies, and deal with me. I mean is that so much to ask! :P
Anyways. I didn't get oodles of presents. But I have to say I had a great day. 2011 has been an up and down year with more ups.
If anybody reads this blog, thank you. I haven't been posting too much boot related stuff lately, but I will. So just hold tight.
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